Struggles and Triumphs by P.T. Barnum — Read

A Gigantic Amusement Company -- Immense Additions to the New Collection -- Curiosities from Everywhere -- The Gordon Cummings Collection from Africa -- The Gorilla -- What the Papers Said About the Monster -- My Private View of the Animal -- Amusing Interview with Paul Du Chaillu -- A Superb Menagerie -- The New Theater -- Project for a Free National Institution -- Messrs. E. D. Morgan, William C. Bryant, Horace Greeley and Others Favor My Plan -- President Johnson Endorses It -- Destruction of My Second Museum by Fire -- The Ice-Clad Ruins -- A Sad, Yet Splendid Spectacle -- Out of the Business -- Foot Races at the White Mountains -- How I Was Not Beaten -- Opening of Wood's Museum in New York -- My Only Interest in the Enterprise.

My new Museum on Broadway was liberally patronized from the start, but I felt that still more attractions were necessary in order to insure constant success. I therefore made arrangements with the renowned Van Amburgh Menagerie Company to unite their entire collection of living wild animals with the Museum. The new company was known as the "Barnum and Van Amburgh Museum and Menagerie Company," and as such was chartered by the Connecticut Legislature, the New York Legislature having refused us a charter unless I would "see" the "ring" a thousand dollars' worth, which I declined. I owned forty percent and the Van Amburgh Company held the remaining sixty percent in the new enterprise, which comprehended a large travelling menagerie through the country in summer, and the placing of the wild animals in the Museum in winter. The capital of the company was one million of dollars, with the privilege of doubling the amount. As one of the conditions of the new arrangement, it was stipulated that I should withdraw from all active personal attention to the Museum, but should permit my name to be announced as General Manager, and I was also elected President of the company. This arrangement gave me the comparative tranquillity which I now began to desire. I spent most of my time in Bridgeport, except in winter, when I resided in New York. I usually visited the Museum about once a week, but sometimes was absent for several months.