Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-26
A COLOSSAL ENTERPRISE.

FROM the NEW 10rk draphlc.
Ten years ago there was still standing
on the corner of Broadway and Ann
street. where the stately Herald now
overlooks the busiest thoroughfare in
the New World, large, rambling struet-
ure, Of rather shabby external appear
ance, which was known to all the world
of America as veritable Palace OF
Wonders. Pictures of the strange ami.
mails from every part of the globe, which
were to be seen within, adorned the outer
walls, and stimulated the curiosity of the
passers-by; the flags of all nations
waved from the parapets, and above
them proudly hoated the Stars and
Stripes. From sunrise till late at night
throngS of people, OF all ages, passed in
at its ample doors and wandered through
its halls, lingering at every step to won.
der and admire. A larger or more
wonderful collection Of curiosities was
never gathered under a single roof; and
though many Of them were of little in.
trinsic value, very large proportion
would have been of great worth to any
museum. There was something to catch
every variety of taste. For the lovers
Of the marvellous there were monstrosi-
ties like the "woolly horse" the what
is it2' and the Mermaid" for those
who took delight in natural history there
was the sea-lion, the learned seal, the
Happy Family, the stuffed walrus, and
many another interesting specimen of
the animal kingdom from the Rocky
Mountains, the burning wilds of Africa,
the icy regions Of the arctic zone, or
from the uttermost islea of the ocean.
In short, the whole world was laid under
tribute to furnish entertainment to the
patrons of the American Museum. The
sea gave its strangest forms OF fish and
shell, the forest and the desert their
savage denizens, the air its varied shapes
of feathered beauty. Relies of Indian
times, of our colonial days, and of our
great War of Independence attracted
those who we're interested in American
antiquities; suits of battered armor,
dinted shields, battle-axes of uncouth
and frightful shape, spears, swords, dag
gers, and other ancient weapons, car
ried the visitor back to the days when
men fought hand to hand, instead of
picking each other off, like game, with
rifles, or sweeping whole regiments down
with the deadly mitrailleuse.
Then there was the lecture-room, or
theater, where Sothern, Barney Williams
and other well-known actors won their
first laurels before audiences that could
not often afford to treat themselves to an
evenings amusement at the more ex-
pensive theaters. The transient attrac-
tions of the Museum we're constantly
varied There we're living statuary"
pantomime, instrumental music, ventril
oquism, Punch and Judy, fancy glass
blowing, jugglery, etc., and when this
marvellous building, with all its contents,
was destroyed by fire on the 18th of July,
1865, the community sustained loss
that neither time nor money could re-
trieve. Mr. Barnum, it is true, soon
established a new museum higher up on
Broadway, where he gathered an admi-
rable collection of ouriosities, but it did
Hot compare with the old. The second
temple was not like the FIRST.
These "reminiscences of the old Amer.
lean Museum, which is still held in af-
fectionate remembrance by q large por-
tion ofthe community, are naturally sug-
gested by the announcement of Mr.
Barnum's latest and most gigantic en-
terprise, the Great Roman Hippo
drome," with which he proposes to
travel through the States during the
coming season. His preparations are
on q scale of magnifcence unrivaled in
the history of travelling exhibitions. All
his shows have been merged in char
tered corporation, known as "The P. T.
Barnum Universal Exposition Com
pany," With capital Of Q million Of
dollars. Mr.. Barnum, who is president
Of the company, and his manager, Mr.,
Coup, have spent months in Europe, Wis
iting every important exhibition, and
bringing away many choice features and
valuable suggestions, and the result is o
combination of attractions such as has
never been seen in one exhibition since
the world began.
The Great Roman Hippodrome will
resemble a moving camp. There are
1900 men, women and children in Mr..
Barnum' 8 service, and the stock includes
75O horses and ponies, besides elephants,
camels, English stays and stag. hounds,
trained ostriches, lions, bears, tigers and
other animals. For the exhibition OF
the menagerie and the various shows,
displays and performances connected
with the enterprise, two enormous tents,
each 500 feet in length and 800 in width,
have been provided, one of which will
be kept in advance, in order that no
time may be lost by delay in making
ready. The question of transportation
by rail--a very serious oDa--yas solved
by the construction Of l50 cars twice
the usual length, built expressly for this
purpose. Among them are a number Of
horse palace" oars, constructed with
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