The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-11-19
From p 4 BarnuIn's Autobiography ]
IN ADVERTISING DODGE.


l thoroughly understood the art ofad-
vertising, not merely by means Of print
er's ink, which / have always used free
ly, and 10 which l confess myself so
much indebted for my success, but to
turning every possible circumstance to
my account. 1t was my monomania
to make the Museum in New Y ork the
town wonder and the town talk often
seized upon an opportunity by instinct,
even before l had a very definite con-
ception as to how it should be used, and
it seemed, somehow, to mature itself
and serve my purpose. AS an illustra-
ton, one morning a stout, hearty-look-
ing man came into my ticket-office and
begged some money. / asked him why
he did not work and earn his living?
He replied that he could get nothing to
do, and that he would be glad of any job
ut dollar a day. l handed him a quar-
ter of a dollar, told him to go and get
his breakfast and return. and I would
employ him at light labor at n dollar and
a half a day. When he returned gave
him five common bricks.
Now" said /, ''gO and lay brick on
the sidewalk at the corner of Broadway
and Ann street: another close by the
Museum: third dia@onally across the
way at the corner of Broatsway and
Vesey street, by the Astor House; put
down the fourth on the sidewalk in front
of st. Paufs Church, opposite; then,
with the third brick in hand, take up a
rapid line of march from one point to
the other, making the circuit, eXchang-
ing your brick ut every point, and say
nothing to any one"
What is the object of this 2" inquired
the man.
''No matter" replied: '.all youneed
to know is that il brings YOU fifteen
cents wages per hour. 1t is bit of fun,
and to assist me properly you must seem
TO be as deaf as a post, wear a serious
countenance, answer no questions, pay
no attention TO any one, but attend faith
fully to the work, and at the end of ev-
cry hour by st. Paul's. clock, show this
ticket at the Museum door; enter, walk
ing solemnly through every hall in the
building, pass out, and resume your
work"
With the remark that it was sail one
to him, so long as he could earn his liv-
ing" the man placed his bricks and be-
gan his round. Half an hour afterward
at least 500 people were watching his
mysterious movements. He had assum-
ed military step and bearing, looking
as sober as judge, and made no re-
Spouse whatever TO the constant inqui-
rieS as to the object of his singular con-
duct. At the end of the first hour the side
walks in the vicinity were packed with
people, all anxious TO solve the mystery.
The man, as directed, then went into the
Museum, dUvoting fifteen minutes TO q
solemn survey of the halls, and after
ward returning to his round. This was
repeated every hour until sundown, and
whenever the man went into the Muse
um dozen or more persons would buy
tickets and follow him, hoping TO graft
fly their curiosity in regard to the pur-
pose of his movements. This was con-
tinued for several days-the curious
people who followed the man into the
Museum considerably more than paying
his wages-till finally the policeman, to
whom l had impaired my object, COM
planned that the obstruction oft side
walk by the crowds, had become so Sc
rious that must call i'll my ''brick man."
This trivial incident excited considera-
bic talk and amusement; it advertised
me; and it materially advanced my pur-
pose of making lively corner near the
Museum.