| CHAPTER. I.—EARLY LIFE. |
| MY BIRTH—FIRST PROPERTY—FARMER BOY LIFE—GOING TO SCHOOL—EARLY ACQUISITIVENESS—A HOLIDAY PEDDLER—FIRST VISIT TO NEW YORK—LEARNING TO “SWAP”—MISERIES FROM MOLASSES CANDY—“IVY ISLAND”—ENTERING UPON MY ESTATE—CLERKSHIP IN A COUNTRY STORE—TRADING MORALS—THE BETHEL MEETING-HOUSE—STOVE QUESTION—SUNDAY SCHOOL AND BIBLE CLASS—MY COMPOSITION—THE ONE THING NEEDFUL, | 25 |
| CHAP. II.—INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES. |
| DEATH OF MY GRANDMOTHER—MY FATHER—HIS CHARACTER—HIS DEATH—BEGINNING THE WORLD BAREFOOTED—GOING TO GRASSY PLAINS—THE TIN WARE AND GREEN BOTTLE LOTTERY—“CHARITY” HALLETT—OUR FIRST MEETING—EVENING RIDE TO BETHEL—A NOVEL FUR TRADE—OLD “RUSHIA” AND YOUNG “RUSHIA”—THE BUYER SOLD—COUNTRY STORE EXPERIENCES—OLD “UNCLE BIBBINS”—A TERRIBLE DUEL BETWEEN BENTON AND BIBBINS—FALL OF BENTON—FLIGHT OF BIBBINS, | 38 |
| CHAP. III.—IN BUSINESS FOR MYSELF. |
| MY CLERKSHIP IN BROOKLYN—UNEASINESS AND DISSATISFACTION—THE SMALL POX—GOING HOME TO RECRUIT—“CHARITY” HALLETT AGAIN—BACK TO BROOKLYN—OPENING A PORTER-HOUSE—SELLING OUT—MY CLERKSHIP IN NEW YORK—MY HABITS—OBSERVANCE OF SUNDAY—IN BETHEL ONCE MORE—BEGINNING BUSINESS ON MY OWN ACCOUNT—OPENING DAY—LARGE SALES AND GREAT PROFITS—THE LOTTERY BUSINESS—VIEWS THEREON—ABOUT A POCKET-BOOK—WITS AND WAGS—SWEARING OUT A FINE—FIRST APPEARANCE AT THE BAR—SECURING “ARABIAN”—A MODEL LOVE-LETTER, | 48 |
| CHAP. IV.—STRUGGLES FOR A LIVELIHOOD. |
| PLEASURE VISIT TO PHILADELPHIA—LIVING IN GRAND STYLE—THE BOTTOM OF THE PILE—BORROWING MONEY—MY MARRIAGE—RETURN TO BETHEL—EARLY MARRIAGES—MORE PRACTICAL JOKING—SECOND APPEARANCE AS COUNSEL—GOING TO HOUSEKEEPING—SELLING BOOKS AT AUCTION—THE “YELLOW STORE”—A NEW FIELD—“THE HERALD OF FREEDOM”—MY EDITORIAL CAREER—LIBEL SUITS—FINED AND IMPRISONED—LIFE IN THE DANBURY JAIL—CELEBRATION OF MY LIBERATION—POOR BUSINESS AND BAD DEBTS—REMOVAL TO NEW YORK—SEEKING MY FORTUNE—“WANTS” IN THE “SUN”—WM. NIBLO—KEEPING A BOARDING-HOUSE—A WHOLE SHIRT ON MY BACK, | 59 |
| CHAP. V.—MY START AS A SHOWMAN. |
| THE AMUSEMENT BUSINESS—DIFFERENT GRADES—CATERING FOR THE PUBLIC—MY CLAIMS, AIMS AND EFFORTS—JOICE HETH—APPARENT GENUINENESS OF HER VOUCHERS—BEGINNING LIFE AS A SHOWMAN—SUCCESS OF MY FIRST EXHIBITION—SECOND STEP IN THE SHOW LINE—SIGNOR VIVALLA—MY FIRST APPEARANCE ON ANY STAGE—AT WASHINGTON—ANNE ROYALL STIMULATING THE PUBLIC—CONTESTS BETWEEN VIVALLA AND ROBERTS—EXCITEMENT AT FEVER HEAT—CONNECTING MYSELF WITH A CIRCUS—BREAD AND BUTTER DINNER FOR THE WHOLE COMPANY—NARROW ESCAPE FROM SUFFOCATION—LECTURING AN ABUSIVE CLERGYMAN—AARON TURNER—A TERRIBLE PRACTICAL JOKE—I AM REPRESENTED TO BE A MURDERER—RAILS AND LYNCH LAW—NOVEL MEANS FOR SECURING NOTORIETY, | 71 |
