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
The Book once written, plans were laid to obtain the indorsement of the
people who were to be humbugged. It was not only necessary to humbug the
members of the Reform and Progressive party, but to present--as I have
before said--such serious arguments that Democrats should be led to
believe it as a _bona fide_ revelation of the "infernal" designs of
their antagonists. In both respects there was complete success.
Although, of course, the mass of the Republican leaders entirely ignored
the book, yet a considerable number of Anti-Slavery men, with more
transcendental ideas, were decidedly "sold." The machinery employed was
exceedingly ingenious. Before the book was published, proof-copies were
furnished to every prominent abolitionist in the country, and also to
prominent spiritual mediums, to ladies known to wear Bloomers, and to
all that portion of our population who are supposed to be a little
"soft" on the subject of reform. A circular was also enclosed,
requesting them, before the publication of the book, to give the author
the benefit of their opinions as to the value of the arguments
presented, and the desirability of the immediate publication of the
work; to be inclosed to the American News Company, 121 Nassau street,
New York--the agents for the publishers. The bait took. Letters came
pouring in from all sides, and among the names of prominent persons who
gave their indorsements were Albert Brisbane, Parker Pillsbury, Lucretia
Mott, Sarah M. Grimke, Angelina G. Weld, Dr. J. McCune Smith, Wm. Wells
Brown. Mr. Pillsbury was quite excited over the book, saying; "Your work
has cheered and gladdened a winter-morning, which I began in cloud and
sorrow. You are on the right track. Pursue it, and the good God speed
you." Mr. Theodore Tilton, upon receiving the pamphlet, wrote a note
promising to read it, and to write the author a long and candid letter
as soon as he had time; and saying, that the subject was one to which he
had given much thought. The promised letter, I believe, however, was
never received; probably because, on a careful perusal of the book, Mr.
Tilton "smelt a rat." He might also have been influenced by an ironical
paragraph relating to himself, and arguing that, as he was a "pure
specimen of the blonde," and "when a young man was noted for his angelic
type of feature," his sympathy for the colored race was accounted for by
the natural love of opposites. Says the author with much gravity:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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