MY POLITICAL PRINCIPLES--REASONS FOR MY CHANGE OF PARTIES--KANSAS AND SECESSION--WIDE-AWAKES--GRAND ILLUMINATION OF LINDENCROFT--JOKE ON A DEMOCRATIC NEIGHBOR--PEACE MEETINGS--THE STEPNEY EXCITEMENT--TEARING DOWN A PEACE FLAG--A LOYAL MEETING--RECEPTION IN BRIDGEPORT--DESTRUCTION OF THE “FARMER” OFFICE--ELIAS HOWE, JR.--SAINT PETER AND SALTPETRE--DRAFT RIOTS--BURGLARS AT LINDENCROFT--MY ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATURE--BEGINNING OF MY WAR ON RAILROAD MONOPOLIES--WIRE-PULLING--THE XIV. AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION--STRIKING THE WORD “WHITE” FROM THE CONNECTICUT CONSTITUTION--MY SPEECH,......609 CHAP. XXXIX.--THE AMERICAN MUSEUM IN RUINS. A TERRIBLE LOSS--HOW I RECEIVED THE NEWS--BURNING OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM--DETAILS OF THE DISASTER--FAITH IN HERRING’S SAFES--BAKED AND BOILED WHALES--THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE ON THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MUSEUM--A PUBLIC CALAMITY--SYMPATHY OF THE LEADING EDITORS--AMOUNT OF MY LOSS--SMALL INSURANCE--MY PROPERTY--INTENTION TO RETIRE TO PRIVATE LIFE--HORACE GREELEY ADVISES ME TO GO A-FISHING--BENEFIT TO THE MUSEUM EMPLOYEES AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC--MY SPEECH--WHAT THE NEW YORK SUN SAID ABOUT IT--THE NEW UP-TOWN MUSEUM--OPENING THE ESTABLISHMENT TO THE PUBLIC,......638 CHAP. XL.--MY WAR ON THE RAILROADS. SCENES IN THE LEGISLATURE--SHARP-SHOOTING--PROPOSITIONS FOR A NEW CAPITAL OF CONNECTICUT--THE RIVALRY OF CITIES--CULMINATION OF THE RAILROAD CONTROVERSY--EXCITEMENT AMONG THE LOBBYISTS--A BILL FOR THE BENEFIT OF COMMUTERS--PEOPLE PROTECTED FROM THE PLUNDERERS--HOW SETTLERS ARE DRAWN INTO A STATE AND THEN CHEATED BY THE RAILROAD COMPANIES--EQUAL RIGHTS FOR COMMUTERS AND TRANSIENT PASSENGERS--WHAT COMMODORE VANDERBILT DID--WHAT THE NEW YORK AND NEW HAVEN RAILROAD COMPANY WANTED TO DO--EXPOSURE OF THEIR PLOT--CONSTERNATION OF THE CONSPIRATORS--MY VICTORY--AGAIN ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE--UNITED STATES SENATOR FERRY--EX-GOVERNOR W. A. BUCKINGHAM--THEODORE TILTON--GOVERNOR HAWLEY--FRIENDS AT LINDENCROFT--NOMINATED FOR CONGRESS AND DEFEATED,......649 CHAP. XLI.--BENNETT AND THE HERALD. THE AMERICAN MUSEUM LEASE--ITS VALUE--BENNETT OF THE HERALD BUYS IT FOR $200,000--HE PURCHASES THE PROPERTY--OVERESTIMATE OF ITS WORTH--MAX MARETZEK--MISS CLARA LOUISE KELLOGG’S ESTIMATE OF CERTAIN PEOPLE--THE POWER BEHIND THE HERALD THRONE--THE HERALD’S INFLUENCE--AND HARD EXPERIENCE--HIS LAWYER INSISTS UPON MY TAKING BACK THE MUSEUM LEASE--I DECLINE--BENNETT REFUSES MY ADVERTISEMENTS--INTERVIEW WITH MR. HUDSON--WAR OF THE MANAGERS UPON THE HERALD--BENNETT HUMBLED--LOSS OF THE HERALD’S PRESTIGE--MONEY DAMAGE TO BENNETT’S ESTABLISHMENT--THE EDITOR SUED--PEACE BETWEEN THE HERALD AND THE MANAGERS,......665 CHAP. XLII.--PUBLIC LECTURING.