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ng jeers； and ribald sneers and coarse ridicule of the unthinking multitude without； we pray you to allow us； at our own proper charges； so to guard the avenues of access from the street； as to prevent all unseemly tumult and disorder。
I tell you； sir； that whenever； and from whomsoever； such an appeal is made to my Christian courtesy； although it should come from the very humblest of the earth； I would go calmly and cheerfully forward to meet their wishes； although as many W*** S***'s as would reach from here to Kamtschatka； clothed in furs and frowns； should rise up to oppose me。
In conclusion； I will say； that if the marriage of Charles S。 Stratton and Lavinia Warren is to be regarded as a pageant； then it was the most beautiful pageant it has ever been my privilege to witness。 If； on the contrary； it is rather to be thought of as a solemn ceremony； then it was as touchingly solemn as a wedding can possibly be rendered。 It is true the bishop was not present； but Mr。 Stratton's own pastor； the Rev。 Mr。 Willey； of Bridgeport； Connecticut； read the service with admirable taste and impressiveness； and the bride was given away by her mother's pastor and her own 〃next friend；〃 a venerable Congregational clergyman from Massachusetts。 Surely； there never was a gathering of so many hundreds of our best people； when everybody appeared so delighted with everything； surely it is no light thing to call forth so much innocent joy in so few moments of passing time； surely it is no light thing； thus to smooth the roughness and sweeten the acerbities which mar our happiness as we advance upon the wearing journey of life。 Sir； it was most emphatically a high triumph of 〃Christian civilization！〃 Respectfully submitted； by your obedient servant； THOMAS HOUSE TAYLOR。
Not long after the wedding； a lady called at Barnum's office and called his attention to a little six…paged pamphlet which she said she had written。 It was called 〃Priests and Pigmies；〃 and she asked Barnum to read it。 He glanced at the title； and at once estimating the character of the publication； promptly declined to devote any portion of his valuable time to its perusal。
〃But you had better look at it； Mr。 Barnum； it deeply interests you； and you may think it worth your while to buy it。〃
〃Certainly； I will buy it； if you desire；〃 said he； tendering her a sixpence； which he supposed to be the price of the little pamphlet。
〃Oh！ you quite misunderstand me； I mean buy the copyright and the entire edition； with the view of suppressing the work。 It says some frightful things； I assure you；〃 urged the author。
He lay back in his chair and fairly roared at this exceedingly feeble attempt at blackmail。
〃But；〃 persisted the lady； 〃suppose it says that your Museum and Grace Church are all one； what then？〃
〃My dear madam；〃 he replied； 〃you may say what you please about me or about my Museum； you may print a hundred thousand copies of a pamphlet stating that I stole the communion service； after the wedding； from Grace Church altar； or anything else you choose to write； only have the kindness to say something about me； and then come to me and I will properly estimate the money value of your services to me as an advertising agent。 Good morning； madam；〃and she departed。
CHAPTER XXXVI。 POLITICAL NOTES。
BARNUM BECOMES A REPUBLICANILLUMINATING THE HOUSE OF A DEMOCRATTHE PEACE MEETINGELECTED TO THE LEGISLATUREWAR ON THE RAILROADS…SPEECH ON THE AMENDMENT。
While he had always taken an active interest in politics； it was many years before Barnum consented to run for any office。 In 1852 he was strongly urged to submit his name to the State Convention； as a candidate for the office of Governor； and although the Democratic party （to which he then belonged） was in the ascendancy； and the nomination was equivalent to election； he still refused。
In 1860 his political convictions were changed； and he identified himself with the Republican party。 During the exciting campaign of that year； which resulted in Lincoln's first election to the presidency； it will be remembered that the 〃Wide…Awake〃 associations； with their uniforms and torchlight processions； were organized in every city； town and village throughout the North。
One day Mr。 Barnum arrived home from New York and learned that the Bridgeport 〃Wide Awakes？〃 were to parade that evening and intended to march out to Lindencroft。 Ordering two boxes of candles he prepared for an illumination of every window in the house。 Many of his neighbors； among them several Democrats； came to Lindencroft that evening to witness the parade； and to see the illumination。 His next door neighbor； Mr。 T。； was a strong Democrat； and before he left home； he ordered his servants to stay in the basement； and not show a light； thus proving by the darkness of his premises； the firmness of his Democratic principles。
Barnum urged his friend James D。 Johnson； who was not less a joker than a Democrat； to engage the attention of Mr。 and Mrs。 T。； and to keep their faces turned toward Bridgeport and the approaching procession； while he and Mr。 George A。 Wells； also a Democrat； ran over and illuminated Mr。 T。's。 house。 As the Wide…Awakes approached and saw that the house of Mr。 T。 was in a blaze with light； they concluded that he had changed his politics； and gave three rousing cheers for him。 Hearing his name； he turned and saw his house lighted from basement to attic； and uttering one single emphatic ejaculation； he rushed for home。 But he was not able to extinguish the lights before the Wide…Awakes had gone on their way rejoicing over his apparent conversion。
When the war broke out in 1861； Barnum was too old for active service in the field； but he sent four substitutes and contributed largely from his means to the support of the Union。
After Bull Run； July 21st； 1861； 〃Peace Meetings〃 began to be held in different parts of the North； and especially in Connecticut。 At these meetings it was usual to display a white flag bearing the word 〃Peace；〃 above the national flag； and to listen to speeches denunciatory of the war。
One of these meetings was held August 24； 1861； at Stepney； ten miles north of Bridgeport； and Mr。 Barnum and Elias Howe； Jr。； inventor of the sewing machine needle； agreed to attend and hear for themselves whether the speeches were loyal or not。 They communicated their intention to a number of their friends； asking them to go also； and at least twenty accepted the invitation。 It was their plan to listen quietly to the harangues； and if they found any opposition to the government or anything calculated to create disaffection in the community； or liable to deter enlistments；to report the matter to the authorities at Washington and ask that measures be taken to suppress the gatherings。
As the carriages of these gentlemen turned into Main street they discovered two large omnibuses filled with soldiers who were home on a furlough； and who were going to Stepney。 The lighter carriages soon outran the omnibuses； and the party arrived at Stepney in time to see the white flag run up above the stars and stripes。 They stood quietly in the crowd； while the meeting was o