The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1869-11-11
IDAHO WORLD.
BARNUM's BRICK MAN.

aug everything Gcll W HIS aCCouho1
lates the following anecdote as an instance:
One morning a stout, hearty-looklng man
came into my ticket office at the Museum ana
begged some money. I asked him why ne ala
not work and earn his living he repiled nc
could get nothing to do, and that ne would De
glad of any job at a dollar day. L nanded 70
him quarter of dollar, told HIM TO 60 ana
get his breakfast and return, ana Wouiu EN-
ploy him at light labor at dollar ana nan
day When he returned gave him five com
mon bricks "Now," said l, ego and lay one
of these ON the sidewalk at the corner of Ann
and broadway; another close by the Museum;
a third diagonally across the way at the cor
ner uf Broadway and Vesey streets, by the AS
tor House; put down the fourth on the side
walk in front of st. Paul's church, opposite
there, with the fifth brick in hand, take up a
rapid march from one point to the other max
inc the circuit and exchanging your brick at
every point" "What is the object of this =
INQUIRED the man. mo matter" | replied;
all YOU need to know is that it brings you ht-
teen cents wages per hour 1t is bit OF tun,
and to assist me properly you must seem to Dc
as deaf as post pay no attention to any one
but attend faithfully to the work, and at the
end of every hour, by st. Pauls cloca' sho"
this ticket at the Museum door, enter, walking
solemny through every hall in the building, 60
out and resume your work" With the remark
that it was " all the same to him, so long as ne
could earn his living" the man placed his prlck
andlbegan his round. Half an hour after at
least FIVE hundred people were watching his
mysterious movements He had assumed q
military step and bearing, and looking as sober
as q Judge he made no response whatever TO
the constant inquiries rs to the object OF his
singular conduct At the end of the first hour
the sidewalks in the vicinity were packed with
people all anxious to solve the mystery. The
man, as directed, then went into the Museum,
devoting fifteen minutes to a solemn survey OF
the halls, and afterwards returning I" his round.
This was repeated every hour till shutdown,
and whenever the man went INTO the Museum
a dozen or more persons would buy tickets ana
follow him. hoping to CRAFTY their CURIOSITY IN
regard to the purpose of his movements. ms
was continued for several days-the curious
people who followed the inan into the Museum
considerably more than paying his wages-tlIl
finally the policeman, To whom had Impaired
my object complained that the obstruction OF
the sidewalk by crowds had become so serious
that must call in my "brick man." This lit
tie incident excited considerable talk and no
little amusement; it advertised me- and it ma
terially advanced MY purpose OF making the
A TEMPERANCE TALE-Some Of the stu
dents of the Indiana State University were
suspected to be in the habit OF drinking brandy
Where they obtained it was a mystery Or.
Daily determined to ferret out the secret.
Calling into drug store, the proprietor asked
him, " How that student, Mr.. Carter, Game
on!" Smelling rat the Doctor answered in
an evaslve manner, and soon drew out OF the
apothecary that the students under suspicion
had been in the habit of purchasing brandy;
that they said he was quite low, and was kept
alive by stimulants; that the young men seemed
very devoted to him. Now the secret was out
The Carter was a fictitious character and the
Doctor had the secret. However, he kept his
own counsel The next time the students were
assembled in the chapel for prayers, he cast
his eyes over the crowd and satisfied himself
that Carriers nurses were all present. The
deyetions were duly conducted, and then he
had a mournfu task to pert0rm-as the Presl-
dent of the University 1t became his duty to
announce the death Of their feow-student Mr..
Carter After a lingering illness oi several
weeks. a portion of which time he was kept
alive By stlmulants, he had breathed his last
He had no doubt that this announcement would
fall sadly on the ears of those who had go faith
fully attended to his wants, but he hoped they
would bear it with resignation-he hoped they
would reflect on the oft repeated words Ne
mentO M0ri"- that he would detain them no
longer, but leave them to their own reflections
The result of this announcement was startling
None of the professors aud but few Of the stu
dents had heard Of this man Carter. who is
hel" was whispered; none knew but the kind
friends who attended him, and they wouldn't
tell; and the President seemed 80 deeply affect
ed they didn't like to ask him