Washington sentinel., 1854-06-18

enemy. Dauntess, they scale the surrounding
walls roof and trees. pipe in hand bent on conquer
ing and. cutting of all retreat, they compel The
demon OF lire 10 stay his course. Streams of rush
ing water pour from all directions BaiJled he
obeys; and, as the crushing walls fall on the ex.
piring embers, he acknowledges their sway, while
the mingled cheers of the brave fremen and the
assembled multitude proclaim The victory"
Nor was this all left to be filed by the ina.
gination. The different instrumental bands
were actually heard at the distance and one
after another, they actually appeared descending
the lofty staging as they entered in at the rear.
The fire alarm was actually accompanied with
the deep-toned tocsin Of the fre-bell, and a
rattle and clamor like that Of rushing engines;
and then the dome of the palace appeared to
be in a lurid blaze, with the busy iremen high
overhead working among the flames. The
grand crash of the music was tremendous, and
at the close the hurrahs were like those of
grand mass meeting in election times, when
the presidential candidate Of the party in coun.
Gil is introduced to the crowd. Three times
three. Hurrah! hurrah hurrah and tiger.
Barnum and julien were both called out,
and each made little speech, both had been
successful, and both were decidedly in clover
Without waiting for anything more we left at
this point, and came away as well as we could
through the swarming thousands which poured
out like food, overAowing the streets and
blockading them in every direction. Such was
the first night Of the musical congress. un.
derstand that Barnum put down the whole
number of admissions yesterday at forty thous.
and, which, at the average Of fifty cents each,
is equal to some twenty thousand dollars. II
required some novel and extraordinary expe.
dient to call up the crystal palace from the
dead; and if Barnum has not succeeded, then
the concern is, indeed, past redemption. How
long this musical congress "is to last we are
not exactly advised. 1t was announced last
night in the palace in flowing placard that
the concerts hereafter would be continued every
night at twenty-five cents"
Mr.. Wise is soon to make another balloon
ascension from the palace, which will further
serve to draw. Desperate diseases require
desperate remedies;" but we repeat that Bar.
mum, after all, promises to make the palace
pay. He is called the Napoleon Of humbugs.
What oft? Is not the world, is not life ITSELF
and all its evanescent illusions, are they not all
humbugs? Do not the public love to be hum.
bugged in princely style? They do. Andif
they get their moneys worth, can they COM
plain? Mol Then, rest assured, that there is
no reason for complaint in paying twenty-five
cents for ticket to the crystal palace, with
the musical congress- balloon ascensons, and
all other extras thrown in. If there were only
q few such geniuses in Washington as Barnum,
the people thereof would soon find out the value
Of such humbugs in various agreeable enter
tainments which would bring throngs Of yisi-
tors to the city from time to time, leaving thous
ands Of dollars behind them. He is valuable
humbug who thus contributes to enrich the city
in which he lives. Time up. Let this suffice
for the present. UNCLE SAM.