A TRAP SET FOR ME--I CATCH THE TRAPPERS--I BECOME PROPRIETOR OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM--HISTORY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT--HARD WORK AND COLD DINNERS--ADDITIONS TO THE MUSEUM--EXTRAORDINARY ADVERTISING--BARNUM’S BRICK-MAN--EXCITING PUBLIC CURIOSITY--INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES--A DRUNKEN ACTOR--IMITATIONS OF THE ELDER BOOTH--PLEASING MY PATRONS--SECURING TRANSIENT NOVELTIES--LIVING CURIOSITIES--MAKING PEOPLE TALK--A WILDERNESS OF WONDERS--NIAGARA FALLS WITH REAL WATER--THE CLUB THAT KILLED COOK--SELLING LOUIS GAYLORD CLARK--THE FISH WITH LEGS--THE FEJEE MERMAID--HOW IT CAME INTO MY POSSESSION--THE TRUE STORY OF THAT CURIOSITY--JAPANESE MANUFACTURE OF FABULOUS ANIMALS--THE USE I MADE OF THE MERMAID--WHOLESALE ADVERTISING AGAIN--THE BALCONY BAND--DRUMMOND LIGHTS,......116 CHAP. IX.--THE ROAD TO RICHES. THE MOST POPULAR PLACE OF AMUSEMENT IN THE WORLD--THE MORAL DRAMA--REFORMING THE ABUSES OF THE STAGE--FAMOUS ACTORS AND ACTRESSES AT THE MUSEUM--ADDING TO THE SALOONS--AFTERNOON AND HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES--FOURTH OF JULY FLAGS--THE MUSEUM CONNECTED WITH ST. PAUL’S--VICTORY OVER THE VESTRYMEN--THE EGRESS--ST. PATRICK’S DAY IN THE MORNING--A WONDERFUL ANIMAL, THE “AIGRESS”--INPOURING OF MONEY--ZOOLOGICAL ERUPTION--THE CITY ASTOUNDED--BABY SHOWS, AND THEIR OBJECT--FLOWER, BIRD, DOG AND POULTRY SHOWS--GRAND FREE BUFFALO HUNT IN HOBOKEN--N. P. WILLIS--THE WOOLLY HORSE--WHERE HE CAME FROM--COLONEL BENTON BEATEN--PURPOSE OF THE EXHIBITION--AMERICAN INDIANS--P. T. BARNUM EXHIBITED--A CURIOUS SPINSTER--THE TOUCHING STORY OF CHARLOTTE TEMPLE--SERVICES IN THE LECTURE ROOM--A FINANCIAL VIEW OF THE MUSEUM--AN “AWFUL RICH MAN,”......133 CHAP. X.--ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION. PEALE’S MUSEUM--MYSTERIOUS MESMERISM--YANKEE HILL--HENRY BENNETT--THE RIVAL MUSEUMS--THE ORPHEAN AND ORPHAN FAMILIES--THE FUDGEE MERMAID--BUYING OUT MY RIVAL--RUNNING OPPOSITION TO MYSELF--ABOLISHING THEATRICAL NUISANCES--NO CHECKS AND NO BAR--THE MUSEUM--MY MANIA--MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH CHARLES S. STRATTON--GENERAL TOM THUMB IN NEW YORK--RE-ENGAGEMENT--AN APT PUPIL--FREE FROM DEBT--THE PROFITS OF TWO YEARS--IN SEARCH OF A NEW FIELD--STARTING FOR LIVERPOOL--THE GOOD SHIP “YORKSHIRE”--MY PARTY--ESCORT TO SANDY HOOK--THE VOYAGE--A TOBACCO TRICK--A BRAGGING JOHN BULL OUTWITTED--ARRIVAL AT LIVERPOOL--A GENTLEMAN BEGGAR--MADAME CELESTE--CHEAP DWARFS--TWO-PENNY SHOWS--EXHIBITION OF GENERAL TOM THUMB IN LIVERPOOL--FIRST-CLASS ENGAGEMENT FOR LONDON,......156 CHAP. XI.--GENERAL TOM THUMB IN ENGLAND.