The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-03-18
Humbug Barnum a. n Finuncier.

We reprint to-day curious chapter in the
history of the Bridgeport candidate for Con-
gress as fnancier. Whether or not the case
in which he appeared as defendant before the
Supreme Court in March, 1856, was "a made up
case," shrewdly contrived to evade a still more
searching examination of his financial opera
tions-after the manner Of Alcibiades, who di-
verted the attention of the Athenian public
from his secret designs by docking his dogs
tail-sthereby hangs tale" that may be twice
told to the advantage of P. T. BIS constituents
If not to his own. 1t is piquant revelation of
the "prestigitarian" dexterity with which this
great financial illusionist manipulated the in
Vulnerable Quarters bestowed on him by
a credulous public, together with his accumu-
lated stocks, mortgages and securities Of all
sorts. Now you see them, and presto! now
you don't. The great Snowman expands to q
full blown millionaire on paper and dwindles
to a pauper in court. He signs notes in blank
to be filed up to any amount-almost oil his
property being nicely assigned" to somebody
else. His only property left is, black re-
publicans of Connecticut a, mortgage on
slaves in Tennessee-not to mention q claim
for drowned giraffe. He has lost all his fabu-
Ions receipts as Snowman and has failed as
Spectator in graves, fire annihilators, cop
per mines, clocks, cutlery, French hat bodies
and what not besides. ~ am" he exclaims,
"the poorest kind Of business man." When
questioned as to the amount of his liabilities,
he answered, ~ cannot tell, but suppose
from half to o million of dollars" But with
all his losses he has not lost his "high moral
standard" With what an air he offers, as a
set off to his million dollars Of liabilities, to
surrender to his debtors gold watch that
"cost me about $780," and also "a diamond
pin and ring, which cost together about $500.
can produce them if compelled TO do SO ~
With what thrilling tones he declares, II wish
you 10 understand that the standard Of morality
for Snowman is peg or two higher than that
found in Wall I" With what digni6ed
and disinterested contempt he scorns his own
notcsl "They have been offered to me for
wenty cents, and have heard Of their being
offered for ten cents on the dollar would
not buy them at any price," Shaving notes
at least "the Jerome notes." he holds in pious
horror. He fees from the temptations Of Wall
street. He retircs to a furnished house in
Eighth street, where he "keeps boarders,
feeding them on meat supplied gratuitously by
his son-in-law, and on vegetables raised the
previous year on his farm in Connecticut.
Surely, If elected to Congress such model cx-
boarding house keeper might expect that Mr.
Speaker Colfax will put him at once on the
Committee of Ways and Means. But the tow.
ering ambition Of the woolly horse candidate
may not be satisfied until he shall figure on
the Finance Committee in the Senate or as Sec.
rotary Of the Treasury; for he no doubt
esteems himself competent to manage the
finances Of q nation because, like Mr.. Pitt, the
great British prime minister, he is incompetent
to manage his own private finances. Humbug
Barnums peculiar and extraordinary qualilca.
tions as Hnancier were revealed when he sx.
hibited himself in court as moneyless mil.
Vouoss~o