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 MOST POPULAR PLACE OF AMUSEMENT IN THE WORLD—THE MORAL DRAMA—REFORMING THE ABUSES OF THE STAGE—FAMOUS ACTORS AND ACTRESSES AT THE MUSEUM—ADDING TO THE SALOONS—AFTERNOON AND HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES—FOURTH OF JULY FLAGS—THE MUSEUM CONNECTED WITH ST. PAUL’S—VICTORY OVER THE VESTRYMEN—THE EGRESS—ST. PATRICK’S DAY IN THE MORNING—A WONDERFUL ANIMAL, THE “AIGRESS”—INPOURING OF MONEY—ZOOLOGICAL ERUPTION—THE CITY ASTOUNDED—BABY SHOWS, AND THEIR OBJECT—FLOWER, BIRD, DOG AND POULTRY SHOWS—GRAND FREE BUFFALO HUNT IN HOBOKEN—N. P. WILLIS—THE WOOLLY HORSE—WHERE HE CAME FROM—COLONEL BENTON BEATEN—PURPOSE OF THE EXHIBITION—AMERICAN INDIANS—P. T. BARNUM EXHIBITED—A CURIOUS SPINSTER—THE TOUCHING STORY OF CHARLOTTE TEMPLE—SERVICES IN THE LECTURE ROOM—A FINANCIAL VIEW OF THE MUSEUM—AN “AWFUL RICH MAN,” 133 CHAP. X.—ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION. PEALE’S MUSEUM—MYSTERIOUS MESMERISM—YANKEE HILL—HENRY BENNETT—THE RIVAL MUSEUMS—THE ORPHEAN AND ORPHAN FAMILIES—THE FUDGEE MERMAID—BUYING OUT MY RIVAL—RUNNING OPPOSITION TO MYSELF—ABOLISHING THEATRICAL NUISANCES—NO CHECKS AND NO BAR—THE MUSEUM—MY MANIA—MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH CHARLES S. STRATTON—GENERAL TOM THUMB IN NEW YORK—RE-ENGAGEMENT—AN APT PUPIL—FREE FROM DEBT—THE PROFITS OF TWO YEARS—IN SEARCH OF A NEW FIELD—STARTING FOR LIVERPOOL—THE GOOD SHIP “YORKSHIRE”—MY PARTY—ESCORT TO SANDY