The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1869-10-07
An Advertising Ruse.


An Advertising Ruse.
FROM struggles and Triumphs by T. T.
n@@ Barnum. s....u.a5 -.
printers ink, which have always used
freely, and to which l confess myself so
much Indebted for my success, but by
turning every possible circumstance to
my account. 1t was my monomania TO
make the Museum the town wonder
and town talk. | often seized upon an
opportunity by instinct, even before
had very definite conception rs to how
it should be used, and 1t seemed, some
how, to mature itself and serve my pur-
pose. AS an illustration, one morning
a stout, hearty looking man, came into
my ticket-oilicc aud begged some mon
ey. 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 alta dollar a
day. Ihanded him quarter OF dol
lar, told him to go and get his breakfast
and return, and would employ him at
a dollar and half a day. When he
returned | gave him five common
bricks.
"Now," said l, Ego and lay brick
on tho sidewalk at the corner of Broad
way and Ann Street; another close by
the Museum third diagonally across
the way at the corner of broadway and
Nerscy Street, Nv the Astor House; put
down the fourth on tho sidewalk In
front of st. Pauls Church, opposite; F;
then, with the tifth brick in hand, take
up rapid march from one point to the
other, making the circuit, exchanging
your brick at every point, and say moth
ing to any one.'
"What is the object of this :' inquired
the man.
mo matter" replied; "ull you need
! w. Ni.uw ,s .i,a. IL brings you nIteen
cents wages per hour. It is n bit OF my
fun, and to assist me properly you must
seem to be US deaf as . post; wear y
serious countenance; answer no ques-
tions pay no attent'on'to any one; but
attend faithfully to tho work and at the
end OF every hour by 81. Paurs clock
show this ticket ut the Museum door
enter, walking solemnly through every
hall in the building, pass out, and re-
sumo your work.
With the remark that it was "all 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 after
wards, at least five hundred people were
watching his mysterious movements.
He had assumed military step and
bearing, and looking rs sober as II judge,
ho made no response whatever to the
constant inquiries asto the object OF his
singular conduct. at the end of the
first hour, the sidewalks In the vicinity
were packed with people all anxious q
solve the mystery. The man, as direct
ed, then went into the Museum, devot
fifteen MINUTES to solumn survey o
the halls, and afterwards returning to
his round. This was repeated every
hour till sundown and whenever the
man went into the Museum II dozen ol
more persons would buy tickets and
follow him, hoping to crafty theil
curiosity in regard to the purpose OF his
movements. This was continued fol
several days--the curious people who
followed the man into the Museum con
sidcrably more than paying his wages
till finally the policeman, to whom
had impaired my object, complained
that the obstruction of the sidewalk b.
crowds had become SO serious that
must call in my brick man, Thi'
? trivial incident excited considerable
, talk and amusement; it alvortised me
, aud it materially advanced my purpos
, Of making q lively corner near the Mu
scum.