The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-05-16
BernNm and the Prince OF
Wales.

Ioudon magazine, gives the following
as Mi illustration of Barnum's assurance
When his Royal Ilighncss the Prince Of
Wales was was in New York, in the
autumn of the year 1860, he one day,
aticIidcd by suite, paid quite unexpected
ly; visit to Mr. Bariiurn's Museum
Every attention was shown TO the distiii-
guishcl visitor by the manager, who "on-
Quoted them through the establishment
And where is Mr.. Barnum = inquired
the Prince, when the pariy wus about to
quit the building.
'Mr. Barnum, yotr Royal llighncss, is
unfortunately absent from the city, re-
Piled the manager.
'l'hcn,' said the Prince, turning with a
smile to Col. Bruce, who stood near him,
'wc have missed seeing the greatest curl
osity. after ALL
Mr.. Barnum was at his country scat
lraiiistar, IN bridgeport, Coma fan
tastic Oriental stfrictufd; standing in ex-
tcnsivc pleustirc-sru.inds. said tU lIatc cost,
with the Npfrtdiiling grounds, the large
sum of 100, 900 dollars (fSJ, 1000 } and
on the farm attached to which the ploughs
were for Il considerable period drawn by
a pair of elephants driven by tl,cir keeper
in Oriental costume, until il ttas found
that the cost Of feeding tho slgaiiiic ami
mais absorbed all the profits Of tie farm,
when they were dispensed with.
The manager, as soon us the Prince
and his suite had quilted the building,
despatched Il telegraplic message to Mr..
Barnum, to acquaint him with the fact
that his museum had been honorcd by II
visit from the illustrious strangers, at1d
that lis Royal 1lighncSs had expressed
his disappointment at not seeing the pro-
prictor.
The next morning Barnum set out for
New York city, only TO find on his arri-
val that the Prince had already taken his
departure for Boston, where the reception
given to his Royal IIrghness was, perhaps
more truly kind and respectful than that
which he Received in any other part of
the country. One entire wing of the
Revere llouse-the largest hotel in the
city-was engaged and fitted up by the
authorities for the accommodation of him
self and his suite. the remaining portion
being as usual, occupied by the ordinary
guests and by strangers on visit TO the
city
10 Boston Mr.. Barnum posted after
tie Prince in hot haste, and, on his arri-
val, put up at the Revere House, where
the writer Of this article wes also stopping,
having come on n visit to Boston from
Richmond,
l had had some previous slight acQuain-
tance with Mr.. Barnum, and was person.
ally known. TO him; and on the evening
OF his arrival at the hotel, | saw him in
the vestibule, pacing to and fro, in state
OF great excitement, with Il thin quarto
tucked under his arm, and looking wildly
about him at the different guests Pres
emily he caught sight of me, and, though
| had never spoken to him more than
once Or twice, and then only or business
matters, lie came hastily toward me and
seized my hand.
'Ah, Air. he cried 'how fortu-
nate. l saw your name on the books.
but the clerk said you had gone. have
been seeking for you everywhere. You
must know Eve come up after the Prince.
lie Went to visit my ftfuseufr. Isuppose
you heard Of that. Very unfortunate
was away at bridgeport. Started for
New York as soon as | heard that he'd
expressed wish to see me- Found he
was gone. Came on to Boston. You
sec I've got an album, showing me the
book he held under his arm, 'Bucking-
ham Palace is the frOntiSpiccc. Just the
correct thing. Now | want to obtain an
interview with his Royal IIighness, and
to write his autograph IN this album and
they tell me | must write letter asking
permission to wait upon him. Now
you're an Eaglishman. You know how
they manage these things in England.
Will you write a note for me! Say that
I've come up from Bridgeport expressly
TO pay my respects. Say Mr.. Barnum
and friend, it you like then you can 90
in with me. DO, now, there's good
fellow. You'll oLlige me more than |
can express.
With a very faint hope of success, I
yiel led TO Barnum's earnest solicitations,
and accompanying him to his room, wrote
the note in the manner thought most
misunderstanding the words 'and
friend, because thought il the Prince
d'd yield to Barnum's importantly, |
might as well witness the result of the in
terview. The note was forthwith dcs-
patched, and TO my surprise, in very
few minutes the messenger returned and
said:
Ills Royal lIighpess will admit Mr..
Barnum and his friend immediately
We followed the messenger TO an apart
mcnt in which the Prince and his suite
were seated at centre table, upon which
were pens ink, and paper, as if some of
the party had been engaged in writing.
As soon as the door was thrown open,
Barnum stepped boldly in and announced
himself, at the same time producing his
album, while | stood silently in the back
ground. The Prince rose from his seat
and bowed slightly, and Barnum, in no
way abashed proceeded to say that hc
very much regretted his absence from
New York on the occasion Of His Royal
llighness visit to the museum and