The Portland daily press., 1869-10-06

One Of Rarnun,s Tricks.

In Mr.. Barnum's new book the following
characteristic story will appear: .gL
I thoroughly understood the art Of adver-
Using, not merely by means of printer 5 inh,
which have always used freely, anu htaJ
which l consider myself so much inue ea;tJa
for my success, but by turning every Poo0ro,e
circumstance TO my account. ~ was $50 ny ~
nomania to make the Museum the ooWn Mon-
der and the town talk. olten SecAeo upon
an opportunity by instinct, even before mad
q ,ery definite conception as to how it should
ho nse5 and il seemed, somehow, to mature
itself and serve my purpose. As an illustra-
tion. one morning, stout, manipulating
man came into my ticket.o office and begged
some money, l 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 at dollar day. handed
him aquarter Of dollar, told him to go and
get his breakfast and return, and l would
employ him at dollar and half a day.
When he returned gave him five common
bricks.
Now" said l, "go and lay brick on the
sidewalk at the corner of Broadway anu Ann
street; another close by the Museum; third
diagonally across the way at the corner OF
Broadway and Vesey streets, by the Astor
House: put down the fourth on the sidewalk
in front of st. Paul's Church, opposite; then,
with the fifth brick in hand, take up a rapid
march from one point to the other, making
the circuit, exchanging your brick at eyery
point, say nothing to any one"
"What is the object of this ?" inquired the
man.
mo matter" l replied; all you need to
know Is that it brings you fifteen cents wages
per hour. 1t is bit of my fun, and to assist
ihe properly you must seem to be as deaf az a
post wear serious countenance; answer no
questions; pay no attention to any one; but
attend faithfully to the work, and at the end
OF every hour by st. Pauls clock show this
ticket at the Museum door; enter, walking
soemnly through every hall in the building,
pass out, and resume your work."
With the remark that it was call one to
him, so long as he could earn his living" the
man placed his bricks and began his round.
Half an hour atterward, at least five hundred
people were watching his mysterious move
ments. lie had assumed military step and
bearing, and looking as sober as a Judge, he
made no response whatever to the constant
inquiries 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 peo-
pie all anxious to solve the mystery. Tho
man, as directed, then went into the Museum.
devoting fifteen minutes to solemn survey
OF the halls, and aiterward returning to his
round. This was repeated every hour till
shutdown, and whenever the man went into
the Museum dozen or more persons would
buy tickets and follow him, hoping to crafty
their curiosity in regard to the purpose of his
movements.
This was continued for several da 1s-the
curious people who followed the man into the
Museum considerably more than paying his
wages-till 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 trivial incident excited
considerable talk and amusement; it adver-
tlsed me; and it materially advanced my pur-
pose OF making lively corner near the Mu-
scum.