The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-27

BARNUM's LAST OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Che
Waller Barnum has come out with = long
speech, sort Of confession and apology for
his past errors, and 90 on. The Chevalier 10,
like all sinners, profuse in promises to do
better in future and his morals are of the
highest order. We do not know when we have
seen more refreshing piece of blarney than
Barnum's last Grafton; certainly not since he
printed his great book. Barnum declares that he
notes, bought back his wax works, monkeys
and other curiosities, and that he intends to
stick to the show business at the old stand. 1t
is very difficult to find out what Barnum means
BY what he says at any time, and this latter
movement is quite as mysterious as those which
have preceded it. What the Chevaliers game
Is no one can tell, and there is no knowing
where he may turn up at any moment He is
plausible, fluent, pathetic, moral aud reli-
eious, giving great many words and very few
facts, and meaning nothing in particular.
The speech may be setdown as clever hum
bug; but with all Barnum's elaborate argu-
ments, and his wonderful accounts of his ire
mendous exertions, there is still apparent the
circumstance that he lacks the great balance
wheel of common sense, without which the
human engine can never be run successfully.
If we take the career of Barnum and compare
it with those of men who have won fame and
fortune in pursuits similar to his own, we will
find the strongest evidence that some
thing is wanting in the furniture of the
Chevalier's mental household. We might allude
to the case of Mr.. William Niblo, who COM
menced life in other pursuits, but afterwards
drifted into the business of catering for the pub
lies amusement. Mr.. Niblo has been twenty
five years before the public, directing every
variety of theatrical entertainment, and has ad-
hered strictly to his business. No clock specu-
lations, no fire annihilators no shipgle palaces,
nor wild real estate operations. for Niblo. He
left those to Barnum. Nor has Niblo ever in
truded his personality upon the public by at
tempting extraordinary conps, writing silly
books, or making pretentious speeches. On the
contrary, Mr.. Niblo has been quick, steady
going man Of business, whose word was HE
bond, who was just, generous and liberal at the
same time, and who, although dealing with
artists and entrepreners Of all nations, and
coming in contact with all manner Of people,
has left a favorable impression upon all. In
Europe, as well as America, Mr.. Niblo bears
the reputation Of the upright manager. He re-
tires, as we hear, on the LIST of May next, mil
lionaire in reality.
The lesson from all this is that Niblo
succeeded by sticking to the business
which he had learned and understood,
while Barnum, overrating his own powers,
became an easy prey to sharpers and kiteAyers
Both Barnum and Niblo are naturally clever
men, but Niblo had that staple, common sense,
which Barnum lacks Hence Niblo retires Q
millionaire, while Barnum goes to work again
poor man, looking for another Joice Hesh
It seems to us that the lives Of these two men,
Niblo and Barnum, afford good lesson for the
rising generation, and therefore We have direct
ed especial attention to them.