Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-11-15
BARNUM'S SPEECH ON HUMBUGS.
Delivered at Stamford, on the occasion Of the
Agricultural fair, Fairfield County.

DAhNUM - OfEE Ch Wv hCHDCUS'
Delivered at Stamford, on the occasion Of the
Agricultural fair, Fairfield County.
1t seems to be most unfortunate circum-
stance that | should be selected to speak on
Humbug, as looking on the ladies, whose pro-
fession it peculiarly is, find it hard to express
myself in their presence. Everything is hum
bug the whole state is humbug, except our Ag
ricultural Society--that alone is not.
Humbug is generally defined, deceit or i'm
position" A burglar who breaks into your
house, a forger who cheats you Of your proper
ty, or rascal, is not humbug, humbug is an
imposter; but in my opinion the true meaning
of humbug is anagement-tact-to take an
old truth and put it in an attractive form.
But no humbug is great without truth at the
bottom. The wooly horse was n reality. lie
was really born with a woolly coat. | bought
him in Cincinnati for $500 and sent him on to
Connecticut, but for long time doubted what
| should do with him. and feared that he would
die on my hands. Just at this time, in lS40,
Col. Fremont and his party was reported to have
been lost among the Rocky Mountains; the pub
lie were greatly excited, but shortly news came
that he was safe Now came the chance for the
woolly horse.
1t was duly announced that after three days
chase upon the borders of the river Gila, an ami
NAL had been captured by the quartermaster of
Col. Fremont's party, who partook in singu-
lar degree of the nature of the buffalo, antelope
and camel. This story was so far true, that
was myself the quartermaster who captured
him, and charged quarter for the sight. The
picture outside the exhibition depicted the ami
NAL as jumping over a ledge of rocks, now if
the animal had really leaped as shown in the
picture, he must have passed over a space of five
miles, To have believed that he could have sur
vived such leap, would have been the grossest
humbug.
But Col. Benton, who understands no hum
bug but his own, arrested my scheme and pros
ecuted me for obtaining money under false pre-
tences, as the horse was not what it professed
to be; but think wrongly, rs the people who
saw it were satisfied, as they got the worth of
their money.
Now the scientific humbug should know the
precise moment to act as | did, or the world
would neverhave been blessed with a sight of the
woolly horse.
When the woolly horse arrived from Connec-
ticut he was put in stable near Lovejoys Ho-
tel. One of the boarders who came TO see him
recognized him rs an animal he had seen at
Bridgeport. "Good heavens !" he cried, "I have
oOOu thtb USiOiS ~ 10 iCoi'y au CAtiaoi-
binary humbug." He took up friend from the
same hotel, and after he had seen The animal let
him into the secret, and in succession, thirty
seven persons were carried up, all of whom took
the humbugging in good humor except the last
man.
have not the vanity to call myself real sci
entifc humbug am only an humble member of
the profession.
My ambition to be the Prince of Humbugs
will resign, but hope the public will take the
will for the deed | can assure them that If had
been able to give them all the humbugs that
have thought of, they would have been amply
satisfied
Before went to England with Tom Thumb
haG skeleton prepared from vorious bones.
1t was to have been made lS feet high; it was to
have been buried year in Ohio, and then dug up
by accident, so that the public might learn there
were giants of old. The price was to pay the
person who proposed to put the skeleton togeth-
er was to have been 1925.
But finding Tom Thumb more successful than
| thot, sent word not to proceed with the skele.
ton. My manager who never tho't as highly OF
the scheme as il deserved, sold the skeleton for
$50 or $75
Seven years afterwards received from the
south an account of a gigantic skeleton that had
been found. Accompanying it were certifi.
Gates of scientific and medical men as to genu.
ineness. The owner asked $4,000 or $1,000
a month !; / wrote to him if he brought it on
would take it if l found it as represented OIL
would pay his expenses if not; / found it was
my own old original humbug come back to me
again of course refused it, and never heard
of it afterwards.
PURE STUFF.-A Fact-Since the Maine