| CHAP. VI.—MY FIRST TRAVELING COMPANY. |
| THREE MEALS AND LODGING IN ONE HOUR—TURNING THE TABLES ON TURNER—A SON AS OLD AS HIS FATHER—LEAVING THE CIRCUS WITH TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS—MY FIRST TRAVELLING COMPANY—PREACHING TO THE PEOPLE—APPEARING AS A NEGRO MINSTREL—THREATENED WITH ASSASSINATION—ESCAPES FROM DANGER—TEMPERANCE—REPORT OF MY ARREST FOR MURDER—RE-ENFORCING MY COMPANY—“BARNUM’S GRAND SCIENTIFIC AND MUSICAL THEATRE”—OUTWITTING A SHERIFF—“LADY HAYES’S” MANSION AND PLANTATION—A BRILLIANT AUDIENCE—BASS DRUM SOLO—CROSSING THE INDIAN NATION—JOE PENTLAND AS A SAVAGE—TERROR AND FLIGHT OF VIVALLA—A NONPLUSSED LEGERDEMAIN PERFORMER—A MALE EGG-LAYER—DISBANDING MY COMPANY—A NEW PARTNERSHIP—PUBLIC LECTURING—DIFFICULTY WITH A DROVER—THE STEAMBOAT “CERES”—SUDDEN MARRIAGE ON BOARD—MOBBED IN LOUISIANA—ARRIVAL AT NEW ORLEANS, | 86 |
| CHAP. VII.—AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER. |
| DISGUST AT THE TRAVELLING BUSINESS—ADVERTISING FOR AN ASSOCIATE—RUSH OF THE MILLION-MAKERS—COUNTERFEITERS, CHEATS AND QUACKS—A NEW BUSINESS—SWINDLED BY MY PARTNER—DIAMOND THE DANCER—A NEW COMPANY—DESERTIONS—SUCCESSES AT NEW ORLEANS—TYRONE POWER AND FANNY ELLSLER—IN JAIL AGAIN—BACK TO NEW YORK—ACTING AS A BOOK AGENT—LEASING VAUXHALL—FROM HAND TO MOUTH—DETERMINATION TO MAKE MONEY—FORTUNE OPENING HER DOOR—THE AMERICAN MUSEUM FOR SALE—NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PURCHASE—HOPES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS—THE TRAIN LAID—SMASHING A RIVAL COMPANY, | 104 |
| CHAP. VIII.—THE AMERICAN MUSEUM. |
| A TRAP SET FOR ME—I CATCH THE TRAPPERS—I BECOME PROPRIETOR OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM—HISTORY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT—HARD WORK AND COLD DINNERS—ADDITIONS TO THE MUSEUM—EXTRAORDINARY ADVERTISING—BARNUM’S BRICK-MAN—EXCITING PUBLIC CURIOSITY—INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES—A DRUNKEN ACTOR—IMITATIONS OF THE ELDER BOOTH—PLEASING MY PATRONS—SECURING TRANSIENT NOVELTIES—LIVING CURIOSITIES—MAKING PEOPLE TALK—A WILDERNESS OF WONDERS—NIAGARA FALLS WITH REAL WATER—THE CLUB THAT KILLED COOK—SELLING LOUIS GAYLORD CLARK—THE FISH WITH LEGS—THE FEJEE MERMAID—HOW IT CAME INTO MY POSSESSION—THE TRUE STORY OF THAT CURIOSITY—JAPANESE MANUFACTURE OF FABULOUS ANIMALS—THE USE I MADE OF THE MERMAID—WHOLESALE ADVERTISING AGAIN—THE BALCONY BAND—DRUMMOND LIGHTS, | 116 |
| CHAP. IX.—THE ROAD TO RICHES. |
| THE MOS
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| CHAP. XXIX.—IN GERMANY. |
