The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-04-30

If BarnruI could not work through |
channels controlled by other people he
would cut channels OF his own. When he
was IA very young man (about nineteen years
old he sent some articles to a Danbury
weekly paper FOR publication. They were
refused. Barnum informed the euioor that
if he could not get sentiments printed as
just and as necessary to he cap. esseo As
those he had submitted he would establish
paper in Danbury and print them him
self He carried out his threat. and in the
autumn Of 1851 began the publication OF
The Herald of Freedom.
The paper naturally had a good deal OF
vigor in it, and the proprietor managed to
push it far beyond Danhury. That was a
time when there was not as much freedom
of the press as there is now, and in three
years the enterprising young editor was
prosecuted three times for libel. In one OF
the suits he was simply fined; a second
was withdrawn; and though the third put
him in Jail he was brought out in Ii-
umphal procession. The people cele-
brated his release in the court room in
which he was convicted Indeed, he had
an easy time in Jail, and made capital out
of his imprisonment. Some time after
ward Barnum went with some Connecti-
cut editors to see President Jackson and
Martin Van Buren on their way through
New England When Barnum was intro
duced Van Buren said to him, "Oh, you
are Mr. Barnum. the editor who went to
Jail"
Barnum's editorial experience was of
benefit TO him all through his life. His
business called for extensive advertising,
and Barnum knew just how to make his
contracts with newspapers to the mutual
benefit of both parties .! always knew"
said Barnum, lust what | wanted and
just what ought to pay for it, and had
always rather pay q triile too much than
to economiZe in my printing. | have
| schemes coming to me every now and then
| showing me how can get public notice
| more cheaply than | do, and presenting
| the most alluring methods for either un-
| derpaying the papers which serve me-by
! a wholesale deal-or else taking from them
| = certain part of their legitimate adver-
) tising by spreading my announcements. in
| part, in some new way.
'"To all of these schemes have had but
| one answer | can't afford to save money
| here. must use the press. And | must
| use it for all it is worth No doubt will
| save thousands at first by some of the de-
| vices and ways suggested but this is econ
omy that doesn't pay. If | am ever pro-
foundly thankful for any instrumental
| ties, it is for the editor and his paper.
They furnish the wind for my sails. i
don't know that have ever coined a max
i'm worth repeating, but if l ever have it
is this, 4 owe my success to printers
| ink.'''
He became known all over the United
States, if not in Europe. Among his
friends were William Cullen Bryant, OF
|
nett, Sr., of The Herald, and Horace Gree
ley, of The Tribune.
But advertising in newspapers was only
part of Barnum's success in attracting
the attention of the public to himself anc
to what he presented for its amusement
Illustrations of his genius in this direction
are plentiful. Indeed they are found IN
connection with every prominent enter
prise Barnum undertook in the days wher
he was active as Snowman. He Otter
seized an opportunity by instinct, even be
fore he had definite conception as to how
to utilize it. One morning man entered
his office in the American Museum anC
begged some money. Noticing that tht
man was strong and well able to work, the
Snowman asked him why he did not carr
his living by labor. The man said he coult
find nothing to do. Barnum gave hin
some money with which to get breakfast
and when he returned gave him job.
This was the job: Barnum directed hi:
employe to lay brick on the corner o
Broadway and Ann street, opposite The
Museum; another close by the Museum en-
trance; third diagonally opposite, at th'
corner of Broadway and Vesey street by
the Astor House; fourth in front of St
Paul's church, opposite. Then with a fiftf
| h-ic in ha he m yVa directed
up rapid march from one brick to an
other, making a circuit and exchanging
bricks at each point, and to say nothing te
any one. He was further directed at the
end of an hour to go into the Museum anC
| spend fifteen minutes there.
The man naturally asked the object O
so strange proceeding. Barnum gave hin
no satisfaction, but told him he would b'
/ we'll paid. The man placed his bricks ant
began to exchange them. Half an hou
afterward 500 people were watching him
He looked solemn and answered no ques
| TONS In an hour the sidewalks on thu
line Of the brick carriers march wer
packed with people, all wondering at th
strange behavior Then the man wen
into the Museum and spent fifteen min
utes, returning at the expiration OF tn
time to his round.
After while whenever he went into tn
\ Museum number of people would bu.
tickets and follow him in order to find ou
, what he did there. The admissi on fee
taken in this way more than paid the bricl
mans salary. Finally at the end of severa
} days the sidewalks in front of the Museum
4 became so crowded that the police notifiet
Mr. Barnum to call in his man. But th
: apparently senseless maneuver excite'
, ! curiosity and advertised Barnum and hi
/ MIseuln