The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1875-03-25
A COLOSSAL ENTERPRISE.

overlooks the busiest thoroughfare in the
New World, large, rambling structure. of
rather shabby external appearance, which
was known to all the world of America as
. vcritable Palace of Wonders. Pictures
of the strange animals from every part Of
tbc globe, which were to be seen within
adorned the outer walls, and stimulated the
curiosity Of the passers-b 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
,eople, ofall ages, passed in at its ample doors
md wandered through its halls, lingering at
every step 20 wonder and admire. A larger
or more wonderful collection of curiosities
Was never gathered under single roof ::
and though many Of them were of little
intrinsic value, very large proportion
would have been Of great worth to anv
museum, There was something to catch
every variety Of taste. For the lovers of
the marvellous there were monstrosities like
the .swoolly horse" the "What is it ?'' 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 interest
inc 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 isles 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 were
interested in American antiquities suits
Of battered armor, dinted shields, battle
axes Of uncouth and frightful shape, spears,
swords, daggers, and other ancient weapons,
carried the visitor back to the days when
men fought hand to hand, instead of pick
ing each other off, like game, with rifles,
or sweeping whole regiments down with
the deadly mitrailleuse.
Then there was the lecture-room, or
theatre, where Sothern, Barney Williams,
and other well-known actors won their first
hurcls, before audiences that could not
often afford to treat themselves to an even
ings amusement at the more expensive
theatres The transient attractions of the
Museum were constantly varied. There
we're Giving statuary," pantomime, in
srumental music, ventriloquism, 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 a loss that neither time nor money
could retrieve. Mr. Barnum, it is true,
soon established new museum higher up
on Broadway, where he gathered an
admirable collection of curiosities, but it
did not compare with the old THE sec
o1d Temple was not ike the first.
These "reminiscences Of the old American
Museum, which is still held in affectionate
remembrance by a large portion of the
community, are naturally suggested by the
announcement Of Mr. Barnum's latest and
most gigantic enterprise, the "Great Roman
Hippodrome,' with which he proposes to
travel through the States during the com
ing season. His preparations are on a scale
Of magnifcence unrivaled in the history of
tayeEng exhibitions. All his shows have
teon merged in a chartered corpration,
known as The ?. T. Barnum Universal
Exposition Company" with a capital of a
million of dollars. Mr.. Barnum, who is |
PRESIDENT Of the company, and his manager,
NJ. Coup, have spent months in Europe, |
visiting every important exhibition, and
bringing away many choice features and
valuable suggestions, and the result is
combination Of attractions such as has never
been seen in one exhibition since the world
began
The Great Roman Hippodrome viii re-
sntle moving camp. There are 1900
nea. women and children in Mr.. Barnum's
errlce, and the stock includes $50 horses
md ponies, besides elephants, camels,
English stays and stag-hounds, trained
>tlches, lions, bears, tigers, and other
ANNALS, For the exhibition Of the mena-
4 9le and the various shows, displays, and
adormances connected with the enterprise,
8o enormous tents, each 800 feet in length
/ nd 800 in width, have been provided, one
/ which will be kept in advance, in order
-- no time may be lost by delay in max
ready. The question of transportation
faiL-a very serious one-was solved by
construction Of $50 cars, twice the usual
asta built expressly for this purpose.
'aong them are number of ''horse- palace
constructed with commodious stalls, in
4,n the horses can lie down and rest
~e on the journey, and arrive at the
es Of exhibition quite fresh for the per-
nance. Besides moving the tents,
mails, aud all other material in these
f'arome cars, will be provided in those
"'ed to the personnel of the company ;
nearly all the employees. Besides the
s exhibition tents, there are cooking
dining tents, and stable tents for the l
~'S and other animals There is also s
[led to the company i large corps of :
'NlIths and carpenters and builders,
o. whom precede the show several
% make ready for the exhibition by
I ! 1