| FROM LONDON TO BADEN-BADEN—TROUBLE IN PARIS—STRASBOURG—SCENE IN A GERMAN CUSTOM-HOUSE—A TERRIBLE BILL—SIX CENTS WORTH OF AGONY—GAMBLING AT BADEN-BADEN—SUICIDES—GOLDEN PRICES FOR THE GENERAL—A CALL FROM THE KING OF HOLLAND—THE GERMAN SPAS—HAMBURG, EMS AND WIESBADEN—THE BLACK FOREST ORCHESTRION MAKER—AN OFFERED SACRIFICE—THE SEAT OF THE ROTHSCHILDS—DIFFICULTIES IN FRANKFORT—A POMPOUS COMMISSIONER OF POLICE—RED-TAPE—AN ALARM—HENRY J. RAYMOND—CALL ON THE COMMISSIONER—CONFIDENTIAL DISCLOSURES—HALF OF AN ENTIRE FORTUNE IN AN AMERICAN RAILWAY—ASTOUNDING REVELATIONS—DOWN THE RHINE—DEPARTURE FOR HOLLAND, | 430 |
| CHAP. XXX.—IN HOLLAND. |
| THE FINEST AND FLATTEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD—SUPER-CLEANLINESS—HABITS AND CUSTOMS—“KREMIS”—THE ALBINO FAMILY—THE HAGUE—AUGUST BELMONT—JAPANESE MUSEUM—MANUFACTURED FABULOUS ANIMALS—A GENEROUS OFFER—VALUABLE PICTURES—AN ASTONISHED SUPERINTENDENT—BACK TO ENGLAND—EXHIBITIONS IN MANCHESTER—I RETURN AGAIN TO AMERICA—FUN ON THE VOYAGE—MOCK TRIALS—BARNUM AS A PROSECUTOR AND AS A PRISONER—COLD SHOULDERS IN NEW YORK—PREPARING TO MOVE INTO MY OLD HOME—CARELESS PAINTERS AND CARPENTERS—IRANISTAN BURNED TO THE GROUND—NEXT TO NO INSURANCE—SALE OF THE PROPERTY—ELIAS HOWE, JR., | 441 |
| CHAP. XXXI.—THE ART OF MONEY GETTING. |
| BACK ONCE MORE TO ENGLAND—TOUR THROUGH SCOTLAND AND WALES—HOW I CAME TO LECTURE—ADVICE OF MY FRIENDS—MY LECTURE—HOW TO MAKE MONEY AND HOW TO KEEP IT—WHAT THE PAPERS SAID ABOUT ME—PRAISE OF THE LONDON PRESS—LECTURING IN THE PROVINCES—PERFORMANCES AT CAMBRIDGE—CALL FOR JOICE HETH—EXTRAORDINARY FUN AT OXFORD—THE AUDIENCE AND LECTURER TAKING TURNS—A UNIVERSITY BREAKFAST—MAGNIFICENT OFFER FOR A COPYRIGHT—SUCCESS OF MY ENTERPRISE—MORE MONEY FOR THE CLOCK CREDITORS, | 456 |
| CHAP. XXXII.—AN ENTERPRISING ENGLISHMAN. |
| AN ENGLISH YANKEE—MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH HIM—HIS PLANS BASED ON BARNUM’S BOOK—ADVERTISING FOR PARTNERS—HOW MY RULES MADE HIM RICH—METHOD IN MADNESS—THE “BARNUM” OF BURY—DINNER TO TOM THUMB AND COMMODORE NUTT—MY AGENT IN PARIS—MEASURING A MONSTER—HOW GIANTS AND DWARFS STRETCH AND CONTRACT—AN UNWILLING FRENCHMAN—A PERSISTENT MEASURER—A GIGANTIC HUMBUG—THE STEAM-ENGINES “BARNUM” AND “CHARITY”—WHAT “CHARITY” DID FOR “BARNUM”—SELLING THE SAME GOODS A THOUSAND TIMES—THE GREAT CAKES—SIMNAL SUNDAY—THE SANITARY COMMISSION FAIR, | 506 |
| CHAP. XXXIII.—RICHARD’S HIMSELF AGAIN. |
