The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-12-11
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STRUGGLES AED TRIuMPHs.

FORTY YEARS RRcoLLEcTIoxs OF r. 7. BAR.
NUM- Written BY himself illustrated: 7o4
PIP. Hartford, Conn, J. B Burr & Co, 1865.
It 10 not every book that finds ito way to
our table that "psys" for reading; but
"STRuGGLEs AND TRIUMPHs" is = work of in
terest both as to the facts and experiences it
recites, and in its racy style of narration. In
his wonderful career Barnun has hardly done
better thing for the world than in giving it,
in this book, the salient points of public life
of forty active years, such as but few men have
ever experienced, or rather, such as no man
but the "Great Snowman" ever did experience.
From beginning to end the book abounds in
matters of instruction and amusement to the
reader. Good humor, and pointed, piquant
stories, spiritedly told aud illustrating human
nature in its various moods are remarkable
features of the work.
We append an extract from the work:
The trip. like most of the passages which
have madtSacross the Atlantic, was an exceed
lngly pleasant one. These frequent voyages
were to me the rests, the reliefs from almost
gPrcmitting industry, anxiety, and care and
lalways managed to have more or less fun on
board ship every time l crossed the ocean.
During the present trip, for amusement and to
pass away the time, the passengers got up a
number OF mock trials which afforded vast
deal of fun judge was selected, jurymen
drawn prisoners arraigned, counsel employed
and all the iormalities of court established.
have the vanity to think that if my good for.
tune had directed me to that profession l
4 g.; l.
always had great fondness for debate and
especially for the cross-examination of witness
es, unless that witness was P. T. Barnum in
al examination under supplementary proceed
ings at the instance of some note-shaver who
had bought a clock note at discount of thir-
ty-siX per cent. In this mock court, was
unanimously chosen az prosecuting attorney,
and ms the court was established expressly to
convict, had no difficulty in carrying the ju-
ry and securing the punishment OF the prison.
or. a small fine was generally imposed, and
the fund thus collected was given to poor
sailor boy who had fallen from the mast and
broken his leg.
After several of these trials had been held
adozen or more of the passengers secretly put
their heads together and resolved to place the
Snowman" on trial for his life. An indictment
covering twenty pages was drawn up by sew
eral legal gentleman among the passengers,
charging him with being the Prince of Hum
bngs, and enumerating dozen special counts,
containing charges OF the most absurd and
ridiculous description. Witnesses were then
brought together, and privately instructed
what to say and DO. Two or three days were
devoted to arranging this mighty prosecution
When everything was ready, was arrested
end the formidable indictment read to me. I
saw at glance that time and talent had been
brought into requistion, and that my trial
was to be more elaborate than any that had
preceded it, | asked for half an hour to pre-
pare Tor my defence, which was granted.
Meanwhile, seats vera arranged to accOilmO-
date the court and spectators, and extra set
ices were placed for the ladies on the upper
deck, where they could look down, see and
hesr all that transpired. Curiosity was on
tp-toe, for it was evident that this was to be
8 long, exciting and laughabie trial. At the
end of half an hour the Judge was on the
bench, the jury had taken their places the
witnesses were ready; the counsel for the
prosecution, four in number, with pens, Ink,
end paper in profusiOn, were seated and every
thing seemed ready. was brought in by
special constable, the indictment read, and
was asked to plead guilt, or not guilty rose,
and in most solemn manner stated that
could not conscientiously plead guilty or not
guilty; that had in fact, committed many of
the acts charged in the Indictment, but these
acts was ready to show were not criminal,
but on the contrary, worthy of praise My
plea was received and the first witness was
called
He testified to having visited the prisoners
Museum, and OF being humbugged by the
Fejee Mermaid the nurse of Washington and
by other curioslties, natural and unnatural.
The questions and answers having been ar
ranged in advance, everything worked smooth
ly. Acting as my own COUNSEL cross.exam-
ined the witness by simply asking whether he
saw anything else i'll the Museum besides what
he had mentioned
ooh yes, | saw thousands Of other things"
"Were they curious q
Certainly; many of them very astonishing"
"Did you witness dramatic representation
in the Museum"
"fes sir, very good one"
"What did you pay for all this q
twenty-five cents"
THAT will do, sir you can step down."
The second, third and fourth witness was
called, and the examination was similar to the
foregoing. Anothsr witness then appeared to
testify in regard to another count in the in
dictment. He stated that for several weeks
he was the guest of the prisoner at his country
residence, lranistan, and he gave most anus
ing description OF the various schemes and
contrlvances which We're there originated for
the purpose Of being carried cut at some
future day in the Museum.
"How did you live there Z" asked one of the