Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-03-03
Anecdotes of p. It. Barnu,n.

ten by himself nlustrated: 7s4 PIP. Hartford,
|. Conn. j. b, Burr u Co. 1c69Jorns fx
thoroughly understand the art of ad
veriising, not merely by means OF prin-
terTs ink, which have always used free
", and to which confess myself SO much
indebted for my success, but by turning
every possible circumstance to my &C
count 1t was my monomania TO TO make
the Museum the town wonder and town
talk. / often seized upon an opportunity
by instinct, even before l had very def.
mite conception as to how it should be
used, aEt it seemed, somehow, TO mature
itself and serve my purpose. AS an il.
lustration, one morning stout, hearty
looking man, came into my ticket-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. l handed him quar-
ter of dollar, told him to go and get
his breakfast and return, and would
employ him at light labor 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
and Ann Street; another close by the
Museum; third diagonally across the
way at the corner Of Broadway and We
sey Street, by the Astor House; put
down the fourth on the sidewalk in front
of st. Paurs. Church. opposite; then,
with the fifth brick in hand, take up n
rapid march from one point TO the other
making tho circuit, exchanging your
brick at every point, and say nothing to
any one.'
What is the Object Of thisT inquired
the man.
No natter replied, 'all you need
to know is that it brings you fifteen cents
wages per hour. 1t is a bit of my fun
and to assist me properly you must seem
to be as deaf rs post: wear serious
countenance; answer no questions; pay
no attention to any one; but attend faith
fully to the work and at the end of every
hour by St. Paul's clock show this ticket
at the Museum door; enter, walking sol
EMMY through every hall in the building
pass out, and resume your work.
/ With the remark that it was all one
TO him. so long rs he could earn bis liv
i, e. the man placed his bricks aud be-
gan his round. Half an hour afterwards,
at least five hundred people were watch
ing bis mysterious movements. He had
assumed military step and bearing, and
looking sober as a judge, he made no
response whatever to the constant in.
quiries as TO the object ot bis singular
cofddcto At The end Of the first hour,
the sidewalks iu the vicinity were packed
with people all anxious to solve the mys,
terry. The man, as directed, then went
into the Museum, deyotiDg fifteen min
utes 10 solemn survey of the halls, and
afterwards returning to his round. This
was repeated every hour till sundown
and whenever the man went into the
Museum a 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 days-the curious
people who followed him into The Muse
um considerably more than paying his
wages-tiI finally ahe policeman, TO
whom / had impaired my object, com
planned that the obstruction of the side
walk by crowds had become SO serious
that / must call in my brick man.
This trivial incident excited considerable
talk and amusement; lit advertised me !;
and it materially advanced my purpose
of making a lively corner near The Mu.
scum. .aTao4 F1TTW
l am tempted to relate some of the
incidents and anecdotes which attended
my career ms owner and manager of the
Museum. The stories illustrating mere
ly my introduction of novelties would
more Than ill this book, but must make
room for a few of them.
An actor, named La Rue, presented
himself rs an imitator of celebrated his
trionic personages, including Macready,
Forrest, Kemble, the elder Booth, Kean,
Hambln, and others. Taking him into
the green.room for a private rehearsal,
and finding bis limitations excellent, I
engaged him. For three lights he gave
great satisfaction, but ear y in the fourth
evening he staggered into the Museum
so drunk that he could hardly stand, and
in half an hour he must be on the stage!
Calling an assistant, we took La Rue be-
tween us, and marched him up Broad
way as far as Chambers Street, and back
to the lower end Of the Park. hoping to
sober him. AT this point we put his
head under a pump and gave him a
good ducking, with visible beneficial eff
ftct,Lthen a walk around the Park, aud
another ducking.- when he assured me
that be should be al le to give bis imita-
tons 8 to a charm 81. ~
sYou drunken brute said /. sif.you
fail, and disappoint my audience, I will
throw you out of the window
He declared that he was all right
and led him behind the scenes where
waited with considerable trepidation to
watch bis movements on the stage. He
began by saying:
H. Ladies and Gentlemen; / will now
give you an imitation of Mr.. Booth the
eminent tragedian.'
His tongue was thick, bis language
somewhat incoherent, and 1 had great
misgiyings as he proceeded; but as nj,