Smyrna times., 1857-01-28
Barnum's Biography.


One of the best specimens of the style bio
graphical that we have seen for long time,
Is that adopted by New York correspondent
OF the Boston Journal, in speaking of Barnum.
After mentioning the fact that the great show
man had left for Europe, where he has gone on
some theatrical enterprise, the writer goes on
to say:
lie is again in his original employ. He is
one OF the many instances of The great rever-
ses OF fortune with which New York abounds.
lie began life poor in small village of Con-
nectlcut. lie was poorly educated, his tone of
life was not high, and his manners were coarse.
He was smart even to impudence, and early
made noise in his native town. He was put
into store. He grew up to a printing case,
lie became an editor OF a village paper. He
libelled Judge. lie was fined and imprisoned.
tie became the idol of the people, who thought
him wronged. He was taken from the prison
with drums beating and banners fying--and
thus got good start in the world. He came
to New York. Had nothing to lose, so he made
a bold investment He won. He was praised
on all hands. New fields were opened to him,
and ne became millionaire In public esteem,
lie was more popular in that he made his own
fortune.
But the tales of his early life hung 10 him
all the while. He took an old house at Bridge.
port, made it over into an Oriental villa. but
the low walls in the interior betray yed the mean
origin OF the edlice, as the open mouth often
reveals what tawdry or fashionable girl at
tempts TO hide. Barnum at one time was yerv
popular III Connecticut. His name was pro-
prosed for the Office of Governor. He was
President of the State Agricultural Society.--
lie gave temperance lectures and was great
man, but like one of Jerome's clocks he run
down. lie sought to get wound up. But it
was IN vain. He lost caste the moment he lost
his money. He was seen for a while in his old
haunts, looking neg ected and seedy. Then
ne LETT tor Europe. lie may come back in funds
or he may not"
Barnum's autobiography has done immense
mischief to young men. 1t taught that tricke:
ry, fraud and craft and cunning were better
than application to honest toll or business
Inc .tnale was wanting. 4 1t has been added to
the book as an appendix. 1t develops the IN
variable law OF life, that true and permanent
success attends only the dilligent, the honora-
BILE and the perseVerng. .,e.-..s
GUARDIAN ANGELS There are those who
oelIeve that 1t is the especial privilege of the
"loved and lost" to be hereafter the guardian
watchers of the living who are left behind
them. Such persuasion has dried manyi a
mourner's tears In the overwhelming grief
that death brings, 1t is a relIef unspeakable to
think that the lamented parent, the cherished
partner, or the darling child are still with u.s.
separated only by thin division Of air, SYM
pathizlng with US, watching over us, and 81
lently Persuading US to holy actions. Often
has such conviction checked the rising Thought
OF evil, and turned the tempting and erring
BACK to the paths of virtue. We would fain
befleve that those innOcents who are given TO
their parents tor awhile, and who are taken
away just as they have begun to weave them
selves about our hearts, are angels ndisguise,
sent TO wean us from earthly things and revive
IN our souls longing for Paradise. God spir-
ltuallzes us In this way when all other means
1ail. Ihere are praying mothers whose sons
are tar away, to whom this belief has some
times come with peculiar beauty. Oh what
lnexpressible JOY to think that guardian angels
attend the wanderer in the watches of the night
IN the storms at sea, on the wide prairie and
on the bleak Sierra. Grown men separated by
vast oceans, from their early homes, often feel
as IT some invisible presence was with them:
as though celestial spirit, won by mothers
petitions, were constantly protected by their
footsteps.
There is German legend which says that
each OF US at birth, have guardian angel ap-
| pointed, who remains with US until death. nm
less driven away by our remorseless wckedness.
Alas, for those who have banshed their invis-
ble attendant. What dissolution there must
be as they go into the dark eternity to come.
lonely wanderers whom no messengers from
Paradise take by the hand to conduct his spirit
to the realms of purity and bliss, where countless
myriads bask eternally in the golden sunlight
of Gods love. i.'. -