The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-11-04
BAHHUQ.s BlDOR

l. BARauA's Book.
From the publishing house of J. 3.
Burr & Co., Hartford, Conn, we have
received copy Of p; T. Barnum's
"struggles and Triumphs," detailir 8
his'v varied experiences for forty years.
1t is full of entertaining matter. We
have room for but one extract tlis
weck-it is one Of Barnum's expedieD.s 3
for making money out of the Four'h
Of July:
About the frst Of July, 1912, I be-
gan TO make arrangements for extra
novelties, additional performances, .
large amount Of extra advertising, and
an outdoor display Tor the "Glorious
Fourth" Large particolored bills were
ordered, transpsrencies were prepared,
the free band Of music was AUGMENTED
by a trumpeter, and columns Of adyer-
tlsements, headed with large capitals,
were written and put on file.
wanted to run out a string of Amer
lcan flags across. the. street on that day,
for l knew there would be thousands Of
people passing the Museum With leisure
and pocket-money, and I felt confident
that an unusual display of ratlonsl
flags would arrest their patriotic atten-
ton, and bring many of them within
my walls. Unfortunately for my pur-
pose, St. PauPs Church stood directly
opposite, and there vas nothing t.
which could attach my fag-rope, un-
less it might be one of the trees in the
chnrch-yard. I went to the vestrymeo
for permission to SO attach my flag rope
on the Fourth of July, and they were
indignant at what they called my tia
sulting proposition ;" such a concession
would be :'saerilege." I piled them
with arguments, aud appealed to their
patriotism, but 10 vain.
Returning to the Museum I gave Or
ders to have the strings of the flags
made ready, with directions at daylight
on the Fourth Of July to attach one
end Of the rope to one Of the third
story windows of the Museum, and the
other end to a tree in St. Paups church.
yard. The greet day arrived, and my
orders were strictly followed. The
flags attracted great attention, and be-
fore nine o'clock I have no doubt that
hundreds of additional visitors were
drawn by this display into the Museum.
BY halfpast nine Broadway was throng-
ed, and about that time two gentlemen
in high state Of excitement, rushed
into my Office, announcing themselves
as injured and insulted vest,ymen Of
St. Pauls Church.
keep cool. gentlemen" said l, II
guess it is all rig ght" '.s.',-
"Right ~ Indignantly exclaimed one
Of them, edo you think it is right to
attach your Museum to our Church
We will show you what is right and
what is law, if We live till tomorrow;
those flags must come down instantly"
"Thank you," I said, stbut let u
not be in a hurry. l will go ont With
you and look at them aud I guess re
can make it all right"
Going iato the street.I remarked:
Greatly, gentlemen, these flags LOOK
very beautiful they do not injure your
tree I always stop my balcony music
for your accommodation whenever soa
hold weekday services, and it is bot
fair that you should return the favor"
"We could indict your music as
you call it, as nuisance, if We chose"
answered one ves:ryman, 'sand now I
tell you that If these flags are not take,
down in ten minutes, I will cut them
down."
His indignation was At the boiling
point. The crowd IN the street was
dense, and the angry gesticulation O.
the vestryman attracted their attention.
l saw there was no use in trying to
parley with him or coax him, and 50,
assuming an angry air., I rolled up my
sleeves, and exclaimed in loud tone
''Well, Mister, l should Just like t,
see you dare to cut down the American
flag on the Fourth Of July; you mus:
be 'Britisber' to make such a threat
as that; butsl'll show you a thousand
pairs Of Yankee hands in two minutes,
if you dare tosattempt to take down the
stars and stripes on this great birthday
of American freedom ~
"What's that John Bull a-sayiae."
asked brawny fellow, placing himself
in front of the irate vestryman ; "Look
here, old fellow" he continued, eff you
want to save whole bone in your body,
you had better slope, and never dare Is
talk again abaut hauling down the
American flag in the city Of New
York.
Throngs Of excited, exssperated men
crowded around, and the vestryuan,
seeing the effects of my ruse, smiled
family and said !; "Oh, of corse it is sll
right" and he and his companion edg.
ed out of the crowd: The flags remain
ed up all day aud all night. The next
morning 1 sought the vanqulshed YES
trymen and obtained formal permission
to make this use of the tree on follow
ing holidays, in consideration of N,
willingness to arrest the doleful strain
of my discordant balcony band when
ever services were held on week day3
in the church.
STATISTICS OF THE GLOBE.