New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-09

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF p. T. BARNUM.
STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHsi or POnTr YEARS REooLlrcoy'
OPP T. BARSUx Written by himself svO PIP 7a1 Hartford
In the preface to this pOrtly volume Mr..
the world into his confidence and informs
that whereas the little book OF "reminiscences pub
lished under his several years was merely q
device for advertising the Museum, he now purposes
describing his with due respect to the saeredness
Of historical TRUTH and painting himself no hopes to be
remembered by his family and friends. 1t is
hardly necessary to say that he had no
need for going beyond the record Of facts in
order TO make highly entertaining and instructive story
He has played more practical jokes encountered more
amusing adventures and odd characters carried out more
original schemes, and achieved more astonishing sue
by unheard Of expedents than any other gentle
who undertook give history OF his life
IL is impossible TO admire the engaging frankness
with which he conducts behind the Of his
famous show, tells now he engineered the Jenny Lind
furore and exhibits the balance sheet OF the enterprise
explains his methods Of manufacturing euroses, stir
ring mp sensations TOusDg dormant public, and spread
ing the fame Of p T. Barnum from pole to pole, and lets
us into the secrets Of Of his most celebrated hum
bugs His account OF the capture of the well
known white whales and their Journey to New is
complete eptOme Of the philosophy of advertising and
after reading 1t one wonder at his celebrity
Ihereare ether Incidents however quite good and quite
as Characteristic OF his peculiar and unryaled talent ln
- way, of the finest things ever heard OF was his
introduction Of elephants upon his farm Bridgeport
Having sold he kept Of the elephants
for two months, and passengers by the NewYork and
New-IIaven Railroad amazed TO see the animal
blowing every day In a siXacre lot near the track
though it does not to have been noticed that small
the field the blowing held out wonderfully long
Newspaper correspondents came TO the new agrcu
tural experiment. and the profit OF elephantlabOr
became lively topic OF discussion. This nothing
but an advertisement Of the Museum. The elephants
keeper had q railway timetable, and there was no
blowing except when train was due. Mr.
Barnum's famous quarrels with James Gordon
proving and instructive details and the history of the
sale OF the lease the Of Broadway
and Annst loses nothing, may be sure in the humOr
recital by Of the parties to that memorable trans
action. We have account also OF the shownan's real
estate operations at Bridgeport history Of the jerome
Clock Company by which nc lost fortune, synopsis Of
his lecture the Art OF Money Getting. which has
practically illustrated by winning another fortune,
great many amusing "reminiscences Of his vsts TO
Europe. and excellent miscellaneous stories.
Probably he goes rather too far when he
holds up his book guide for young ambitious Of
wealth aud honors; but 1t does contain some good
lessons Of thrift and shire wdness and there are trans
actions in Mr. Banums which hardly be recon
mended for limitation, must chartably presume that
he is sorry for those. and wOud not repeat them lie
had his life live againof course! We might wish
that the difference between examples TO be summed and
examples copied had been rather clearly ndi
Gated but after al has been said we must admit that
the book Is very amusing.