Polynesian., 1852-12-18

I penter who had nailed it down had merely
left hole by which he had descended after
performing the job.
i A large concourse of people assembled to
witness the experiment, which was to come
of little after dark The spectators exam
ned, at their leisure. the building and the
queer looking cans that contained Barnum's
gas, ready to be let forth to arrest the pro-
gress of that devouring element, which,
to use the stereotyped language Of the insu-
rance companies, often swept away in few
hours the hard earnings Of many years
Professor Cotton at last mounted stand,
and explained to the assembly the principles
OF the annhilator, and set forth the immense
benefits that would accrue from it to all COM
bustible communities
Barnum was around, and, although he had
been searching for his friend Blitz, that willy
professor of deviltry lodged the great show
man and remained invisible.
AT length everything was ready A heap
of highly combustible matter had been pre-
pared on the middle Of the floor, and an as
sistant was proceeding to set fire to it when
all in the vicinity were startled by cry from
the upper room Of the building
'Don't! don't! Let me out! Don't burn me
up!'
'Stop!' shouted police officer there's
man in the loft
The master of ceremonies stepped into the
building and ordered the intruder to jump
down.
Il can't (hic) get down., said the voice.
Some drunken fool has got up there with
his bottle.' said Barnum in tone of vexa-
ton. o for Maine Liquor Law in these
iggings-Somebody must 60 up ard haul
the fellow down.
a stick of timber was procured and placed
in slanting position. and policeman man.
aged to crawl up into the attic.
Hello, here! Come out Of this!' said the
officer, poking about with his stick. But, to
his surprise, he found no one there. After
satisfying himself that the place was vacant,
the officer came down, muitering curses
upon the whole affair.
Again did the torch bearer approach to
light The pile, and again the voice sounded
from the upper room.
Let me out, say! Con denim (hic) yer
picters. will ye burn fell'r alive? Let me
out. Let me ou-u-utn'
Stop shouted Barnum to the torch
bearer, this wont do! Mr.. Cotton, will you
send a man up into that building who has his
senses about him. Send him quickly. too
Another person now ascended to the loft,
which he examined by the light Of lantern
that was passed to him, and he likewise re-
ported the place empty.
A short pause now took place, during
which the spectators began to manifest great
impatience, and their cries began to fill the
air.
Humbug!'
"A Barnum humbug!'
The thingumbob won't work.
sWooy horse!'
sJoice Health
Merma a-id!'
These were some of the unpleasant words
hat assailed Barnum's ear, in the battle
nent that was raising the roar of waves
around him.
Have little patience, gentlemen, and
we'll proceed, SAID he.
We'll, yer kin proceed, but yer cant sue
:eed, growled member Of old Forty-TwO's
The torch was now applied to the tar and
'osin, and as the flames began to curl up,
number of voices sounded dstressfully from
Ill parts of the building. 1t was apparently
lalf full of men. Pigs also began to squeal
IS if their bristles were scorched, but Bar
,um now took the hint. He recognized some
If the very sounds that the great yentrio-
,uist had produced in his office that afternoon,
Ind he exclaimed, in high dudgeon-
THAT cursed Blitz has made all this trou-
,le I'll give his iron gray locks an extra
link, if | ever catch him.
The Signor's ventriloquism, in reality, did
more mischief than he had intended, for it
vas probably owing to the confusion he Gre
tied that the experiment proved failure.
Barnum has not forgiven Bltz to this day.
lthough the waggish Signor is confident
hat if he can get tihe great Snowman into one
,f his Armory Hall entertainments, he can
:onIure all the anger from his breast, and
estore their former friendly relations.-Lite-
'a,y Magazine.