按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e whole scheme as planned was faithfully carried out in less than eight months The first foundation stone was laid in October； 1868； and they moved into the completed house in June following； in 1869。
On taking possession of this new residence； Barnum formally named it 〃Waldemere。〃 Literally this name was 〃Wald…am…Meer；〃 or 〃Woods…by…the Sea；〃 but Barnum preferred the more euphonious form。 On the same estate he built at the same time two beautiful cottages； called 〃Petrel's Nest；〃 and 〃Wavewood；〃 the homes of his two daughters； Mrs。 Thompson and Mrs。 Seeleythe latter his youngest。 Here Barnum decided to speed five months of every year； and for his home during the other seven months he purchased a splendid mansion on Murray Hill； in New York City； at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 38th Street。
CHAPTER XLI。 HONORS AND ADULATIONS。
SECOND MARRIAGETHE KING OF HAWAIIELECTED MAYOR OF BRIDGEPORTSUCCESSFUL TOUR OF THE HIPPODROMEBARNUM'S RETIREMENT FROM OFFICE。
In the autumn of 1874 Mr。 Barnum married the daughter of his old English friend； John Fish。 The wedding took place in the Church of the Divine Paternity； Fifth Avenue； New York； and after a brief bridal tour； they returned to Waldemere。
In December； 1874； David Kalakau； King of the Sandwich Islands； visited New York； and with his suite was invited to attend the Hippodrome。
During the performance Barnum sat beside the King； who kept up a pleasant conversation with him for two hours。 The King expressed himself as highly delighted with the entertainment； and said he was always fond of horses and racing。
Some twelve thousand spectators were present； and before the exhibition was finished they began to call loudly 〃The King！ The King！〃
Turning to his host； Kalakau inquired the meaning of their excitement。 〃Your Majesty；〃 replied Barnum； 〃this vast audience wishes to give you an ovation。 The building is so large that they cannot distinguish your Majesty from every part of the house； and are anxious that you should ride around the circle in order that they may greet you。〃
At the moment； Barnum's open barouche was driven into the circle and approached the royal box。
〃No doubt your Majesty would greatly gratify my countrymen； if you would kindly step into this carriage and ride around the circle。〃
The King immediately arose； and amidst tremendous cheering； stepped into the carriage。 Barnum took a seat by his side； and the King smilingly remarked； 〃We are all actors。〃
The audience rose to their feet； cheered and waved their handkerchiefs； as the King rode around the circle； raising his hat and bowing。 The excitement was simply tremendous。
In March； 1875； the nomination for Mayor of Bridgeport was offered Barnum； but he refused it； until assured that the nomination was intended as a compliment； and that both parties would sustain it。 Politically the city is largely Democratic； but Barnum led the Republican ticket； and was easily elected。
His Inaugural address before the new Common Council； April 12； is given below。
GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMON COUNCIL：Intrusted as we are； by the votes of our fellow…citizens； with the care and management of their interests； it behooves us to endeavor to merit the confidence reposed in us。 We are sometimes called the 〃fathers of the city。〃 Certainly our duty is； and our pleasure should be； to administer the municipal government as a good and wise father conducts his household； caring for all； partial to none。 No personal feelings should dictate our official acts。 We are not placed here to gratify personal or party resentment； nor to extend personal or party favor in any manner that may in the remotest degree conflict with the best interests of our city。 As citizens we enjoy a great common interest。 Each individual is a member of the body corporate； and no member can be unduly favored or unjustly oppressed without injury to the entire community。 No person or party can afford to be dishonest。 Honesty is always the best policy； for 〃with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again。〃
A large portion of this honorable body are now serving officially for the first time； and therefore may not be fully acquainted with the details of its workings； but we are all acquainted with the great principles of Justice and Right。 If we fail to work according to these eternal principles； we betray the confidence placed in us； and this our year of administration will be remembered with disapprobation and contempt。
Let us bring to our duties careful judgment and comprehensive views with regard to expenditure； so that we may be neither parsimonious nor extravagant； but； like a prudent householder； ever careful that expenses shall be less than the income。
Our city is peculiarly adapted for commercial purposes； it should be our care； therefore； to adopt such measures as tend to promote trade； manufactures and commerce。 Its delightful and healthy locality makes it also a desirable place of residence。 We should strive to enhance its natural beauty； to improve our streets and； with moderate expenditure； to embellish our parks； by which means we shall attract refined and wealthy residents。
As conservators of the public peace and morals it is our duty to prevent； so far as possible； acts which disturb one or the other； and to enforce the laws in an impartial and parental spirit。
The last report of our Chief of Police says： 〃 'Tis a sad and painful duty； yet candor compels us to state that at least ninety per cent。 of the causes of all the arrests during the year are directly traceable to the immoderate use of intoxicating liquors； not to speak of the poverty and misery it has caused families which almost daily come under our observation。〃
In the town of Vineland； N。 J。； where no intoxicating drinks are sold； the overseer of the poor stated in his annual report that in a population of 10；000 there was but one indictment in six months； and that the entire police expenses were but seventy…five dollars per yearthe sum paid to himand the poor expenses a mere trifle。 He further says： 〃We practically have no debt； and our taxes are only one per cent。 on the valuation。 〃Similar results are reported in the town of Greeley； Colorado； where no liquors are sold。
Our laws license the sale of intoxicating drinks under certain restrictions on week days； but no man can claim the right under such license to cause mobs； riots； bloodshed or murder。 Hence no man has； or can have； any right by license or otherwise to dispense liquors to intoxicated persons； nor to furnish sufficient liquor to cause intoxication。 Our duty is therefore to see that the police aid in regulating to the extent of their legal power a traffic which our laws do not wholly prohibit。 Spirituous liquors of the present day are so much adulterated and doubly poisoned that their use fires the brain and drives their victims to madness； violence and murder。 The money annually expended for intoxicating drinks； and the cost of their evil results in Bridgeport； or any other American city where liquor selling is licensed； would pay the entire expenses of the city （if liquors were not drank）； including the public schools； give a good suit of clothes to every poor person of bo