The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-07-07
From Frank Leslies' illustrated Newspaper
BARNUM AND HIS MUSEUM.

amusement and instruction Mr.. ?. I
f Barnum undoubtedly stands without ri
val In the world. Having lost fortun
| by placing too much confidence in his fel
low men, he has overcome all obstacles
r and by an undated energy and an almos
apparently reckless outlay in procuring
extraordinary attractions for his Museum
has drawn the most immense multitudes
of patrons there during the last twenty
years. The consequence is, he is proba
bly, worth two Millions of Dollars. But
good fortune does not spoil man like
,Barnum, on the contrary, his indomitable
industry and his suavity keep full pace
with his great success and he declares
that his chief pride and pleasure is to at
tend personally to the business of his Mu-
scum, see to the comfort of his visitors
and constantly to produce the greatest
possible amount of valuable and startling
novelties for the smallest possible price of
admission. Hence, at daily expense of
SIX hundred dollars, more rare, curious
and instructive amusementan and "wonders"
may be enjoyed and seen in his Museum
for twenty-five cents than can perhaps be
found in any part of the world for ten
times that sum. A volume of the most
comprehensive interest and entertainment
might be filled with a mere list of all the
novelties in art and nature with which
Mr. Barnum has at various times, astoun-
ded, pleased, amused and instructed the
people of both hemispheres. From the
day that he first took possession of the A
merican Museum in 1871 he has never
failed nor faltered in his purposes of sat-
isfying an insatiate and incessant public
thirst for all that is novel, beautiful, gro
tesque, exceptional or monstrous. Scarce
an experiment that he has tried or an en-
terprise in which he has engaged, but has
been complete and signal triumph. His
first endeavorS though conducted with
wise restraint of caution, were successes
that laid the foundation of a hand
some fortune, but the adventures in which
he has launched with an apparent utter
disregard Of ordinary business chances
have been those from which he has real
lied the most stupendous results in mon
ey and renown. 1t is one of Mr. Bar
NUNS idiosyncracies not to be satisfied |
with Offering the public what would be
merely sufficient to content and attract
them. He must needs forestall and, as it /
were, overwhelm their craving for the
novel and marvellous by giving them a
great deal more than their widest expec-
tations could suggest He is not satisfied
to introduce one dwarf, however remark
able, to them at a time it must be
whole family or group of manikins. One
giant, who alone would be sufficient to
gather an unceasing throng Of admirers,
is not enough for him he must have four
Of them-as he did the other day-whose
combined altitude was in the neighbor-
hood of thirty-three feet When he Or
yanized a grand Aquarial exposition, (and
Oy the way, the Aquaria are about the
most delightful, aud at the same time in
things to be seen at the Muse
lm, he is not satisfied with collecting
-are and beautiful fish easily obtained near !
nome but he must 90 to the tropics and
procure the gorgeous angel fish, and then
% the east of Labrador to catch a genuine :
whale, spending more money in such ad
'enturous projects than one would think ,
could ever come back to him. The an ,
gel fish may sicken-it is replaced with 4
still more strange; the whale ,
nay die-and he Immediately goes to
work to obtain another Even at this
present time he has but just completed
IN immense glass reservoir to be supplied '
through pipes laid under the streets, at =
IN expense of three thousand dollars !
With salt water from the bay, in which a |
gigantic whale, which he is daily expec- !
ing to arrive here from the Northern
eas, is to deport itself this present sum-
ner. The cost Of such an undertaking is !
normous but Mr.. Barnum says it pays, {
md he unquestionably ought to know Z
simple enumeration of the lesser curl
sities with which the Museum is cram ,
ned, and, in which changes are going on 2
rom day to day-almost from hour to 2
lour would occupy too much space
hey compromise such an infinite variety T
nd appeal to such endless phases of pop !
liar fancy as to defy any attempt at de-
allied description. But there is one de- $
artment of the Museum deserving and r
equiring particular mention and unboun 9
ed eulogy. This rs the system Of Dra-
1atic Entertainments offered every after G
DON and evening in the Lecture Room. y
he management of this department in .
Olives the production of a constant sue r.
essien of new and effective plays, meri- i
orious original pieces, written expressly a
Or the establishment, and of the very pick !,
f such dramas, comedies and farces, as r. r.
ave already made their mark on the q
,nglish or American Stage. All of these q,
re brought out in splendid style With
ne scenery and handsome appointments,
nd are performed by complete and tai
nted company of actors. 1t is moreover
Ir. Barnum's special care to see to it that e
! whatever is played no words or situa- ii
on that could offend the taste of the most v,
sfned and fastidious should appear. In a,