PLEASURE VISIT TO PHILADELPHIA--LIVING IN GRAND STYLE--THE BOTTOM OF THE PILE--BORROWING MONEY--MY MARRIAGE--RETURN TO BETHEL--EARLY MARRIAGES--MORE PRACTICAL JOKING--SECOND APPEARANCE AS COUNSEL--GOING TO HOUSEKEEPING--SELLING BOOKS AT AUCTION--THE “YELLOW STORE”--A NEW FIELD--“THE HERALD OF FREEDOM”--MY EDITORIAL CAREER--LIBEL SUITS--FINED AND IMPRISONED--LIFE IN THE DANBURY JAIL--CELEBRATION OF MY LIBERATION--POOR BUSINESS AND BAD DEBTS--REMOVAL TO NEW YORK--SEEKING MY FORTUNE--“WANTS” IN THE “SUN”--WM. NIBLO--KEEPING A BOARDING-HOUSE--A WHOLE SHIRT ON MY BACK,......59 CHAP. V.--MY START AS A SHOWMAN. THE AMUSEMENT BUSINESS--DIFFERENT GRADES--CATERING FOR THE PUBLIC--MY CLAIMS, AIMS AND EFFORTS--JOICE HETH--APPARENT GENUINENESS OF HER VOUCHERS--BEGINNING LIFE AS A SHOWMAN--SUCCESS OF MY FIRST EXHIBITION--SECOND STEP IN THE SHOW LINE--SIGNOR VIVALLA--MY FIRST APPEARANCE ON ANY STAGE--AT WASHINGTON--ANNE ROYALL STIMULATING THE PUBLIC--CONTESTS BETWEEN VIVALLA AND ROBERTS--EXCITEMENT AT FEVER HEAT--CONNECTING MYSELF WITH A CIRCUS--BREAD AND BUTTER DINNER FOR THE WHOLE COMPANY--NARROW ESCAPE FROM SUFFOCATION--LECTURING AN ABUSIVE CLERGYMAN--AARON TURNER--A TERRIBLE PRACTICAL JOKE--I AM REPRESENTED TO BE A MURDERER--RAILS AND LYNCH LAW--NOVEL MEANS FOR SECURING NOTORIETY,......71 CHAP. VI.--MY FIRST TRAVELING COMPANY. THREE MEALS AND LODGING IN ONE HOUR--TURNING THE TABLES ON TURNER--A SON AS OLD AS HIS FATHER--LEAVING THE CIRCUS WITH TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS--MY FIRST TRAVELLING COMPANY--PREACHING TO THE PEOPLE--APPEARING AS A NEGRO MINSTREL--THREATENED WITH ASSASSINATION--ESCAPES FROM DANGER--TEMPERANCE--REPORT OF MY ARREST FOR MURDER--RE-ENFORCING MY COMPANY--“BARNUM’S GRAND SCIENTIFIC AND MUSICAL THEATRE”--OUTWITTING A SHERIFF--“LADY HAYES’S” MANSION AND PLANTATION--A BRILLIANT AUDIENCE--BASS DRUM SOLO--CROSSING THE INDIAN NATION--JOE PENTLAND AS A SAVAGE--TERROR AND FLIGHT OF VIVALLA--A NONPLUSSED LEGERDEMAIN PERFORMER--A MALE EGG-LAYER--DISBANDING MY COMPANY--A NEW PARTNERSHIP--PUBLIC LECTURING--DIFFICULTY WITH A DROVER--THE STEAMBOAT “CERES”--SUDDEN MARRIAGE ON BOARD--MOBBED IN LOUISIANA--ARRIVAL AT NEW ORLEANS,......86 CHAP. VII.--AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER. DISGUST AT THE TRAVELLING BUSINESS--ADVERTISING FOR AN ASSOCIATE--RUSH OF THE MILLION-MAKERS--COUNTERFEITERS, CHEATS AND QUACKS--A NEW BUSINESS--SWINDLED BY MY PARTNER--DIAMOND THE DANCER--A NEW COMPANY--DESERTIONS--SUCCESSES AT NEW ORLEANS--TYRONE POWER AND FANNY ELLSLER--IN JAIL AGAIN--BACK TO NEW YORK--ACTING AS A BOOK AGENT--LEASING VAUXHALL--FROM HAND TO MOUTH--DETERMINATION TO MAKE MONEY--FORTUNE OPENING HER DOOR--THE AMERICAN MUSEUM FOR SALE--NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PURCHASE--HOPES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS--THE TRAIN LAID--SMASHING A RIVAL COMPANY,......104 CHAP. VIII.--THE AMERICAN MUSEUM.