The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-11-03
Barnssu,'s Speech on EEuanbugs.

DcLirered at Stanford, on the occasion at tie Ag-
ricuIttuaL Far, Fairfield C0unty.
1t seems to be most unfortunate circumstance
that | should be selected to speak on humbug, as
looking on .he ladies, whose profession it pecu.
Iiary 6ts find it hard to express myself in their
presence. Everything is humbug; the whole
State is humbug, except Agricultural Society
that alone is not
Ilumbug is generally defined, "dccet or impo-
! silion." A burglar who breaks into your house,
a iOrger who cheats you of your property, a
| rascal, is not humbug; humbug is an mpos.
ter; but 10 my opinion the true meaning of mum.
bug Is management--tlct, 10 take old truth and
put 1t ln attractive form.
But no humbug is great without truth at the
! bottom. The woolly horse was a reality. He
was really born with wooy coat. | bought
him in Cincinnati for $500, and sent him on to
Connecticut, but for a long time doubted what
Should do with him, and feared that he would die
on my hands. Just at this Time, in lS49, Col.
Fremont and his party reported to have been
lost among the Rocky Mountains. The public
greatly excited, but shortly news came that
he was safe. Now came the chance for the " oolIy
horse.
1t duly announced, that after three days
chase upon The borders of the River Ga, an ami.
NAL had been captured by the quartermaster Of
Col. Frecmonfs party, who partook in a singular
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 animal as
jumping ledge OF rocks; now if the animal
had really IeaPed, as shown in the picture, he
must have passed over space of five miles,
To have believed that he could have survived
such leap, would have been the grossest hum.
bug.
But Col. Benton, who understands no humbug
but his own, arrested my scheme, and prosecuted
me for obtaining money under false pretences, as
the horse not what ii prolesscd to be. but
think wrongly, the people who saw it were
satisfied, md they got the worth of their money.
Now the scientific hunbug should know the
precise moment to ac as did, or the world would
never have been blessed with sigh: OF the woolly
horse.
When the woolly horse arrived from Connecti-
cut he was put in stable near Love Joys Hotel.
One OF the boarders who came to see him recog-
missed him animal he had seen at Bridge
port. Good heavens!' he cried, 81 have seen
that animal before; it is really an extraordinary
humbug." He took up friend from the
hotel, and after he had seen the animal let him
in;o the secret, and in succession, thirty seven
persons were carried up, all of whom took the
hnmbuggng in good humor except the last man.
| have not the vanity to call myself real scien.
lifc humbug am only humble member Of the
My ambition TO be the Prince OF Humbugs
will resign b1t hope the public will take the will
for the deed; can assure them that if had beer
able to give them all the humbugs have thought
of, they would have been amply satisfied.
Before went TO England with Tom Thumb,
had skeleton prepared from various bones. 1t
was 10 have been made eighteen feet high; il
was to have been buried year or so in Ohio,
and then dug up by accident, SO that the pubic
might learn that there were giants Of old Tire
price was 10 pay the person who proposed 70 put
the skeleton together was 10 have been 1925.
But finding Tom Thumb more successful than
thought, sent word not to proceed with the skrIe-
ton. My manager, who never thought as highly
OF the scheme as it deserved, sold the skeleton for
$50 or S75.
Seven years afterwards received from the
South account of gigantic skeleton that had
been found. Accompanying ii the cerf-
Gales OF scientific and medical men 10 the
genuineness. The owner asked $4,000, or
81 900 month; wrote him If be brought it on
| would take il if found it represented, or
would pay his expenses if not; ; found ii was my
own old original humbug come back TO me again;
Of course refused il. and never heard Of it alter
wards.