The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-03-31
{ From Harper's Weekly, March 27M.1
COLOSSAL ENTERPRISE.

Ten years ago there was still standing on
the corner of Broadway and Ann Streets,
where the stately Herald building now over
looks the business thoroughfare in the New
World, large, rambling structure, of rather
shabby external appearance, which was known
to all the world of America as veritable Pal
ace of Wonders. Pictures of the strange an
imals from every part of the globe, which
We're to be seen within, adorned tho outer
walls, and stimulated the curiosity of the
passersby the flags of all nations waved
from the parapets, and above them proudly
tioated the Stars and Stripes. From sunrise
till late at night throngs of pennla, &c all
.ssvn, passed In at its auapie doors and Wander
ed through it's halls, lingering at every step to
wonder and admire. A larger or more won
derful collection of curiosities was never gath
cred under a single roof and though many
of them were of little intrinsic value, very
large proportion would have been of great
worth to any museum. There was something
to catch every variety of taste. For the low
ers of the marvellous there were monstrosties
like the 6 woolly horse the What is it?"
and the g Mermaid y for those who took de-
light 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 arctic zone, or from the uttermost isles of
the ocean. In Short the whole world was
laid under tribute to furnish entertainment to
~. ~ t,~,,. ~ tba A ,,,ar;ca,, Mroorn, TIo
sea gave its strongest forms of fish and shell,
the forest and the desert their savage deni-
zens, the air its varied shapes Of feathered
beauty. Relics of Indian times, of our colo
NAL days, and Of our great War of Indepen-
dence attracted those who were interested in
American antiquities suits of battered ar
NOR, dinted shields, battle-axes of pcouth
and frightful shapes spears, swords, daggers
and other ancient weapons, carried 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 regi-
ments down with the deadly mitrailleuse.
The1 there was the lecture-room, or theatre,
where SoTHERN, BARNEY WILLIAMS, aid
other wel-known actors won their first laur-
els, before audiences that could not often af-
ford to treat themselves to an evening &
amusement at the more expensive theatres.--
The transient attractions of the Museum
were constantly varied There were "liying
statuary," pantonime, instrumental music,
ventriloauism, Punch aud Judy, fancy glass.
blowing, juggcry, ETC., and when this mar.
velous building, with all its contents, was de.
stroyed by fire, ON the 18th of July, 1866, the
community sustained loss that neither time
nor money could retrieve. Mr.. BAREUM, il
| il true, soon established new museum high.
er up on Broadway, where he gathered an ad
mirable collection Of curiosities, BUTT did moi
compare with the old. "The second Temple
was not like the first"
These "reminiscences of the old American
Museum, which is still held in atfectionats re-
membrance by large portion of the commu
nifty, are naturally suggested by the announce
ment of Mr.. Barnum's latest and most gigan
tic enterprise, the "Great Roman Hippo
drome," with which he proposes to trave
through the States during the coming season
His preparations are on scale of magnificenc
unrivaled in the history of travelling exhibi
tions. All his shows have been merged in
chartered corporation, known as 1.-THE P. T
Barnum Universal Exposition Company,
with capital of million Of dollars. Mr.
Barnum, who is president Of the company
and his manager Mr.. Coup, have spen
months in Europe, visiting every importan
exhibition, and bringing away many choic
features and valuable suggestions, and the re
suit is a combination Of attractions such a
has never been seen in one exhibition sine
the world began.
5 The Great Roman Hippodrome will resam