Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-12-02
CLARK AND BARNUM; OR, WHO WAS
SOLD?

Among my first extra exhibitions produced at
the American Museum, was a model of the Falls
OF Niagara, belonging to Grain, the artist. 1t is
undoubtedly a fine model, giving the mathematical
proportions OF that great cataract, and the trees,
rocks, buildings, etc, in its vicinity. But the alb
surdity of the thing consisted in introducing WA
ter, thus pretending to present a Jac SimiHe Of that
great wonder Of nature. The falls were about
eighteen inches high, everything else being in due
proportion
confess | felt somewhat ashamed of this my
self, yet it made a good line in the bill, and |
bought the model for 5000. Ny advertisements
then announced among the attractions of the Mus
eum,
THE GREAT MODEL OF NIAGARA FALLS. WITH REAL
WATER!
a single barrel of water answered the purpose
of this model for an entire season for the falls
flowed into a reservoir behind the scenes, and the
water was continually supplied to the cataract by
means of a small pump.
Many visitors who could not afford to travel to
Niagara, were doubtless induced to visit the mod
cl with real water and if they found it rather
small potatoes" they had the whole museum to
fall back upon for % cents, and no fault was
found.
One day | was peremptorily summoned to ap-
pear before the Board of Croton Water C4mmis-
sloners the next morning at ten o'clock. ! was
puuctual.
Sir said the President, "you pay only S25
per annum for the Croton water at the Museum
That is simply intended to supply the ordinary
purposes of your establishment. We cannot fur
nish water for your Niagara Falls without large
extra compensation.
Begging his honor" not to believe all he heard
in the papers, nor to be too literal in the inter pre-.
tation of my large showbills, | explained the OPP
Grafton of the great cataract, and offered to pay q
dollar a drop for all the water | used for Niagara
Falls exceeding one barrel per month. provided my
pump continued in good order. | was permitted
to retire amid a hearty burst Of laughter from the
Commissioners, in which his honor the Presidcn'
consented to join.
On one occasion, Louis Gaylord Clark, ESQ, til,
witty and popular editor of the Knickerbocker,
called to view my Museum. | had never had tn,
pleasure of seeing him before, and be introduced
himself. was extremely anxious that my estab
lishment should receive a "~frst-rate notice" in hi
popular magazine, and therefore accompanied hin
through the entire Museum, taking especial pain,
to point out all objects of interest. We PASSED tn,
entrance of the hall containing Niagara Falls Jus
as the visiters had entered it from the perfomance
in the Lecture Room, and hearing the pump a
work, l knew 1t was at that moment in full opera
tiol.
desired to avoid that exhibition, feeling conf
dent that if Mr.. Clark should see the Model Ma
CARA, he would be 50 much disguised with tn,
entire show that he would elbow it up in hi
~ DoShN', VI. Nudi L always COnSluerc
much the worse for me-, pass it by in silent con
tempt. Seeing him approach the entrance, | en-
deavored to call his attention to some object O
interest in the other end of the hall, but | was toe
late. He had noticed a concourse Of visitors il
the Falls Room" and his curiosity to know wha
was going on was excited.
Hold on, Barnum," said Clark, "let US SC,
what you have here"
Its only a model of Niagara Falls / re
piled.
ooh, ah, yes, / remember now. l have notice,
your advertisement and splendid posters announc
ing Niagara Falls with real water. | have som
curiosity to see the cataract in operation" raj,
Clark, at the same time time mounting upon
a chair in order to obtain a full view over the head
of the visitors.
felt considerably sheepish as | saw this move
ment, aud listen to the working of the old pump
whose creakings seemed to me to be worse thai
ever l held my breath, expecting to hear the sa
gaciOus editor pronounce this the silliest humbul
he ever saw. | was presently, however, as mucl
surprised as delighted to hear him say:
well. Baruum, that is quite a new idea. l neve
saw the like before"
| revived in a moment, and thinking that i
Louis Gaylord Clark could see anything attractive
in the old model, lie must be particularly green, ]
determined t do all in my power to assist his YER,
dancy. Yes" | replied, '"it is quite a new
idea"