按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
11； 1862； in my Museum。 Announcements headed 'The Two Dromios；' and 'Two Smallest Men； and Greatest Curiosities Living；' as I expected； drew large crowds to see them； and many came especially to solve their doubts with regard to the genuineness of the 'Nutt。' But here I was considerably nonplussed； for； astonishing as it may seem； the doubts of many of the visitors were confirmed！ The sharp people who were determined 'not to be humbugged； anyhow；' still declared that Commodore Nutt was General Tom Thumb； and that the little fellow whom I was trying to pass off as Tom Thumb； was no more like the General than he was like the man in the moon。 It is very amusing to see how people will sometimes deceive themselves by being too incredulous。
〃In 1862 I sent the Commodore to Washington； and； joining him there； I received an invitation from President Lincoln to call at the White House with my little friend。 Arriving at the appointed hour； I was informed that the President was in a special Cabinet meeting； but that he had left word if I called to be shown in to him with the Commodore。 These were dark days in the rebellion； and I felt that my visit； if not ill…timed； must at all events be brief。 When we were admitted； Mr。 Lincoln received us cordially； and introduced us to the members of the Cabinet。 When Mr。 Chase was introduced as the Secretary of the Treasury； the little Commodore remarked：
〃 'I suppose you are the gentleman who is spending so much of Uncle Sam's money？'
〃 'No； indeed；' said the Secretary of War； Mr。 Stanton； very promptly； 'I am spending the money。'
〃 'Well；' said Commodore Nutt； 'it is in a good cause； anyhow； and I guess it will come out all right。'
〃His apt remark created much amusement。 Mr。 Lincoln then bent down his long； lank body； and taking Nutt by the hand； he said：
〃 'Commodore； permit me to give you a parting word of advice。 When you are in command of your fleet； if you find yourself in danger of being taken prisoner； I advise you to wade ashore。'
The Commodore found the laugh was against him； but placing himself at the side of the President； and gradually raising his eyes up the whole length of Mr。 Lincoln's very long legs； he replied：
〃 'I guess； Mr。 President； you could do that better than I could。' 〃
In no place did extremes ever meet in a more practical sense than in the American Museum。 Commodore Nutt was the shortest of men； and at the same time the Museum contained the tallest of women。 Her name was Anna Swan； and she came from Nova Scotia。 Barnum first heard of her through a Quaker； who was visiting the Museum。 This visitor came to Barnum's office； and told him of a wonderful girl； only seventeen years old； who lived near him at Pictou。 Barnum soon sent an agent up there； who brought the young lady back to New York。 She was an intelligent girl； and； despite her enormous stature； was decidedly good…looking。 For a long time she was a leading attraction at Barnum's Museum； and afterwards went to England and attracted great attention there。
For many years Barnum had been in the habit of engaging parties of American Indians from the far West to exhibit at the Museum。 He had also sent several parties of them to Europe； where they were regarded as extraordinary curiosities。
In 1864 ten or twelve chiefs； of as many different tribes； visited the President of the United States； at Washington。 By a pretty liberal outlay of money； Barnum succeeded in inducing the interpreter to bring them to New York； and to pass some days at the Museum。 Of course； getting these Indians to dance； or to give any illustration of their games or pastimes； was out of the question。 They were real chiefs of powerful tribes； and would no more have consented to give an exhibition of themselves than the chief magistrate of our own nation would have done。 Their interpreter could not therefore promise that they would remain at the Museum for any definite time； 〃for；〃 said he； 〃you can only keep them just so long as they suppose all your patrons come to pay them visits of honor。 If they suspected that your Museum was a place where people paid for entering；〃 he continued； 〃you could not keep them a moment after the discovery。〃
On their arrival at the Museum； therefore； Barnum took them upon the stage and personally introduced them to the public。 The Indians liked this attention from him； as they had been informed that he was the proprietor of the great establishment in which they were invited and honored guests。 His patrons were of course pleased to see these old chiefs； as they knew they were the 〃REAL thing；〃 and several of them were known to the public； either as being friendly or cruel to the whites。 After one or two appearances on the stage； Barnum took them in carriages and visited the Mayor of New York in the Governor's room at the City Hall。 Here the Mayor made them a speech of welcome； which； being interpreted to the savages； was responded to by a speech from one of the chiefs； in which he thanked the 〃Great Father〃 of the city for his pleasant words； and for his kindness in pointing out the portraits of his predecessors hanging on the walls of the Governor's room。
On another occasion Barnum took them by special invitation to visit one of the large public schools up town。 The teachers were pleased to see them； and arranged an exhibition of special exercises by the scholars； which they thought would be most likely to gratify their barbaric visitors。 At the close of these exercises； one old chief arose； and simply said： 〃This is all new to us。 We are mere unlearned sons of the forest； and cannot understand what we have seen and heard。〃
On other occasions he took them to ride in Central Park； and through different portions of the city。 At every street…corner which they passed they would express their astonishment to each other； at seeing the long rows of houses which extended both ways on either side of each cross…street。 Of course； after each of these outside visits Barnum would return with them to the Museum； and secure two or three appearances upon the stage to receive the people who had there congregated 〃to do them honor。〃
As they regarded him as their host； they did not hesitate to trespass upon his hospitality。 Whenever their eyes rested upon a glittering shell among his specimens of conchology； especially if it had several brilliant colors； one would take off his coat； another his shirt； and insist that he should exchange the shell for the garment。 When he declined the exchange； but on the contrary presented the coveted article； he soon found he had established a dangerous precedent。 Immediately they all commenced to beg for everything in the vast collection which they happened to take a liking to。 This cost Barnum many valuable specimens； and often 〃put him to his trumps〃 for an excuse to avoid giving them things which he could not part with。
The chief of one of the tribes one day discovered an ancient shirt of chain…mail which hung in one of the cases of antique armor。 He was delighted with it； and declared he must have it。 Barnum tried all sorts of excuses to prevent his getting it； for it had cost a hundred dollars； and was a great curiosity。 But the old man's eyes glistened； a