Struggles and Triumphs · Chapter
XIII: In Belgium explained
Barnum recounts his travels through Belgium with General Tom Thumb, including crossing the border with a lost passport, distributing medals to customs officials, a visit to King Leopold's palace, the theft and recovery of the General's jewe
What happens
Barnum recounts his travels through Belgium with General Tom Thumb, including crossing the border with a lost passport, distributing medals to customs officials, a visit to King Leopold's palace, the theft and recovery of the General's jewels, and a disastrous excursion to the battlefield of Waterloo that ends with Stratton being swindled by a farmer and arriving late for an exhibition.
Themes in this chapter
Showmanship and Humbug
Barnum uses 'soft soap' and free medals to charm customs officials and railway men, demonstrating the art of pleasing the public.
Resilience in Adversity
Despite being swindled, soaked in rain, and losing an exhibition, Stratton and Barnum persevere through the mishap in Belgium.
Public Perception and Reputation
Barnum presents General Tom Thumb as 'Prince Charles Stratton' to gain respect from officials, and carefully guards the General's reputation after the jewel theft.
Characters to notice
- P. T. Barnum
Narrator and showman; manages the party, negotiates with customs, and offers reward for stolen jewels.
- General Tom Thumb
The little General; presented to King Leopold and Queen, his jewels are stolen and recovered, and he is the star of the exhibitions.
- Sherwood E. Stratton
Father of General Tom Thumb; suffers through the Waterloo excursion, is swindled by a farmer, and falls asleep during a haircut.
- Professor Pinte
Interpreter and preceptor; loses his passport, broods over being called a showman, and learns about 'soft soap.'
- Mr. James Gordon Bennett
Not directly mentioned in excerpts, but referenced in chapter title context as part of Barnum's network; omitted as no direct evidence.
Key passages
“I could see that my allusion to him as a 'showman' was by no means pleasant, which leads me to recount the circumstances under which I was first brought in contact with the Professor.”
Barnum noticed that calling Professor Pinte a 'showman' upset him, so he explains how he originally hired Pinte as a preceptor rather than a showman.
Highlights the social stigma attached to being a showman in the 19th century.
“Stratton was terrified as he thought of the loss of the day exhibition; and he cursed the boy, the cart, the rain, the luck, and even the battle of Waterloo itself.”
Stratton panicked about missing the afternoon show and angrily blamed everyone and everything, including the famous battlefield.
Shows Stratton's frustration and the high stakes of punctuality for showmen.
“I think those railway officials must have very dirty hands—you are compelled to use so much 'soft sup.'”
Professor Pinte jokes that the railway officials must have dirty hands because Barnum uses so much flattery ('soft soap') on them.
Illustrates Barnum's use of charm and bribery to smooth over bureaucratic obstacles.