The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-12-30
From Barnum'S Autobiography.
CLARK AND BARNUM; OR, WHO
WAS SOLD!

~ III -''"S"i" otiOIlHinE 10 Nraln, tnc ar
list. 1t was undoubtedly fine model, giving
The mathematical proportions of that great
and the trees, rocks, buildings, etc,
in its vicinity. But the absur'!ity of the
thing consisted in introducing water, thus
pretending to present a fac smile of that
great wonder of nature. The falls were a
bout eighteen inches high, everything else
being in due proportion
confess felt somewhat ashamed of this
myself, yet it made good line in the bill,
and bought the model for 5000. My adj
vertiscment then announced among the at
fractions of the Museum,
THE GREAT MODEL OF NIAGARA FALLS,
WITH REAL WATER.
\ single barrel of water answered the pur-
pose of this model for an entire season for
the falls flowed into a reservoir behind the
scenes, and the water was continually rc-sup-
piled to the cataract by means of small
pump.
Many Of the visitors who could not afford
to travel to Niagara were doubtless induced
to visit the "modci with real water" and if
they found it rather small potatoes thew
had the whole Museum to fall back upon for
2j cents, and no fault was found
One day was pcremptori!y summoned to
appear before the Boar', Of Croton Water
Commissioners the next morning at ten o.
clock. was punttual.
"Sir," sad the President. "vou pav only
SO per annum for the Croton water at the
Museum. That is simply intended to supply
the ordinary purposes of YOUR establishment.
We cannot furnish water for Your Niagara
Falls without LARGE extra compensation"
Brr.inc :" his honor" not to believe all he
read in The PAYERS. nor to hc too literal in the
Interpretation of nv huge showhl!> explain
cd the operation of the great cataract, and
offered TO pay dollar drop for all the wa
ter used for Niagara Falls exceeding one
barrel per month, provided my pump contin-
ued in good order | was permitted to re-
tire. amid hearty burst of laughter from the
commissioners, in which his honor the Prcsi-
dent. condcScendcd to Join.
On one occasion Louis GAYLORD Clark, Esq
the witty and popular editor of the knicker-
tocicr, called to view my Museum. had
rovo- had .I.. pleasure. Of ~....n;. him before.
and he introduced himself. was extremely
anxious that my establishment should receive
a" frSt-rate notice" in hi< popular magazine
and therefore accompanied him through the
entire Museum, taking especial pains to poin,
out all objects of interest. We passed the en-
trance of the hall containing Niagara Fall.
Just as Tie visitors had entered it from til,
performances in the Lecture Room. and hear
ing the pump at work, was aware that tn,
great cataract was at that moment in full Op
Grafton.
desired to avoid that exhibition fcein.
confident that if Mr.. Clark should see tn,
model Niagara, he would be so much DISGUST
cd with the entire show that he would 'blov
it up in his "knickerbockcr," or (what al
ways consider much the worse for mel pass i
by in silent contempt. Seeing him approach
the entrance, enleavorcd to call his attcn
ton to some object of interest in the othc
hall, but was too late lie had noticed
concoursc of visitors in the ''Fals Room,
and his curiosity to know what was going OF
was excited
"IIold on, Barnum," said Clark ''lct us Sc
what you have here"
ut is only model of Niagara Falls" re
piled.
"Oh, all, YES. YES, remember now, nc
ticed your advertisements and splendid pos
tiers announcing Niagara Falls with real wa
ter. have some curiosity to see the "ata
ract in operation" said Clark at the sam
time mounting upon chair in order to OF
tain full view over the heads of the visitor
/ felt considerably sheepish as saw th
movement and listened to the working of tn
old pump, whose creakngs seemed to me t
be worse than ever. held nv breath e,
pccting to hear the sagacious editor pronounc
this the silliest humbug he ever saw. W:
presently, however, as much surprised as d,
lighted to hear him say:
"Well, Barnum, declare that is quite
new idea. Inever saw the like before
revived in moment and thinking tn;
if Louis GAYLORD Clark could see any thin
attractive in the old model, he must be pal
ticularly green, determined to do all in m
power to assist his verdancy. EYES, | IT
piled, "it is quite new idea"
II declare never saw any thing of tn
kind before in all my life" exclaimed Clar
with much enthusiasm.
Il flatter myself it is, in point of original
ty and ingenuity, considerably ahead Of an
invention of modern times" replied with
feeling of exutation as saw that had caugl
the great critic, and was sure of puff of ii
hest sort.
"Oricinal :" exclaimed the editor. aye
it is certainly original. Incver dreamed {
" such thing. / never saw anything of Il
kind before since was born and | hoI
It with all my heart never shall again" "
a 1t is needless to say that was completed
taken in, and felt that any ordinary keyho
J. was considerably larger than would be nece
sary for me to crawl through.
e We then passed to the upper stories OF tt
G Museum, and finally to the roof. where hs
e ,.lror,;soJ q N ..nrial rarlpn " which cOnSIStt