# Incidents and Anecdotes explained — Struggles and Triumphs

> Chapter companion for Struggles and Triumphs by P. T. Barnum.

## What happens

Barnum recounts his grandmother's death, his father's death and insolvency, his early work as a clerk, his first meeting with Charity Hallett, a humorous misunderstanding over 'Russia' furs, and a scheme to move a pensioner named Uncle Bibbins.

## Themes in this chapter

### Resilience in Adversity

Barnum begins the world barefooted after his father's death and insolvency, yet quickly finds work and starts speculating.

### Showmanship and Humbug

Barnum's tin ware and green bottle lottery and the 'Russia' fur joke demonstrate his early flair for clever schemes and entertainment.

### Family and Domestic Life

Barnum's grandmother's deathbed blessing, his father's death, and his mother's efforts to redeem the homestead highlight family bonds and domestic struggles.

## Character check-ins

### P. T. Barnum

Narrator and protagonist; begins the world barefooted after father's death, works as a clerk, devises a lottery and a joke about 'Russia' furs.

### Charity Barnum

First introduced as 'Chairy' Hallett; Barnum escorts her home during a thunderstorm and is favorably impressed.

### Mrs. Jerusha Wheeler

Barnum's landlady at Grassy Plain; known as 'Aunt Rushia'; central to the 'Russia' fur misunderstanding.

### Mary

Daughter of Mrs. Wheeler; a milliner; involved in the 'Russia' fur confusion.

### Mr. Dibble

A hatter from Danbury who tries to buy 'Russia' fur and is sent on a wild goose chase by Barnum.

### Old Bevans

Revolutionary pensioner known as 'Uncle Bibbins'; Barnum engineers a duel to get him to leave for three months.

## Key lines

> I literally began the world with nothing, and was barefooted at that.

Barnum started his adult life with no money or assets, not even shoes.

_Emphasizes his humble beginnings after his father's death._

> I conceived the idea of a lottery in which the highest prize should be twenty-five dollars, payable in any goods the winner desired...

Barnum invented a lottery to sell old tin ware and glass bottles, with prizes in store goods.

_Illustrates his early entrepreneurial and showman instincts._

> I did my best to please my employers and soon gained their confidence and esteem and was regarded by them as an active clerk and a ’cute trader.

Barnum worked hard and earned his employers' trust, who saw him as a sharp businessman.

_Shows his work ethic and business acumen as a young clerk._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/ii-incidents-and-anecdotes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters