Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1864-07-28


fortunes, and scattered them by an open,
genial nature, that statlds ready to believe
all men truthful, and yet at this moment
comes out of the fire worth couple of mil
lions, and an increasing income that bids fair
in few years to make him the richest man
in America
The acquisition of wealth has not acted
upon Mr. Barnum as it would on most men
made him desirious to seek ease. His heart
Is in the Museum, he was born to it, and as
long as his physical powers will let him, and
he looks good for half century yet, so long
will he be found at his post, with a busy
head, stretching all over the world, himself,
as the Prince of Walesj who, strange to say,
made the Museum the only place of amuse-
ment he visited during his American tour,
remarked, the most extraordinary curiosity
| in the establishment. In the details Of his
managementhe is assisted by his son-in-law,
but had Mr.. Barnum so such aids it would
not induce him to give up the personal su-
pervision ofeverything, and daily presence.
Before we close this part of our gossip we
must give praise to one matter that deserves
especial mention. We allude to the refine
ment of the performances in the lecture
room While there is continued success
sion of original plays, written expressly for
him, and production of everything that
makes success upon the English stage, not
one word is ever heard, or an action per-
mitted, that could not meet the ears, or eyes
of the most fastidous. AT the rate of ad
mission charged, no theatre could afford to
give performance that so rivals everything
in the metropolis, and the only way that it
can pay is by the great numbers who attend,
and the fact that three performances are
given daily, and on holidays five or six.
Lindencroft, the home of Barnum, is in
Bridgeport, Conn.,, a city that owes a large
portion of its celebrity to his enterprise, and
is at this moment half owned by him. Since
the burning of Iranistan, which came near
er palace than any building ever erected
in this country, its owner has been seeking
to recover at Lindencroft the lost beauty of
the former home. All that wealth, art and
industry can bcstow, is lavished with open
hands, and here the Snowman, who has cul-
tivated by travel and association fine taste,
spends his Saturdays and Sundays, sur
rounded by arefned and affectionate family,
and, fed full with the beauty Of nature and
the luxuriousness Of wealth, gathers fresh
energy for the week, and enjoys the pros
perity Of neighbors he has helped to make.
For almost a quarter ola century Barnum
has labored in Bridgeport, and has seen his
labor bring it from a country village to a
fine ci,y.H He has founded and built up the
town of East Bridgeport, and has bridged
the Housatonic to bring it into the original
city. He does not speculate, but he buys
all the land that offers, builds houses, plants
fine trees, beauties every spot that comes
under his hands, and then sells when he can
get good neighbor. The result is that
Bridgeport can show some Of the most beau
tiful villas on the continent, and for miles
over its well-kept roads the scene is one of
continued natural loveliness, enhanced by
architectural graces
Among his neighbors Barnum is regard
ed as few men are. He is the friend and
benefactor of both rich and poor, and no
worthy cause appeals to his purse in vain.
| In person Barnum is about s feet 10 in
ches, and weighs about 40 pounds. He is
always quick ~~and energetic in his move
ments, and his sharp gray eye sees more at
a glance than can be performed in a month.
His complexion is light, and about his face
there is perpetual smile, which, when it
breaks into a laugh, carries everybody with
it mozens oozens. He is never happier than
when, surrounded by friends. sending out
/ the scientillations of anecdote and expert
enee, ofwhich he is full, and which a peculiar
talent for storytelling makes gems. For
many years he has been strictly a total abb
| stinence man, setting it forth not only by
his own example but by lectures before
thousands, and stands goodliving instance
! of his creed
We believe that Barnum is 81 years of
age, the very flush time of his life, and as
Tennyson says:
| With ruddy health and boundless wealth.
may yet live to make some farther mark
upon the age that will add to the reputation
he already has of being one Of the most ex-
/ traordinary men Of the time i'.
Pork AND BEANs.-Holps Journal of
Health says that white beans are the cheap
est and most nutritious food which can be
eaten. Beans and pork furnish nearly al
the elements necessary to human existence.
A quart of beans at eight cents, and pound
of pork at twelve cents, win feed a small
family for day. Four quarts of beans
and two pounds of corned beef boiled to
rags, in fifty quarts Of water, viii furnish a
good meal for forty men, at one and a quar-
ter cents per man.