New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-14
Hall Ewasthca knew. By n. very 'nresendins and

HAIL. ICWaethen Hn0WB " tbo WY phtetehuhS on"
very indefinite title. Tho New.York Institution
From that location II was removed Ia 1899 To tho bald
ing whose fallen walls aud smodering ruins now render
it IS difficult of Identification the corpse OF pas-.
enger who has been suddenly added to the cataoeu "
" railroad MURDERS" The Institution then changed IL
name to "Scudders American Museum" and was co,-
Quoted by Mr. John Furzaap. for the benefit Of the
daughters OF Mr.. Scudder, who were tic actual p'o.
prietorr II cost its founder (Mr. Scudder) perhaps
somewhere in the neigbborhcod Of $4,000 and from
the profits Of the establishment ne had been able 70
leave liberal competency to his children. Toward the
end Of Its career. however. "Seudders american Mus
scum proved to be losing concern. and the heirs
anxious to dispose ofi The price asked was sl5,oOo
1t was az this time that the great Snowman the uni
versal Yankee. the moustermong Mr.. p. T. Bsrnum.
bad bis attention directed to the establishment, and
first seriously contemplated nauguratng the colossal
show which it has since proved under bis energetic
management. Certainly cor ,ise. graphic nod
generally satisfactory description Of the manner III
which the Museum passed into bis possession can b
given than Is contained in the following extract from
That extraordinary biographical production The Life
of p. I. Barnum. by HIMSELF ,,. 80
"The Museum building. learned belonged to Mr.
Francis W. Olmstead retired merchant. who had -
suite OF rooms in Park place. How 10 approach tbs
great the question. / was acquainted with no
one who knew him. and TO enter his presence without
an Introduction considered eqaivslent TO bei,g
kicked out Of his house. Therefore wrote him letter
informing him that desired 20 purchase the Museum
collection and that although had no req fy means, "
il could b. purchased upon reasonable credit was
entirely confident that my tact and experience, afdsd
to most determined devotion 10 business wouh en-
able me to make the payments when dne
'On this basis 1 asked him 20 purchase the ccllec-
ton Ia his own Names give me writing securing u to
me- provided made the payments punctuallyi ALLOW
me twelve dollars and half week to support NY
family; and II at any time failed 20 meet the install
ment due, would vacate the premises and forfeit al
that might have been paid to that date IN fact, NJ
Olmstead,' continued in my earaestness. yon r'y
bind me in any way and tightly as yoa please oa'y
give me a chance to dig ont scratch ont and vii
either do 30 or forfeit oil the labor and trouble wbc Il
may have incurred"
This representation, it appears, had the desired
effect and after considerable firter negotiation the
Museum, on the morning Of tho 9Th vi December ls4
formally passed into the possession OF Mr.. Bsrnnn,
Since that period. probably 10 place on the civilized
1iloIs has oontr.ved do sfnuch toward keeping
curiosity loving community on continual cape u
amazement
Industrious fels, mermads w0olIy horses, educated
dogs jngglers Of all sizes anl nations automatic ven
troluiss living statuary tableaix gipsies. indians
albinos fat boys, thin boys giants dwarfs, rope
dancers Give Yankees" pantomimes. diofam's, piano.
ranas, models Of Dublin Paris. Niigars Jerusalem.
and other prominent paces mechanical figures fancy
gass.bIowers, knttiBg.mschines. babysh dog
shows, chicken shows, &c.. &C., &C., have constantly
deplo,ed in regular succession before the eyes y
myrads of the rising and risen generations.
1.-THE first thing did," says NJ, BlInum, in his
lecture How to make Money. 80 Oh entering upon fhe
management of the Museum vas 20 make bargain
with an ingenious but unackaowlclsed artist 70 paint
upon tie exterior of the building. upon every available
spot OF surface, representation Of ovsry bird. beast
blped aud qu,lruped npon the face oftbc EARTH And
indeed, lie followed ms iDjunetops faithfully thst
not only did he produce fac smile Of every Known
bird and beast, but considerable spTnkling that were
decidedly sekaora and which would have pnt Cn'ie
and RIifon 20 a vast deal II trouble 10 classify"
From beginning very humble and insignificant.
Baruuns Museum has risen under the care, energy
and enterprise Of its worldrenownel caterer until at
the time Of its destruction It probably r.viied any es'
Enlistment OF the kind in the void. Ne. only did -
contain an interminabc st OF natural crr!osl'ie'.
living and dead but the few small which the co.,
lection once occupied excessively developed into
extensive Exhibition halls, spacious and elegantly
Theater, COsmorlma saloon. Waxfigsre
Gallery. workshops laboratories and factories. ao-
gether occupying four OF the largest buildings in the
city.
In view Of the fact Of his having been frequently
taken to task for fosting upon the pnbe such unpara
leed fabrcacrs and hunibugs as the Fcejee Nernad'
lhe Wooly Horse, Joce Heath, &c, Mr.. BaJnum
remarks;
"Apart from the merit OF my dramatic performances.
nv permanent collection OF euriosties is without doubt
abundautly worth the uniform charge OF ADMISSION 70
all the entertainments OF The establishment anu cAL'
not therefore afford to be accused OF 'lnmoee wnen
add such ansieat novelties as increase ne stfsco
n 10 on bibeI questionable dead mermaid IN ny
Wnseam a should not be overlooked that hove also
exhibited live camel leopsras, rhinoceios' gt.,ny
bears ouTang oatng. ana s yHn oeasanS, ia t,s
Of trapsparencies flags exaggerated pictures ana
nnalng ADVERTISEMENTS, might mud sn onhet Ia tne
wilderness Of wonderful. Instructive ana amusing rsn
Tea Moreover, the titles OF 'Humbu- and Prince
n Uuubugs' we're first applied 10 ne ny nyscl-t
Slain them as part Of my stock in trade.
One OF the most prepesterons spectaeies ever an
nouneed at Barnum's was his exhibition known ~ u.
i Great Model Of Niagara FaIls with Real Wstef
rbis Immense creation consisted OF fl VI water Is
inches high ythng else being IN proportion
,n gle barrel of water answered the " he
cataract and the supply was continually ieiurnnle"
me aus OF a small pump, 1T,
Bot the greatest Of all Barnums monsro~ties IS az
mitted to have been the fa1 famed teeJee Mernail.
This gigantic "scl"-to use popular erpression-was
,imply an ingenious figure manufactured IN Japan.
small specimen Of the kind is said 10 be row lying IN
the ROYAL Museum Of Indian Antiquities at he hague
It was not the thing itself however which erortsi az
Ihe excitement and general wonder but the or!gin,t
manner in which the proprietor Of the Museur COW
trived 10 advertise II. Causing colninubea'',n ~
appear In a NewYork paper, dated Montgomery; Ala
giving the news of the day trade crops, poei g9s.
ain GO n elxo "a II by Incident contained an BIT