XXX: In Holland explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Showmanship and Humbug

  Barnum reflects on manufactured curiosities like the Fiji Mermaid and Woolly Horse, and the mock trial humorously accuses him of being the 'Prince of Humbugs.'

• Resilience in Adversity

  Despite financial ruin and social coldness, Barnum remains determined, using the experience as a lesson and preparing to rebuild.

• Financial Wisdom and Economy

  Barnum observes Dutch frugality and contrasts it with his own financial struggles; he learns from the clock company disaster.

• Public Perception and Reputation

  Barnum notes how former friends avoid him after his financial troubles, and he resolves to remember their behavior.

Characters to notice

• P. T. Barnum

  Narrator and protagonist; travels through Holland, returns to America to settle clock difficulties, and faces social and financial challenges.

• General Tom Thumb

  Exhibited in Rotterdam and Amsterdam with limited success; left in care of agents while Barnum returns to America.

• Charity Barnum

  Barnum's wife; joins him in London with their two youngest daughters, living economically in furnished lodgings.

• Helen

  Barnum's second daughter; married to Mr. Samuel H. Hurd on October 20, 1857.

• S. H. Hurd

  Marries Barnum's daughter Helen in Bridgeport.

• Mr. James D. Johnson

  One of Barnum's assignees in Bridgeport; advises Barnum to move into Iranistan and arranges for repairs.

• Elias Howe Jr.

  Mentioned in the chapter summary as part of the sale of Iranistan property.

Key passages

• “This reassured him and we then had a very pleasant half-hour’s conversation, in which he gave me several valuable hints of curiosities to be procured at the Hague and elsewhere in Holland, and we parted good friends.”

  After being reassured, we had a pleasant half-hour chat where he offered tips on finding curiosities in the Hague and other Dutch locations, and we parted amicably.

  Barnum's friendly interaction with a museum superintendent who later uses his card as a curiosity.

• “Undoubtedly this kind of business will continue so long as Waterloo relics are manufactured at Birmingham, and are sent to be plowed in and dug up again on the memorable field where Wellington met Napoleon.”

  This sort of trade will persist as long as fake Waterloo relics are made in Birmingham and buried to be 'discovered' on the battlefield.

  Barnum criticizes the manufacture of fake historical relics, drawing a parallel to his own humbugs.

• “I have the vanity to think that if my good fortune had directed me to that profession I should have made a very fair lawyer, for I have always had a great fondness for debate and especially for the cross-examination of witnesses, unless that witness was P. T. Barnum in examination under supplementary proceedings at the instance of some note-shaver who had bought a clock note at a discount of thirty-six percent.”

  I flatter myself that I would have been a decent lawyer, as I enjoy debate and cross-examining witnesses—except when I'm the one being examined by a creditor who bought my discounted clock notes.

  Barnum humorously reflects on his legal skills and his financial troubles with clock notes.

• “After my arrival in New York, oftentimes in passing up and down Broadway I saw old and prosperous friends coming, but before I came anywhere near them, if they espied me they would dodge into a store, or across the street, or opportunely meet someone with whom they had pressing business, or they would be very much interested in something that was going on over the way or on top of the City Hall.”

  In New York, former wealthy friends would avoid me by ducking into shops or crossing the street when they saw me coming.

  Barnum observes the cold shoulder from acquaintances after his financial ruin.