Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-12-02
miscellaneous.
From Barnum'e Auto.I ~iography.
A CRAMMED CIRCUS COMPANY.

sountry with Turner'S Travelling Circus, being
owner of one-Gith part Of the establishment.
Aaron Turner, the joint proprietor OF the circus,
was an original genius II good Judge of human
nature, n man from whom much information might
he derived. lie was withal a practical ioker. By
his untiring industry he amassed a large fortune,
and was not a little proud to inform the world that
he commenced life without n shilling. Frequently
have heard him. say, Every man who has good
health and common sense is capable of making a
fortune, if no only r%tSoIreS to do SO. As q proof Of
it, look at me. Who am IL | don't know who |
Am, or where | came from. ] never had father nor
mother, that | know of; ut all events, | must have
started from the lowest depths of degradation. ]
never haG any education | commenced life US a
%hoemake What little | can read, | picked up
myself at, or ! was eighteen years Of age and as
for writing, why the way | first learned that was
by signing my name to notes of hand! | used ~
first to make my mark, but being Il poor devil, /
had occasion To give my note SO often that | finally
learned to write my name and SO | have got along
by degrees You see what | am now. | have be-
some 50 by industry, perseverance and economy /;
and any man may become rich, who will determine
20 do so. There is no such word as cannot in the
English language. Never say you 'cdnF 40 II
thing-and never cry broke till you are dead"
While in Annapolis, Nd, Turner played II trick
upon me which | shall never forget. We arrived
there late ON Il Saturday evening We had been
doing n highly profitable business, which made me
feel pretty rich, and | went cut that night and
bought mo a fine suit Of black clothes. We were
all strangers in that town, never having been there
before On Sunday morning, feeling proud o. my
sable suit, | dressed myself and Started to stroll
about the town. / passed through the bar-room
of the hotel. About twenty persons were there,
among whom was Turner, who by that time had
made his acquaintance. After | passed out, Tur-
ner, pointing in the direction which ] had taken,
remarked to the company, 81 think its very singu-
lar you permit that rascal to march your streets in
open day. 1t wouldn't lie allowed in Rhode Is
1.nl unl ! YY. chat = a., v,,n,, 4L.+ l1A,1
coated scoundrel has come down this way"
why, who is hep calculated half Il dozen at
once.
Don't you know? Why, that's the Rev. L. X.
Avery, the murderer Of Mrs. Cornell % answered
Turner.
as it possible, they exclaimed, all starting for
the door, eager to get a look ut me, and several
swearing vengeance against the hypocritical
priest.
Turner having thus put the ball in motion, qui-
city took a seat, while every person in the bar
room started in pursuit of me. had turned a cor
ner of the street, and was very innocently, though
very pompously, strutting down the sidewalk,
when l was ovcrtaken by a dozen or more persons,
whose number increased every moment. | OBJ
served, as they passed me, that each person looked
back and stared at me with apparent wonder. l
believe that | must have been ~uncOmmOnly proud
of that suit of clothes, for | was vain enough to
believe that my neU suit was what attracted such
special attention.. l however soon awUke from the
happy illusion. As | passed, | heard several OBJ
servations like the following: THE lecherous old
hypocrite"-''the $ nctiged murderer'-thc black
coated yillain"-"let cts tar and feather him
Lynch the scoundrel," etc, etc. | passed along,
totally unconscious that these remarks could posi-
lily have reference to me. The deHOucment, how
ever, soon came. The mob, which now numbered
at least one hundred, overlook me as | passed an.
other corner, and one fellow seized me by the col
lar. while FIVE or six others appeared, bearing a
rail between them.
Come" says the man who had collared me
cold chap, you can't walk any farther we know
you, and as we always make gentlemen ride in thi.
part, you may prepare to straddle that rail-"
My surprise may well be imagined. "GoOC
heavens !" | exclaimed, as they all pressed arount
me, gentlemen, what have | done p
'Oh, we know you" exclaimed half q dozen
voices you needn't roll your sa%nctimonious eyes,
that game don't take in this country. Come;
straddle the rail, and remember the StQck-yard! ,"
grew more and more bewildered it seemed
like u dream | could not imagine what possible
offence | was to suffer for, and | continued to cx-
claim, Gentlemen, what have / done? Don't
kill me, gentlemen, but tell me what | have
done"
Come. make him straddle the rail We'll show
him how to hang poor factory girls" shouted some
chap from the crowd.
The man who had me by the collar then remark
ed, Come, NJ. Arery, it's no use, you see we
know you, and we'll give you a touch Of lynch law
ulu SllIL NDu uDlllC tEdil.
My name is not Avery, gentlemen, you are mis-
taken in your man, | exclaimed.
Come, come, none OF your CANNON straddlC
the rail, Ephraim,' said the man who had me by
the collar.
The rail was brought 10 such a level as to allow
me to be "straddled' on it without difficulty, ant
l was about to be placed according to orders, Al
the truth flashed upon me.
Gentlemen" / exclaimed, 81 I'm not Avery:
.despise that villain as bad as you can; but my name
is Barnum; belong to the circus which arrived here
last night, and | am sure Old Turner, my partner
he's hoaxed you with this ridiculous story"
'lf he has, We'll lynch him." said one Of the
mob.
"Well, he has, I assure you" I replied; $50 JUS
walk to the hotel with me, and I'll convince you o
the fact"
This arrangement they reluctantly consented to
keeping, however, n close hand upon me. As W,
walked up the main street on which the new Stat
House is situated, the mob receive | a reinforce
ment of fifty or sixty, and | was marched like
maleiactor up TO the hotel. Old Turner stood Of
the piazza, ready to burst with laughter. | appeal
ed to him for heavens sake to explain this matter
that | might be liberated. lie continued to laugh
but finally told them "he believed there was som
mistake about it. The fact s." said he, I'm
friend Barnum has n new suit of black clothes OF
and it makes HIM look so much like a priest, l col
cluded it must be Avery"
The mob saw the joke. Some apologised to m
Tor the rough manner in which | had been handle
flor they had torn my coat half off my back, an
rolled me in the dirt considerably, while other
swore that old Turner deserved the fate intonde
for me; but the majority Of the people Ioare
with laughter, declared it was a good joke, an,
advised me to look sharp, and pay my partner Of
for it. / was exceedingly vexed, and when tn
mob had dispersed, / asked Old Turner what OF
earth could induce him to play such an outrageous
ly mean trick upon me.
"My dear Darnum," said he, st was all for on
good. Remember, all we need to insure success i
notoriety. You will see that this will he noised al
about town as a trick played by one of the circu
managers upon the other, and our pavilion will b
erammed tomorrow night"
1t turned out as he conjectured. The joke wa
in everybody's mouth. We soon became acquaint
ed with the whole town, and had immense aud
ences during our stay. This. howeyer. dih nn