Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1859-03-19


Poor Captain Cook!' exclaimed
Clark with a sigh 4 wonder ifhe
was conscious after receiving the
fatal blow
Il don't think he could have
been, | replied with well feigned
look OF sorrow. III
You are sure this is the identi-
cal club 2 injured Clark
I'VE have documents which
place its identity beyond question:
[ replied.
Poor Cook 2 poor Cook!' said
Clark, musingly. SWell, Mr.. Bar
num- he continued, with great
gravity, at the same time extending
his hand and giving mine a hearty
shake, | am really very much OBJ
liged to you for your kindness. I
had an irrepressible desire to- see
the club that killed Captain Cook,
and l felt quite confident you could
accommodate me. I have been in
half dozeu smaller museums, and
as they all had 1t, I was sure i
large establishment like yours
would not be without it!'
My laurels were fast witheriil 4.
and felt that unless I kept ~ Z
wits about me and managed pay
Clark at least an In Garment on
what ! os IL should he the
Laughing ocEof all:his acquaint-
.aDces. A few weeks afterwards,
Therefore, / wrote him note, say
ing that / desired to consult him
for few moments at my office, on
a subject OF much Importance to
me. He came Immediately. ~
Now said I, [do not want any
Of your nonsense, but I want your
sober advice. = <-e ..> -.
MY dear Barnum,'he replied,
in the fulness of his truly generous
heart, nothing will afford me
greater pleasure than to serve you
in any way in my power .',.:
| proceeded to inform him that
a gentleman who had visited Egypt
had brought from the river Nile a
most remarkable living fish, which
lie offered toZhire for exhibition
The fish, l. told him, was of a Pc
c1liar formation, and that the own
er Of it would place $1,000 in the
hands Of a responsible banker, to
if the fish did not with
in six weeks pass through a trans
formation by which its tail would
disappear, and it would then have
legs.
rs it possible = exclaimed Clark.
assured him that there was no
about it. But, said I,
his price is high, and I want to ask
your opinion in regard to it, sue
cess. He asks 800 per week for
the use Of it.. ~ .v
1T is cheap enough, my dear
fellow. twill draw you more than
that sum extra per day.. Why the
whole thing is Incredible. It will
startle the naturalists-w up the
whole scientific world and draw
in'the Masses 1s @sz<Sa
DO you really think SOP I asked.
Upon my honor, I am sure of
it, responded Clark, with much
enthusiasm. MAKE an engage
mert for six months, or for a year,
if possible, then come out and state
the facts regarding this wonderful
transformation -, announce that
$4,000 have been deposited in res
ponsible hands which will be for
teited to the poor of this city if the
change does not take place as des
cribed, and my word for it your
museum will not be large enough
to contain your visitors. I declare
I believe you will make $4,000
by the operationv - II '~'s@i
I thanked Mr.. Clark very warm
ly for bis kind counsel. and assured
him that I should. not fail to take
his advice. In fact. said 1T@'l
thought well Of the speculation, ex-
cepting that Ibid not like tho
name Of the fish. I think that's
an objectiou.' ..........: a.: ~,
sTush, tush, not at all ); what's in
a name. Nothing. That makes
no difference, whatever. What Is
the name Of the fsh?' ?'47 2s's%.s3s] ez
<Tadpoie, butt is vulgarly ca'l-
o1 ,,o11v-oo- >~,,;+h ~