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increased the value of property in that vicinity； that now the rental of 10；000 seemed ridiculously small。 An experienced real estate broker； whom Barnum engaged for the purpose； estimated the value of the lease at 275；000。 Barnum was so anxious； however； to get the matter settled at once that he decided to offer the lease for sale at 225；000。
The next day he met James Gordon Bennett； the elder； the owner of the New York Herald。 Mr。 Bennett told him that he thought of buying both the lease and the fee simple of the property itself； and erecting there a fine building for his great newspaper。 Barnum therefore； offered him the lease for 200；000； and after a few day's consideration Mr。 Bennett accepted the offer。 His attorney thereupon handed to Mr。 Barnum a check on the Chemical Bank for 200；000； which Barnum immediately used in the purchase of Government Bonds。 Mr。 Bennett had agreed to purchase the fee of the property for 500；000。 He had been informed that the property was worth some 300；000 to 400；000； and he did not mind paying 100；000 extra for the purpose of carrying out his plans。 But the parties who estimated for him the value of the land knew nothing of the fact that there was a lease upon the property； else of course they would in their estimate have deducted the 200；000； which the lease would cost。 When； therefore； Mr。 Bennett saw it stated in the newspapers that the sum which he had paid for a piece of land measuring only fifty…six by one hundred feet was more than was ever paid before in any city in the world for a tract of that size； he discovered the serious oversight which he had made； and the owner of the property was immediately informed that Bennett would not take it。 But Bennett had already signed a bond to the owner； agreeing to pay 100；000 cash； and to mortgage the premises for the remaining 400；000。
Supposing that by this step he had shaken off the owner of the fee； Bennett was not long in seeing that； as he was not to own the land； he would have no possible use for the lease； for which he had paid the 200；000； and accordingly his next step was to shake Barnum off also； and get back the money he had paid him。
In speaking of what followed； Mr。 Barnum afterwards said： 〃My business for many years； as manager of the Museum and other public entertainments； compelled me to court notoriety； and I always found Bennett's abuse far more remunerative than his praise； even if I could have had the praise at the same price； that is for nothing。 Especially was it profitable to me when I could be the subject of scores of lines of his scolding editorials free of charge； instead of paying him forty cents a line for advertisements； which would not attract a tenth part so much attention。 Bennett had tried abusing me； off and on； for twenty years； on one occasion refusing my advertisement altogether for the space of about a year； but I always managed to be the gainer by his course。 Now； however； when new difficulties threatened； all the leading managers in New York were members of the 'Managers' Association；' and as we all submitted to the arbitrary and extortionate demands of the Herald； Bennett thought he had but to crack his whip； in order to keep all and any of us within the traces。 Accordingly one day Bennett's attorney wrote me a letter； saying that he would like to have me call on him at his office the following morning。 Not dreaming of the object； I called as desired； and after a few pleasant commonplace remarks about the weather； and other trifles； the attorney said：
〃 'Mr。 Barnum； I have sent for you to say that Mr。 Bennett has concluded not to purchase the museum lots； and therefore that you had better take back the lease； and return the 200；000 paid for it。'
〃 'Are you in earnest？' I asked with surprise。
〃 'Certainly； quite so；' he answered。
〃 'Really；' I said； smiling； 'I am sorry I can't accommodate Mr。 Bennett； I have not got the little sum about me； in fact； I have spent the money。'
〃 'It will be better for you to take back the lease；' said the attorney； seriously。
〃 'Nonsense；' I replied； 'I shall do nothing of the sort； I don't make child's bargains。 The lease was cheap enough； but I have other business to attend to； and shall have nothing to do with it。'
〃The attorney said very little in reply； but I could see； by the almost benignant sorrow expressed upon his countenance； that he evidently pitied me for the temerity that would doubtless lead me into the jaws of the insatiable monster of the Herald。 The next morning I observed that the advertisement of my entertainments with my museum company at Winter Garden was left out of the Herald columns。 I went directly to the editorial rooms of the Herald； and learning that Bennett was not in； I said to Mr。 Hudson； then managing editor：
〃 'My advertisement is left out of the Herald； is there a screw loose？'
〃 'I believe there is；' was the reply。
〃 'What is the matter？' I asked。
〃 'You must ask the Emperor；' said Mr。 Hudson； meaning of course Bennett。
〃 'When will the 〃Emperor〃 be in？' I inquired。 'Next Monday；' was the answer。
〃 'Well； I shall not see him；' I replied； 'but I wish to have this thing settled at once。 Mr。 Hudson； I now tender you the money for the insertion of my museum advertisement on the same terms as are paid by other places of amusement； will you publish it？'
〃 'I will not；' Mr。 Hudson peremptorily replied。
〃 'That is all；' I said。 Mr。 Hudson then smilingly and blandly remarked； 'I have formally answered your formal demand； because I suppose you require it； but you know； Mr。 Barnum； I can only obey orders。' I assured him that I understood the matter perfectly； and attached no blame to him in the premises。 I then proceeded to notify the secretary of the 'Managers' Association' to call the managers together at twelve o'clock the following day； and there was a full meeting at the appointed time。 I stated the facts in the case in the Herald affair； and simply remarked； that if we did not make common cause against any newspaper publisher who excluded an advertisement from his columns simply to gratify a private pique； it was evident that either and all of us were liable to imposition at any time。
〃One of the managers immediately made a motion that the entire Association should stop their advertising and bill printing at the Herald office； and have no further connection with that establishment。 Mr。 Lester Wallack advised that this motion should not be adopted until a committee had waited upon Bennett； and had reported the result of the interview to the Association。 Accordingly； Messrs。 Wallack； Wheatley and Stuart were delegated to go； down to the Herald office to call on Mr。 Bennett。
〃The moment Bennett saw them； he evidently suspected the object of their mission； for he at once commenced to speak to Mr。 Wallack in a patronizing manner； told him how long he had known； and how much he respected his late father； who was a true English gentleman of the old school；' with much more in the same strain。 Mr。 Wallack replied to Bennett that the three managers were appointed a committee to wait upon him to ascertain if he insisted upon excluding from his columns the museum advertisementsnot on