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se occasions was General Sherman； who was then retired from the army and living in New York。 Sherman was a military genius but a great deal more。 He was one of the most sensitive men in the world。 Of course； the attraction at these suppers was Miss Rehan； Daly's leading lady。 Her personal charm； her velvet voice； and her inimitable coquetry made every guest anxious to be her escort。 She would pretend to be in doubt whether to accept the attentions of General Sherman or myself； but when the general began to display considerable irritation； the brow of Mars was smoothed and the warrior made happy by a gracious acceptance of his arm。
On one of these occasions I heard the best after…dinner speech of my life。 The speaker was one of the most beautiful women in the country； Miss Fanny Davenport。 That night she seemed to be inspired； and her eloquence； her wit； her humor； her sparkling genius； together with the impression of her amazing beauty were very effective。
P。 T。 Barnum； the showman； was a many…sided and interesting character。 I saw much of him as he rented from the Harlem Railroad Company the Madison Square Garden； year after year。 Barnum never has had an equal in his profession and was an excellent business man。 In a broad way he was a man of affairs； and with his vast fund of anecdotes and reminiscences very entertaining socially。
An Englishman of note came to me with a letter of introduction； and I asked him whom he would like to meet。 He said： 〃I think principally Mr。 P。 T。 Barnum。〃 I told this to Barnum； who knew all about him； and said： 〃As a gentleman； he knows how to meet me。〃 When I informed my English friend； he expressed his regret and at once sent Barnum his card and an invitation for dinner。 At the dinner Barnum easily carried off the honors with his wonderful fund of unusual adventures。
My first contact with Mr。 Barnum occurred many years before； when I was a boy up in Peekskill。 At that time he had a museum and a show in a building at the corner of Ann Street and Broadway； opposite the old Astor House。 By skilful advertising he kept people all over the country expecting something new and wonderful and anxious to visit his show。
There had been an Indian massacre on the Western plains。 The particulars filled the newspapers and led to action by the government in retaliation。 Barnum advertised that he had succeeded in securing the Sioux warriors whom the government had captured； and who would re…enact every day the bloody battle in which they were victorious。
It was one of the hottest afternoons in August when I appeared there from the country。 The Indians were on the top floor； under the roof。 The performance was sufficiently blood…curdling to satisfy the most exacting reader of a penny…dreadful。 After the performance； when the audience left； I was too fascinated to go； and remained in the rear of the hall； gazing at these dreadful savages。 One of them took off his head…gear； dropped his tomahawk and scalping…knife； and said in the broadest Irish to his neighbor： 〃Moike； if this weather don't cool off； I will be nothing but a grease spot。〃 This was among the many illusions which have been dissipated for me in a long life。 Notwithstanding that； I still have faith； and dearly love to be fooled； but not to have the fraud exposed。
Wyndham； the celebrated English actor； was playing one night in New York。 He saw me in the audience and sent a messenger inviting me to meet him at supper at the Hoffman House。 After the theatre I went to the hotel； asked at the desk in what room the theatrical supper was； and found there Bronson Howard； the playwright； and some others。 I told them the object of my search； and Mr。 Howard said： 〃You are just in the right place。〃
The English actor came later； and also a large number of other guests。 I was very much surprised and flattered at being made practically the guest of honor。 In the usual and inevitable after…dinner speeches I joined enthusiastically in the prospects of American contributions to drama and especially the genius of Bronson Howard。
It developed afterwards that the actors' dinner was set for several nights later； and that I was not invited or expected to this entertainment； which was given by Mr。 Howard to my actor friend； but by concert of action between the playwright and the actor； the whole affair was turned into a dinner to me。 Broadway was delighted at the joke； but did not have a better time over it than I did。
The supper parties after the play which Wyndham gave were among the most enjoyable entertainments in London。 His guests represented the best in society； government； art； literature； and drama。 His dining…room was built and furnished like the cabin of a yacht and the illusion was so complete that sensitive guests said they felt the rolling of the sea。
One evening he said to me： 〃I expect a countryman of yours； a charming fellow； but； poor devil； he has only one hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year。 He is still young； and all the managing mothers are after him for their daughters。〃
When the prosperous American with an income of three…quarters of a million arrived； I needed no introduction。 I knew him very well and about his affairs。 He had culture； was widely travelled； was both musical and artistic； and his fad was intimacy with prominent people。 His dinners were perfection and invitations were eagerly sought。 On the plea of delicate health he remained a brief period in the height of the season in London and Paris。 But during those few weeks he gave all that could be done by lavish wealth and perfect taste； and did it on an income of twenty thousand dollars a year。
Most of the year he lived modestly in the mountains of Switzerland or in Eastern travel； but was a welcome guest of the most important people in many lands。 The only deceit about it； if it was a deceit； was that he never went out of his way to deny his vast wealth； and as he never asked for anything there was no occasion to publish his inventory。 The pursuing mothers and daughters never succeeded； before his flight； in leading him far enough to ask for a show…down。
Many times during my visits to Europe I have been besieged to know the income of a countryman。 On account of the belief over there in the generality of enormous American fortunes； it is not difficult to create the impression of immense wealth。 While the man would have to make a statement and give references； the lady's story is seldom questioned。 I have known some hundreds and thousands of dollars become in the credulous eyes of suitors as many millions； and a few millions become multimillions。 In several instances the statements of the lady were accepted as she achieved her ambition。
For a tired man who has grown stale with years of unremitting work I know of no relief and recuperation equal to taking a steamer and crossing the ocean to Europe。 I did this for a few weeks in midsummer many times and always with splendid and most refreshing results。 With fortunate introductions； I became acquainted with many of the leading men of other countries； and this was a liberal education。
There is invariably a concert for charities to help the sai