Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-12-20
1flisfeilallcors.
From the Advance Sheets of Barnum Autobiography.
CRlMMED CIRCUS COMPANY.

-
the circus, was an original genius a good
Judge of human nature, man from whom
much information might be derived He
was withal practical joker. By his un-
tiring industry be amassed large fortune,
and was not little proud to inform the
world that he commenced life without
shilling Frequently have I heard him
say. Every man who has good health and
common sense is capable of making a for
tone. if he only reSolges to do so. As a
proof of it look at me Who am don't
know who | am. or where | came from. |
never had father nor mother, that | know
of: at all events / must have started from
the lowest depths of degragation [ never
had any education | commenced life as
shoemaker. What little [ can read, |
picked UP myself after | was eighteen
! wears of age: and as fer writing why the
way / first learned that was by signing
nv name to notes of hand [ used first
to make my mark. but being poor devil,
| I had occasion to give my note so often
that [ finally learned to write my name,
and so I have got along BY degrees. Now
! see what am now | have become so by
| industry. perseverance and economy: and
any man may bscome rich who viii deter
mine to do so. There is not such a word
/ as 4" "cauH0t,n in the English language
Never say you can't do thing-and
never cry broke until you are dead"
While in Annapolis, Mr.. Turner play
ed a trick upon me which shall never for
get We arrived there late on Saturday
evening. We had been doing highly
p:oftabls business, which made me feel
pretty rich, and went out that night and
bought me a fine suit of black clothes
We were all strangers In that town. never
having been there before On Sunday
morning feeling proud of my sable suit
[ dressed myself and started TO stroll
about the town. [ passed through the
bar room of the hotel About twenty
ner. who had by that time made their ac
quaintanee. After [ passed out, Turner,
pointing in the direction wlich | had ta-
ken remarked to the company 8 think
It's very singular you permit that rascal
/ to march yeur streets in open day. 1t
wouldn't be allowed in Rhode Island. and
! [ suppose that l. the reason the black
coated scoundrel has come down this
way"
| . Who, who is be e2' calculated half a
dozen at once
Don't you know? Why that is the
Rev T. K Avery, the murderer Of Miss
Cornell answered Turner.
is it possible they exclaimed all
starting for the door. eager to get look
at me. and several swearing vengeance
against the h-pocritical priest.
Turner having put the ball in motion
quietly took a seat. while every person in
! the bar-room started in pursuit of me, /
! had turned q corner of the street. and
was very innocently, though rather POM
pouslv struttinc down the sidewalk, when
/ | was oyertakeu by dozen or more per
sons. whose number increased every mo-
ment. I observed as they passed me
taat each person looked back and stared
at me with apparent wonder,sI believe
/ I must have been uncommon proud OF
that suit of clothes. for was vain enough
/ to believe that my He1g suit was what at
tracted such special attention. [ how
ever. soon awoke from the happy illusion
( The mob passed me five or ten reds and
waited till I came up TO them. As Ipas-
/ sed [ heard several observations like the
I following: "The lechorou5 hypocrite," +"
+ /" the sanctifed murder :, the black coat
/ ed william" let's tar and feather him
+ s:lvnch the scoundrel," etc etc | passed
along totally unconscious that these re-
marks could possibly have any reference
/ to me. The de7ouemc21t. however soon
came The mob. which now numbered at
I - - l-,J,a1 Cra-4ooI- ,pa &c T ms
sed another corner, and one fellow seized
me by the collar. while five or six others
appeared. bearing rail between them.
/ /" Come" saws the man who had collared
me. "old chap. you can't walk any farther;
we know you, and we make gentlemen
Iride in these parts, you may prepare to
straddle that TG1t"
Ny surprise may well be imagined =
Good heavens / exclaimed as 3hev all
pressed around me, gentlemen what have
[ done g.
"Oh. We know YOU" exclaimed half a
dozen voices. you need not roll your
sanctimonious eyes; that game don't take
in this country. Come straddle the rail
and rement5er the stack gard :"
I grew more and more bewildered it
Il L
what possible offence | was TO suffer for.
and [ continued to exclaim. . Gentlemen
what have | done2 Don't kill me, gen
tlemen, but tell me what have done"
Come. make him straddle the rail
we'll show him how to hang poor factory
girls" shouted SONS chap from the
crowd
The man who had uie by the collar ther
remarked. g Come Mr.. Avery, its no use
YOU see we know you, and we'll give you q
touch of lynch law, and start you for
home again"
: Ny name is not Avery. gentlemen
YOU are mistaken IN your man." l ex
claimed
Come. come. none of your CANNON
straddle the rail. Ephraim,' said the maI
who had me by the collar.
The rail was brought TO such level a:
to allow me to be 'straddied" on it with
ont difficulty. and I was about to b
placed according to orders, as the trutl