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A UNIQUE STORY OF A MARVELLOUS CAREER.
LIFE OF Hon. PHINEAS T. BARNUM. ——
COMPRISING HIS BOYHOOD, YOUTH, …

By JOEL BENTON.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. IN THE BEGINNING. Family and Birth—School Life—His First Visit to New York City—A Landed Proprietor—The Ethics of Trade—Farm Work and Keeping Store—Meeting-house and Sunday-school—"The One Thing Needful."

CHAPTER II. EARLY YEARS AT BETHEL. Death of his Grandmother and Father—Left Penniless and Bare-footed—Work in a Store—His First Love—Trying to buy Russia—Uncle Bibbin's Duel

CHAPTER III. BUSINESS LIFE Removal to Brooklyn—Smallpox—Goes Home to Recover His Health—Renewed Acquaintance with the Pretty Tailoress—First Independent Business Venture—Residence in New York—Return to Bethel—Anecdotes

CHAPTER IV. TRYING MANY VENTURES. Visit to Pittsburg—Successful Lottery Business—Marriage—First Editorial Venture—Libel Suit—Imprisonment and Liberation—Removal to New York—Hard Times—Keeping a Boarding House

CHAPTER V. BEGINNING AS A SHOWMAN. Finding His True Vocation—The Purchase of Joice Heth—Evidence as to Her Age—Her Death—Signor Vivalla—Visit to Washington—Joining a Travelling Circus—Controversies with Ministers—The Victim of a Practical Joke

CHAPTER VI. INCIDENTS OF A CIRCUS TOUR. Beating a Landlord—A Joke on Turner—Barnum as a Preacher and as a Negro Minstrel—A Bad Man with a Gun—Dealing with a Sheriff—"Lady Hayes"—An Embarrassed Juggler—Barnum as a Matrimonial Agent

CHAPTER VII. HARD TIMES. Advertising for a Partner—"Quaker Oats"—Diamond the Dancer—A Dishonest Manager—Return to New York—From Hand to Mouth—The American Museum

CHAPTER VIII. THE AMERICAN MUSEUM. Advertising Extraordinary—A Quick-witted Performer—Niagara Falls with Real Water—Other Attractions—Drummond Light

CHAPTER IX. INCREASED POPULARITY OF THE MUSEUM. The American Flag and St. Paul's—St. Patrick's Day—The Baby Show—Grand Buffalo Hunt—N. P. Willis—The First Wild West Show

CHAPTER X. GIANTS AND DWARFS. Science for the Public—Mesmerism Extraordinary—Killing off a Rival—The Two Giants—Discovery of "Tom Thumb"—Seeking Other Worlds to Conquer—First Visit to England

CHAPTER XI. TOM THUMB IN LONDON. An Aristocratic Visitor—Calling at Buckingham Palace and Hobnobbing with Royalty—Getting a Puff in the "Court Circular"—The Iron Duke—A Great Social and Financial Success

CHAPTER XII. IN FRANCE. Arrival in Paris—Visit to the Tuilleries—Longchamps—"Tom Ponce" all the Rage—Bonaparte and Louis Phillipi—Tour through France—Barnum's Purchase

CHAPTER XIII. IN BELGIUM. Presented to King Leopold and the Queen—The General's Jewels stolen—The Field of Waterloo—An Accident—An Expensive Equipage—The Custom of the Country

CHAPTER XIV. IN ENGLAND AGAIN. Egyptian Hall and the Zoological Garden—The Special Relics—Purchase of the Happy Family—Return to America

CHAPTER XV. AT HOME. Partnership with Tom Thumb—Visit to Cuba—Iranistan, his Famous Palace at Bridgeport—Barnum's Game-Keeper and the Great Game Dinner—Frank Leslie

CHAPTER XVI. JENNY LIND. A Daring Venture—Barnum's Ambassador—Unprecedented Terms offered—Text of the Contract—Hard Work to Raise the Guarantee Fund—Educating the American Mind to receive the Famous Singer

CHAPTER XVII. ARRIVAL OF JENNY LIND. First Meeting with Barnum—Reception in New York—Poems in Her Honor—A Furore of Public Interest—Sale of Tickets for the First Concert—Barnum's Change in Terms—Ten Thousand Dollars for Charity—Enormous Success of the First Concert

CHAPTER XVIII. CONTINUED TRIUMPH. Successful Advertising—The Responsibilities of Riches—Visit to