The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-14

At the recent benefit in the New York
Academy of Music, in aid of Mr.. Bar
NUNS company, who were heavy losers
by the great fire, Mr.. Barnum, the phil
osophic salamander, spoke as follows:
Ladies and GeRtienlen:-I have cat
cred for so many years for the amuse-
ment of the public, that the beneficiaries
on this occasion seem to have thought
that the Snowman himself ought to be
part of the show; and at their request /
come before you. | sincerely thank you,
in their behalf, for your patronage on
this occasion. How much they need
your substantial sympathy, the ashes
across the street can tell you more elo-
quent than human tongue can utter.
Those ashes are the remnants of "all
the worldly goods" Of some who appeal
to you to-day.
For myself, have been burned out so
often, that 1 am like the singer who was
I hissed on the stage: "Hiss away,n said
/ he, "I am used to it," My pecuniary
| loss is very serious, and occurring as it
did, just before the holidays, it is all the
more disastrous.
/ 1t may perhaps crafty my friends to
/ know, however, that l am still enabled
/ to invest another half-million of dollars
without disturbing my bank account,
nor injuring the prospects of my chill
/ dren being ruined by inheriting a for
4 tune they never earned. The public will
! have amusements, and they ought to be
those of an unobjeetiOnable character.
For many years it has been my pleasure
to provide class of instructive and
amusing entertainments, to which re-
fined Christian mother can take her
children nwith,satisfaction.
| believe that no man in America pos
sesses the desire and facilities which
have in that direction. l have, there
fore, taken steps, through all my agents
in Europe and this country, which will
enable me to put upon the road, early in
April, the most gigantic and complete
travelling museum, menagerie and hip
podrome ever organized.
1t has been asked whether will build
up a large museum and menagerie in
New York. Well, 1 am now nearly
siXty-three years of age. / can buy
plenty of building sites and get plenty
of leased lots for a new museum; but /
cannot get a new lease of life. l am sit
uated, in this respect, something like
Mr.. Vanderbilt. a man offered to sell
him horse. "What is his pedigree ?p
asked Mr.. Vanderbilt. 1t was given
him. "Ah, that is the best blood in the
country, and L will buy him at q fair
price How fast is hep" 'I think he
will travel in two twenty-five when he
gets old enough replied the owner.
''He is two-year-old colt" "a colt!
can'twait for colts, y exclaimed Mr.. Van
derbilt.
L can scarcely wait for leases; but
younger members of-my family desire
me to erect in this city an establish
ment worthy of New York and of my
self 1t will be no small undertaking;
for if l erect such an establishment, it
will possess novel and costly features
never before attempted. Ihave it under
consideration, and within q month shall
determine whether l shall do it or not.
One thing, however, you may be as
sured, ladies and gentlemen, although
conhagratiOns may for the present dis
concert my plans, yet while have life
and health, no fire can burn nor water
quench my delight in always gratifying
my patrons, at whatever cost of money
or of effort 1 shall never lend my
name where my labors and heart do not
also go, and the public shall never fail
to find at any of my exhibitions their
moneys worth ten times told.