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pon him to ascertain if he insisted upon excluding from his columns the museum advertisementsnot on account of any objection to the contents of the advertisements； or to the museum itself； but simply because he had a private business disagreement with the proprietor； intimating that such a proceeding； for such a reason； and no other； might lead to a rupture of business relations with other managers。 In reply； Mr。 Bennett had something to say about the fox that had suffered tailwise from a trap； and thereupon advised all other foxes to cut their tails off； and he pointed the fable by setting forth the impolicy of drawing down upon the Association the vengeance of the Herald。 The committee； however； coolly insisted upon a direct answer to their question。
〃Bennett then answered： 'I will not publish Barnum's advertisement； I do my business as I please； and in my own way。'
〃 'So do we；' replied one of the managers； and the committee withdrew。
〃The next day the Managers' Association met； heard the report； and unanimously resolved to withdraw their advertisements from the Herald； and their patronage from the Herald job establishment； and it was done。 Nevertheless； the Herald for several days continued to print gratutitously the advertisements of Wallack's Theatre and Niblo's Garden； and inordinately puffed these establishments； evidently in order to ease the fall； and to convey the idea that some of the theatres patronized the Herald； and perhaps hoping by praising these managers to draw them back again； and so to nullify the agreement of the Association in regard to the Herald。 Thereupon； the mangers headed their advertisements in all the other New York papers with the line； 'This establishment does not advertise in the New York Herald；' and for many months this announcement was kept at the top of every theatrical advertisement and on the posters and playbills。
〃The Herald then began to abuse and villify the theatrical and opera managers； their artists and their performances； which； of course； was well understood by the public； and relished accordingly。 Meanwhile the theatres prospered amazingly。 Their receipts were never larger； and their houses never more thronged。 The public took sides in the matter with the managers and against the Herald； and thousands of people went to the theatres merely to show their willingness to support the managers and to spite 'Old Bennett。' The editor was fairly caught in his own trap。 Other journals began to estimate the loss the Herald sustained by the action of the managers； and it was generally believed that this loss in advertising and job printing was not less than from 75；000 to 100；000 a year。 The Herald's circulation also suffered terribly； since hundreds of people； at the hotels and elsewhere； who were accustomed to buy the paper solely for the sake of seeing what amusements were announced for the evening； now bought other papers。 This was the hardest blow of all； and it fully accounted for the abuse which the Herald daily poured out upon the theatres。
〃Bennett evidently felt ashamed of the whole transaction。 He would never publish the facts in his columns； though he once stated in an editorial that it had been reported that he had been cheated in purchasing the Broadway property； that the case had gone to court； and the public would soon know all the particulars。 Some persons supposed by this that Bennett had sued me； but this was far from being the case。 The owner of the lots sued Bennett； to compel him to take the title and pay for the property as per agreement； and that was all the 'law' there was about it。 He held James Gordon Bennett's bond； that he would pay him half a million of dollars for the land； as follows： 100；000 cash； and a bond and mortgage upon the premises for the remaining 400；000。 The day before the suit was to come to trial； Bennett came forward； took the deed； and paid 100；000 cash； and gave a bond and mortgage of the entire premises for 400；000。
〃Had I really taken back the lease； as Bennett desired； he would have been in a worse scrape than ever； for having been compelled to take the property； he would have been obliged； as my landlord； to go on and assist in building a Museum for me； according to the terms of my lease； and a Museum I should certainly have built on Bennett's property； even if I had owned a dozen Museums up town。
〃In the autumn of 1868； the associated managers came to the conclusion that the punishment of Bennett for two years was sufficient； and they consented to restore their advertisements to the Herald。 I was then carrying on my new Museum； and although I did not immediately resume advertising in the Herald； I have since done so。〃
Such is the account Barnum gave； in his own words； of this extraordinary quarrel。 He was； it will be seen； unsparing of criticism and denunciation。 Kindly as was his nature； he was 〃a good hater；〃 and never was there a more relentless fighter。 In denouncing Mr。 Bennett he was perfectly sincere； and believed himself to be entirely in the right。 At the same time he never hesitated to give a full meed of appreciative praise to the great journalist； for his extraordinary enterprise and commanding talents。 Both the men are now dead； after careers of marvellous success； and the animosity that raged between them is also long dead； it perished years before they did。 It is here rehearsed merely as an integral and essential part of this biography； to be regarded in a spirit of philosophic contemplation； entirely devoid of bitterness or acrimony；
CHAPTER XL。 BRIDGEPORT。
THE FIGHT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SEASIDE PARKLAYING OUT CITY STREETS IMPATIENCE WITH 〃OLD FOGIES〃BUILDING A SEASIDE HOMEWALDEMEREA HOME IN NEW YORK CITY。
A remarkable feature of Mr。 Barnum's life was his loyalty to the place he had chosen as his home； and his devotion to its interests。 He had great faith in Bridgeport； and worked unceasingly to justify it。 He looked far ahead； saw the prospective growth of the place； and laid broad plans of preparation for the future。
Apart from his great services in laying out East Bridgeport； he was the author of the improvements on the water…front known as Seaside Park。 The idea of such a thing occurred to him first in 1863； when he rode over the ground and observed its fitness for the purpose。 He then began agitating the matter； and urging the immediate acquirement by the city of land for a park and public drive…way along the margin of the Sound。 It was necessary； he represented； to do it at once； before the natural increase in the value of the land made such an undertaking too expensive。 That it would be a profitable venture he felt certain； for such an improvement would make every bit of real estate in the city more valuable； and would attract many new residents to the place。
There were； however； many conservatives； 〃old fogies〃 he called them； who opposed him。 He then approached the farmers who owned the land lying immediately upon the shore； and tried to convince them that； if they would give the city； free； a deep slip next to the water； to be used as a public park； it would increase in value the rest of their land so much as to make it a profitable operation for them。 But it w