uential men and journals in the land, but we will
close this publisher's note with the following from the _N. Y. Sun_.

"One of the happiest impromptu oratorical efforts that we have heard for
some time was that made by Barnum at the benefit performance given for
his employes on Friday afternoon. If a stranger wanted to satisfy
himself how the great showman had managed so to monopolize the ear and
eye of the public during his long career he could not have had a better
opportunity of doing so than by listening to this address. Every word,
though delivered with apparent carelessness, struck a key-note in the
hearts of his listeners. Simple, forcible, and touching, it showed how
thoroughly this extraordinary man comprehends the character of his
countrymen, and how easily he can play upon their feelings.

"Those who look upon Barnum as a mere charlatan, have really no
knowledge of him. It would be easy to demonstrate that the qualities
that have placed him in his present position of notoriety and affluence
would, in another pursuit, have raised him to far greater eminence. In
his breadth of views, his profound knowledge of mankind, his courage
under reverses, his indomitable perseverance, his ready eloquence, and
his admirable business tact, we recognise the elements that are
conducive to success in most other pursuits. More than almost any other
living man, Barnum may be said to be a representative type of the
American mind."

INTRODUCTION.

In the "Autobiography of P. T. Barnum," published in 1855, I partly
promised to write a book which should expose some of the chief humbugs
of the world. The invitation of my friends Messrs. Cauldwell and Whitney
of the "Weekly Mercury" caused me to furnish for that paper a series of
articles in which I very naturally took up the subject in question. This
book is a revision and re-arrangement of a portion of those articles. If
I should find that I have met a popular demand, I shall in due time put
forth a second volume. There is not the least danger of a dearth of
materials.

I once travelled through the Southern States in company with a magician.
The first day in each town, he astonished his auditors with his
deceptions. He then announced that on the following day he would show
how each trick was performed, and how every man might thus become his
own magician. That _expose_ spoiled the legerdemain market on that
particular route, for several years. So, if we could have a f