Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-03
sARNuM AND the vEsTRYMAH.
How the Snowman Got Permission
10 Use o Tree I'm n Church ard.


Struggles and Tri umphs," Barnum'
new book, Just published, and for which
Mr. A. w. Wheat, is the agent in Cincin'
natl, gives many amusing incidents in
the great showman's life. One of them
he relates as follows:
About the first of July, l842, | began
to make arrangements for extra novel
ties, additional performances, large
amount Of extra advertising, and an out
door display for the GLORIOUS Fourth.
% | wanted to run out string of Amer
lean flags across the street on that day
for knew there would be thousands Of
people passing the Museum with leisure
and pocket money, and i felt confident
that an unusual display of national flags
would arrest their patriotic attention,
and bring many of them within my walls.
Unfortunately for my purpose, st. Paul s
church stood directly opposite, and there
was nothing to which / could attach my
Hag-rope, unless it might be one of the
trees in the churchyard. ! went to the
vestrymen for permission to SO attach
my fag-rope on the Fourth of July, and
they were indignant at what they called
my insulting proposition" such con-
cession would be "sacrilege." i piled
them with arguments, and appealed to
their patriotism, but in vain.
Returning to the Museum Igave orders
to have the string of flags made ready,
with directions at daylight on the Fourth
of July to attach one end Of the rope to
one Of the third-story windows of the
Museum, and the other end to a tree in
St, Pauls church yard. The great day
arrived, and my orders were strictly fol-
lowed. The flags attracted great atten-
ton, and before nine clock have no
doubt that hundreds ofadditional visitors
were drawn by this display into the Mu-
scum. By halfpast nine Broadway was
thronged, and about that time two gentle
men in high state of excitement rushed
into my office, announcing themselves as
injured and insulted vestrymen of St.
Paul Church.
Keep cool, gentlemen" said |, II
guess is all right"
Right" Indignantly exclaimed one
of them, do you think it is right to at
tach your Museum to our church? We
will show you what is right and what
is law, if we live till tomorrow; those
flags must come down instantly"
THANK you" said, but let US not
be in hurry. | will go out with you
and look at them; and / guess we can
make it all right" E .at
Going into the street remarked, Re
ally, gentleman, these flags look very
beautiful; they do not injure your tree; /
always stop my balcony music for your
accommodation whenever you hold week
day services, and it is but fair that you
should return the favor"
"We could indict your music as you
call it, as nuisance, if we chose" an
swered one vestryman, "and now L tell
you that if these flags are sot taken down
in ten minutes, will cut them down.
His Indignation was at the boiling
point The crowd in the street was
dense, and the angry gesticulation ofthe
vestryman attracted their attention. i
saw there was no use in trying to parley
with him or coax him, and so, assuming
an angry air, rolled up my sleeves, and
exclaimed in a loud tone:
well, mister, / should Just like to see
you dare cut down the American flag on
the Fourth of July; you must be a
Britisher to make such threat as that;
but I'll show you thousand pairs of
Yankee hands in two minutes, if you
dare to attempt to take down the Stars
and Stripes on this great birthday of
American freedom" 1sr
Whats that John Bull a-saying,"
asked brawny fellow, placing himself in
front of the irate vestryman. Look
here, old fellow" he continued, "if you
want to save whole bone in your body,
you had better slope, and never dare to
talk again about hauling down the
American flag in the city of New York.
Throngs of excited, exasperated men
around, and the vestryman, see
ing the effect of my ruse, smiled family,
and said, "0h, Of course, it is all right,
and he and his companions quietly edged
out of the crowd The flags remained up
all day and all night. The next morn
ing / sought the vanquished vestrymen,
and obtained formal permission to make
this use Of the tree on following holidays,
in consideration of my willingness to ar
rest the doleful strains of my discordant
balcony band whenever services were
4 L l. - Al Il