# In France explained — Struggles and Triumphs

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

## What happens

Barnum recounts the grand tour of General Tom Thumb through France, detailing the elaborate retinue, clever advertising strategies, and legal battles over exhibition taxes. He describes the General's success in Paris, including performances at the Vaudeville Theater, visits to the royal family at the Tuileries and St. Cloud, and a clever resolution to a tax dispute in Bordeaux by moving the exhibition to Vincennes.

## Themes in this chapter

### Showmanship and Humbug

Barnum uses the grand retinue of twelve horses and twelve persons as a form of advertising, and employs reverse psychology by telling people to keep quiet to generate excitement.

### Resilience in Adversity

Barnum overcomes the Bordeaux tax extortion by discovering the independent jurisdiction of Vincennes and exhibiting there, turning a potential loss into a profit.

### Financial Wisdom and Economy

Barnum negotiates lower taxes, pays only 11% theatrical tax instead of the demanded 45%, and cleverly avoids paying any taxes in Bordeaux by moving to Vincennes.

## Character check-ins

### P. T. Barnum

Barnum acts as the General's avant courier, making arrangements and learning French for business.

### General Tom Thumb

The General performs in French, appears at the Vaudeville Theater, and visits the royal family multiple times, including a special Napoleon Bonaparte costume for King Louis Philippe.

### Sherwood E. Stratton

Accompanies the General as preceptor and translator; the General learns French quickly.

## Key lines

> With such a retinue the General 'cut quite a swell' in journeying through the country, travelling, indeed, in grander style than a Field Marshal would have thought of doing in posting through France.

The General traveled with such a large and impressive entourage that he appeared more important than a Field Marshal.

_Barnum emphasizes the spectacle of the General's travel arrangements as a marketing tool._

> I did not forget that Franklin learned to speak French when he was seventy years of age, and I did not consider myself too old to learn, what, indeed, I was obliged to learn in the interests of my business.

Barnum was inspired by Benjamin Franklin's example to learn French at an older age, as it was necessary for his business.

_Barnum references Franklin to justify his own language learning._

> I offered the manager six percent of my receipts and he laughed at me.

Barnum proposed a six percent share to the theater manager, who ridiculed the offer.

_This leads to the conflict in Bordeaux._

> My Yankee 'dander' was up and I declared that I would exhibit the General gratis rather than submit to the demand.

Barnum's American pride was stirred, and he threatened to give free shows rather than give in to the manager's demands.

_Barnum's determination to resist unfair demands._

> Oh, yes! they got something—that is, a lesson—not to attempt to offset French Shylockism against Yankee shrewdness.

The manager and directors learned a lesson about trying to outsmart a clever American.

_Barnum celebrates his victory over the French authorities._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters/xii-in-france
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/struggles_and_triumphs_se/chapters