The sun., 1883-12-16
Mr.. Barnnm's Offer to Citizen George
Francis Train.


We arc Interested to hear from the cvo-
luting philosopher OF Madison square that lie
has reached the highest point yet attained in
the process of his evolution. Mr.. TRAIN in
forms us that he now stands at 30. Several
years ago it was our pleasure to devise
for him n sort of psychometric scale, by
means OF which he could accurately
record his ups and downs in evolution
and thus be able always to measure
his progress or retrogression during given
period of time. According to this scale, 100
expresses complete and final evolution--that
is to say, the state toward which Mr.. TRAIN
is urging himself with all his energies, the
state in which, If we correctly understand
his aspirations ho expects to exercise abso-
lutte command Of life and death, to be i'm
mortal, il he chooses, and to administer all
the affairs Of the universe with the unrc-
s.ricted power OF a dictator.
1t will thus be perceived that when Citizen
GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN asserts that he has
reached 90, he means to say that he has ac-
complished nine-tcnths of the way to his
goal. This ought to be worry gratifying to
him. He has struggled hard for the past
half n dozen years. and has met with many
vicssitudcs For, as is we'll known to every
body who has studied the TRAIN doctrines
| of psychological evolution, the citizen
who undergoes that process is made
the object almost the toy, of two
| conflicting influences. The psychos. as Mr.
| TRAIN designates the favorable Influences,
are continually seeking 10 forward his cvolu-
| tion, to upraisc him in the scale toward the
final 100. The demons, on the other hand
and the atmosphere in Madison square is
sometimes thick with -inccssanty en-
deavor to drag the aspirant down, and they
plav all manner of tricks in order to effect
their malignant purpose. When the demons
get the better of the psychos the evoluting
| philosopher suffers a serious set back.
| We congratulate Mr.. TRAIN upon his no
doubt well-found,d conviction that he has mt
last reached 90. 1t is of course possible that
unexpected difficulties may await him be-
| tween that point and 100. The demons may
| be rcserving their most mschiovouS plans
| for final effort to secure his discontinue.
| They may be lying in ambush at 92, or at
| 95, or. indeed, at 49, on the very threshold of
| complete success. But then, on the other
| hand. they may have become so thoroughly
! discouraged by his persistcncy, his courage.
his self-abnegation. that they are now pre-
pared to give him the game by default. Even
| if he should never get any further, his tri-
| umph is Of no mean sort. What other evo-
| luting philosopher over came within ten
points of the universal dictatorship!
| Mr. TRAIN sends us Il copy Of the following
interesting correspondence, which has re-
Gently passed between Mr.. PHINEAs TAYLOR
BARNUM and himself:
"CITzES GEORGE FRAscIs TRAIN, Ner York Will give
ATTY Thousand dollars for lectures this
continent and Europe, commencing Jan. (ime cross
| ing Atlantic deduct.dJ. Will deposit Ave thousand dol
| lars To secure contract " T.. r. BARSUa.
| Il" BRIDGEroRr, Conn, Dec g.
| "CirzEs =. T. BARsUN Bridgrlpr Approaching your
generous offer land long life friendship ns have left
lecture stage forever and shall speak i'll public
| again. must say mol 'GLoH.t FHANCIs TRAIN"
| This Is evidence To convince the most
skeptlca that Mr.. TRAIN is in earnest. IL"
declines the offer ola sum OF money equal Ia
the annual salary of the President of the
United States rather than sacrifice the ground
which no has already gained inch by inch
in his protrac.ed struggle with the demons
1t Is also evid ncc that Mr.. BARNUM knows Il
good thing In his wn line of bu ,iness. II ha
had induced Citizen GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN
to go upon tho lecture platform once more
he would have secured one Of the most oriYi-
nal, unexpected, and interesting takers of the
present age. Great are the psychos aud
GEoRGE FRANCIS is their prophet.