Struggles and Triumphs · Chapter
Other Enterprises explained
Barnum recounts his various business ventures beyond the American Museum, including his partnership with Seth B.
What happens
Barnum recounts his various business ventures beyond the American Museum, including his partnership with Seth B. Howes and Sherwood E. Stratton to create a traveling menagerie, an expedition to Ceylon for elephants, and the use of an elephant for plowing on his farm as a publicity stunt. He also describes his encounter with Commodore Vanderbilt, the purchase of Robert Houdin's automaton, the engagement of Lancashire Bell Ringers, and other side shows such as the panoramic diorama of Napoleon's obsequies and the automaton speaker visited by the Duke of Wellington.
Themes in this chapter
Showmanship and Humbug
Barnum's elephant plowing stunt is a classic example of using spectacle and novelty to draw public attention and advertise his Museum.
Entrepreneurship and Enterprise
Barnum's multiple ventures—steamship investment, traveling menagerie, automaton exhibition, and more—demonstrate his relentless entrepreneurial drive.
Public Perception and Reputation
Barnum carefully crafts his public image, from his humorous exchange with Vanderbilt to the widespread press coverage of his elephant farming.
Characters to notice
- P. T. Barnum
Narrator and central figure; engages in multiple enterprises, meets Vanderbilt, and orchestrates the elephant plowing advertisement.
- General Tom Thumb
Traveled nearly four years as an attraction of 'Barnum's Great Asiatic Caravan, Museum and Menagerie.'
- Sherwood E. Stratton
Father of General Tom Thumb; admitted as a partner in the traveling menagerie venture.
- Jenny Lind
Stayed at the Irving House during her second visit to New York when the elephants paraded up Broadway.
- Mr. Gideon Thompson
Farmer friend who called at Iranistan during the elephant excitement and asked Barnum to accompany him to the field.
- Robert Houdin
Barnum purchased Houdin's ingenious automaton writer in Paris in 1844.
- Mr. James Gordon Bennett
Not directly mentioned in excerpts, but included as a canonical character; no clear role in this chapter.
Key passages
““Is it possible you are Barnum?” exclaimed the Commodore, in surprise, “why, I expected to see a monster, part lion, part elephant, and a mixture of rhinoceros and tiger! Is it possible,” he continued, “that you are the showman who has made so much noise in the world?””
Commodore Vanderbilt expressed astonishment at meeting Barnum, saying he had imagined a grotesque creature rather than the man before him.
Highlights the larger-than-life reputation Barnum had cultivated.
“I then wrote him a threatening letter, but received no response. I was on the eve of suing him for the amount due me, when the news came that the steamship North America was lying at the bottom of the Pacific.”
Barnum considered suing Daniel Drew over an unpaid debt, but dropped the matter when he learned the ship had sunk before the sale, sparing him a greater loss.
Illustrates Barnum's pragmatic approach to business disputes.
“It occurred to me that if I could put an elephant to plowing for a while on my farm at Bridgeport, it would be a capital advertisement for the American Museum, which was then, and always during my proprietorship of that establishment, foremost in my thoughts.”
Barnum decided to use an elephant for plowing as a clever promotional tactic to draw attention to his Museum.
Demonstrates Barnum's innovative marketing strategies.
“The six acres were plowed over at least sixty times before I thought the advertisement sufficiently circulated, and I then sold the elephant to Van Amburgh’s Menagerie.”
Barnum had the elephant repeatedly plow the same field to maximize publicity before selling it.
Shows his relentless focus on advertising and spectacle.
