Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-02-09
Barnum Exniodad.

According TO long article in tie Bridge.
port Standard, it was p Il. Barnum's wan,
OF business sagacity which occasioned tho
recent suspension of the Jerome Mannfac.
turing Company. The correspondent of the
Boston Post, writing from New York, SAYS
II is currently reported in that city, that Mr..
Barnum is bankrupt
We hope and believe not. Yet Barnun
has been running down hill ever since he
attempted to bumbug the Press. There
have been two eras in his lfe--one Of which
he devoted part Of his means to advertising,
reaping ten-fold profits and another, the
latter, in which he has attempted all the
lliegltimate by-ways Of notoriety, and sought
publicity without paying for it.
The engagement Of Jenny Lind was tho
elimination of the first era. In bis triumph
and success he thought he could kick over
the ladder by which he rose.
| lie discarded the Press as an agency and
/ thought he could be his own advertiser
blow his own trumpet--rise up, balloon like,
10y the force of his own gas AS well might
man attempt to lift himself mp by the
wristbands Of his own pants. He inflated
himself, bnt it was like the frog in the fable,
emulous of rivaling ox-only TO bust
In MS new experiment everything failed
as rapidly and wonderfully as everything had
succeeded under the old system. The Urys-
tai Palace became mess of cracked crock
cry under Es touch; the Fire Extinguisher
burnt his fingers terribly; his Menagerie be.
came the rdcule of the public. and he was
the smallest animal in his show. He put
ms fingers in the Press and got squeezed.
HIS Illustrated Paper Illustrated his foliy.
lie undertook Lecturng; but was never
asked twice to the same place. He tried
philanthropy and Temperance--and got cold
water for his reward. lie attempted his
l-ite--in the way of biography. He had bet
Ter attempted bis jusular with the back of a
razor The public laughed at the dull and
silly parade. He tried the softer sex. But
the Bear Woman bore him no profits; the
Black Swan laid no golden eggs in his nest;
the teeming Matrons of the Baby Shows were
barren as far as bis Exchcquer was con-
cerned
He put his face upon the bills of the Bridge.
port Bank but whether the Suffolk threw
them out or the people threw them mn, Wa
know not; but he has stepped down from the
Presidency, and the bank finds itself as we'll
without him. His evil genius pursued him
INTO the factory. 1t was the opposite of a
satisfactory operation. The business was
wooden clocks, but it would not come TO time
in Barnum's hands.
In all this latter career his aim was 10 get
notorlety without paying for it. TO be talked
OF 10y the Press, and TO give nothing to them
SO cunning was he that he would spend ten
dollars in those by.paths Of publicity rather
than devote one to the legitimate uud certain
channels.
And there he is I! The deposed King Of
itumbug. puts aside his wreath of laurels.
and crowns his OWN head with prickly
thistles.
Ills whole course e1empli6es this:
MORAL. L.-lumbug the public-evade tho
law, delude the clergy--but do not attempt
to humbng the infalIible Press. 1t is i'm
possible to do it. 1t is fatal to try.-AlJday
.4HuS