The Humbugs of the World: An Account of Humbugs, Delusions, Impositions, Quackeries, Deceits and Deceivers Generally, in All AgesBarnum, P. T. (Phineas Taylor)
General
The Humbugs of the World: An Account of Humbugs, Delusions, Impositions, Quackeries, Deceits and Deceivers Generally, in All Ages
Barnum, P. T. (Phineas Taylor)
Impostors and imposture
There is a fellow in Williamsburg who calls himself a clergyman, and
sells a "consumptive remedy," by which I suppose he means a remedy for
consumption. It is a mere slop corked in a vial; but there are a good
many people who are silly enough to buy it of him. A certain gentleman,
during last November, earnestly sought an interview with this reverend
brother in the interests of humanity, but he was as inaccessible as a
chipmunk in a stone fence. The gentleman wrote a polite note to the
knave asking about prices, and received a printed circular in return,
stating in an affecting manner the good man's grief at having to raise
his price in consequence of the cost of gold "with which I am obliged to
buy my medicines" saith he, "in Paris." This was both sad and
unsatisfactory; and the gentleman went over to Williamsburg to seek an
interview and find out all about the prices. He reached the abode of the
man of piety, but, strange to relate, he wasn't at home.
Gentleman waited.
Reverend brother kept on not being at home. When gentleman had waited to
his entire satisfaction he came back.
It is understood it is practically out of the question to see the
reverend brother. Perhaps he is so modest and shy that he will not
encounter the clamorous gratitude which would obstruct his progress
through the streets, from the millions saved by his consumptive remedy.
It is a pity that the reverend man cannot enjoy the still more complete
seclusion by which the state of New York testifies its appreciation of
unobtrusive and retiring virtues like his, in the salubrious and quiet
town of Sing Sing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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