| AT HOME—EXTINGUISHMENT OF THE CLOCK DEBTS—A RASCALLY PROPOSITION—BARNUM ON HIS FEET AGAIN—RE-PURCHASE OF THE MUSEUM—A GALA DAY—MY RECEPTION BY MY FRIENDS—THE STORY OF MY TROUBLES—HOW I WADED ASHORE—PROMISES TO THE PUBLIC—THE PUBLIC RESPONSE—MUSEUM VISITORS—THE RECEIPTS DOUBLED—HOW THE PRESS RECEIVED THE NEWS OF RESTORATION—THE SYCOPHANTS—OLD AND FAST FRIENDS—ROBERT BONNER—CONSIDERATION AND COURTESY OF CREDITORS—THE BOSTON SATURDAY EVENING GAZETTE AGAIN—ANOTHER WORD FOR BARNUM, | 516 |
| CHAP. XXXIV.—MENAGERIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA. |
| A REMARKABLE CHARACTER—OLD GRIZZLY ADAMS—THE CALIFORNIA MENAGERIE—TERRIBLY WOUNDED BY BEARS—MY UP-TOWN SHOW—EXTRAORDINARY WILL AND VIGOR—A LESSON FOR MUNCHAUSEN—THE CALIFORNIA GOLDEN PIGEONS—PIGEONS OF ALL COLORS—PROCESS OF THEIR CREATION—M. GUILLAUDEU—A NATURALIST DECEIVED—THE MOST WONDERFUL BIRDS IN THE WORLD—THE CURIOSITIES TRANSFERRED TO THE MENAGERIE—OLD ADAMS TAKEN IN—A CHANGE OF COLOR—MOTLEY THE ONLY WEAR—OLD GRIZZLY UNDECEIVED—TOUR OF THE BEAR-TAMER THROUGH THE COUNTRY—A BEAUTIFUL HUNTING SUIT—A LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE FOR A WAGER—OLD ADAMS WINS—HIS DEATH—THE LAST JOKE ON BARNUM—THE PRINCE OF WALES VISITS THE MUSEUM—I CALL ON THE PRINCE IN BOSTON—STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS—“BEFORE AND AFTER” IN A BARBER SHOP—HOW TOM HIGGINSON “DID” BARNUM—THE MUSEUM FLOURISHING, | 529 |
| CHAP. XXXV.—EAST BRIDGEPORT. |
| ANOTHER NEW HOME—LINDENCROFT—PROGRESS OF MY PET CITY—THE CHESTNUT WOOD FIRE—HOW IT BECAME OLD HICKORY—INDUCEMENTS TO SETTLERS—MY OFFER—EVERY MAN HIS OWN HOUSE-OWNER—WHISKY AND TOBACCO—RISE IN REAL-ESTATE—PEMBROKE LAKE—WASHINGTON PARK—GREAT MANUFACTORIES—WHEELER AND WILSON—SCHUYLER, HARTLEY AND GRAHAM—HOTCHKISS, SON AND COMPANY—STREET NAMES—MANY THOUSAND SHADE TREES—BUSINESS IN THE NEW CITY—UNPARALLELED GROWTH AND PROSPERITY—PROBABILITIES IN THE FUTURE—SITUATION OF BRIDGEPORT—ITS ADVANTAGES AND PROSPECTS—THE SECOND, IF NOT THE FOREMOST CITY IN CONNECTICUT, | 549 |
| CHAP. XXXVI.—MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM. |
| ANOTHER RE-OPENING—A CHERRY-COLORED CAT—THE CAT LET OUT OF THE BAG—MY FIRST WHALING EXPEDITION—PLANS FOR CAPTURE—SUCCESS OF THE SCHEME—TRANSPORTING LIVING WHALES BY LAND—PUBLIC EXCITEMENT—THE GREAT TANK—SALT WATER PUMPED FROM THE BAY TO THE MUSEUM—MORE WHALES—EXPEDITION TO LABRADOR—THE FIRST HIPPOPOTAMUS IN AMERICA—TROPICAL FISH—COMMODORE NUTT AND HIS FIRST “ENGAGEMENT”—THE TWO DROMIOS—PRESIDENT LINCOLN SEES COMMODORE NUTT—WADING ASHORE—A QUESTION OF LEGS—SELF-DECEPTION—THE GOLDEN ANGEL FISH—ANNA SWAN, THE NOVA SCOTIA GIANTESS—THE TALLEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD—INDIAN CHIEFS—EXPEDITION TO CYPRUS—MY AGENT IN A PASHA’S HAREM, | 560 |
| CHAP. XXXVII.—MR. AND
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