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The New Orleans papers of March 19th； 1838； announced the arrival of the 〃Steamer Ceres； Captain Barnum； with a theatrical company。〃 After a week's performance； they started for the Attakapas country。 At Opelousas they exchanged the steamer for sugar and molasses； the company was disbanded； and Barnum started for home； arriving in New York。 June 4th； 1838。
CHAPTER VII。 HARD TIMES。
ADVERTISING FOR A PARTNER〃QUAKER OATS〃DIAMOND THE DANCERA DISHONEST MANAGERRETURN TO NEW YORKFROM HAND TO MOUTHTHE AMERICAN MUSEUM。
Looking around now for some permanent business； Barnum at last resorted to the expedient of advertising for a partner； stating that he had 2；500 to invest； and was willing to add his entire personal attention to the business。 He was immediately overwhelmed with answers； the most of them coming from sharpers。 One was a counterfeiter who wanted 2；500 to invest in paper； ink； and dies。
One applicant was a sedate individual dressed in sober drab； he proposed to buy a horse and wagon and sell oats in bags； trusting that no one would be particular in measuring after a Quaker。
〃Do you mean to cheat in measuring your oats？〃 asked Barnum。
〃Well；〃 said the Quaker； with a significant leer； 〃I shall probably make them hold out。〃
Finally Barnum decided to go into business with a good…looking； plausible German； named Proler； who was a manufacturer of paste…blacking； cologne； and bear's grease。 They opened a store at No。 101 1/2 Bowery； where Proler manufactured the goods； and Barnum kept accounts and attended to sales in the store。 The business prospered； or appeared to； until the capital was exhausted； and early in 1840 Barnum sold out his interest to Proler； taking the German's note for 2；600； which was all he ever got； Proler shortly afterward running away to Rotterdam。
Barnum had formed the acquaintance of a very clever young dancer named John Diamond； and soon after leaving the paste…blacking enterprise； he gathered together a company of singers； etc。； which； with the dancer； Diamond； he placed in the hands of an agent； not caring to have his name appear in the transaction。 He hired the Vauxhall Garden Saloon in New York and gave a variety of performances。 This； however； proved unprofitable； and was abandoned after a few months。
Much as Barnum dreaded resuming the life of an itinerant showman； there seemed nothing else to be done； so January 2d； 1841； found him in New Orleans； with a company consisting of C。 D。 Jenkins； an excellent Yankee character artist； Diamond； the dancer； a violinist； and one or two others。 His brother…in…law； John Hallett； acted as advance agent。 The venture was fairly successful； though after the first two weeks in New Orleans； the manager and proprietor of the show was obliged to pledge his watch as security for the board…bill。 A dancing match between Diamond and a negro from Kentucky put nearly 500 into Barnum's pocket； and they continued to prosper until Diamond； after extorting as much money as possible from his manager； finally ran away。 The other members of the troop caused considerable trouble later。 Jenkins； the Yankee character man； went to St。 Louis； and having enticed Francis Lynch； an orphan protege of Barnum's into the scheme； proceeded to the Museum； where he exhibited Lynch as the celebrated dancer； John Diamond。 Barnum poured out his wrath at this swindler in a letter； for which Jenkins threatened suit； and actually did instigate R。 W。 Lindsay to bring an action against Barnum for a pipe of brandy； alleged to have been included in his contract。 Being among strangers； Barnum had some difficulty in procuring the 500 bond required； and was committed to jail until late in the afternoon。 As soon as he was released； he had Jenkins arrested for fraud； and then went on his way rejoicing。
After an absence of eight months Barnum found himself back in New York； resolved never again to be a traveling showman。 Contracting with the publisher； Robert Sears； for five hundred copies of 〃Sear's Pictorial Illustrations of the Bible；〃 and accepting the United States agency for the book； he opened an office at the corner of Beekman and Nassau Streets。 He advertised widely； had numerous agents； and sold thousands of books； but for all that； lost money。
While engaged in this business the Vauxhall Saloon was re…opened； under the management of John Hallett； Mrs。 Barnum's brother。 At the end of the season they had cleared about 200。 This sum was soon exhausted； and for the rest of the winter Barnum managed to eke out a living by writing for the Sunday papers； and getting up unique advertisements for the Bowery Amphitheatre。
His ambition received a stimulus at last from a friend in Danbury； who held a mortgage on a piece of property owned by Mr。 Barnum。 Mr。 Whittlesey wrote that as he was convinced of Mr。 Barnum's inability to lay up money； he thought he might as well demand the five hundred dollars then as at any time。 Barnum's flagging energies were aroused； and he began in earnest to look for some permanent investment。
In connection with the Bowery Amphitheatre； the information came to him that the collection of curiosities comprising Scudder's American Museum； at the corner of Broadway and Ann Streets； was for sale。 The original proprietor had spent 50；000 on it； and at his death had left a large fortune as the result of the speculation。 It was now losing money and the heirs offered it for sale； at the low price of 15；000。 Realizing that with tact； energy； and liberality； the business might be made as profitable as ever； Barnum resolved to buy it。
〃You buy the American Museum！〃 exclaimed a friend to whom he confided the scheme。 〃What will you buy it with？〃
〃With brass；〃 answered Barnum； 〃for silver and gold have I none。〃
And buy it with brass he did； as the story of the transaction testifies。
The Museum building belonged to Mr。 Francis W。 Olmsted； a retired merchant； to whom he wrote； stating his desire to buy the collection； and that although he had no means； if it could be purchased upon reasonable credit； he was confident that his tact and experience； added to a determined devotion to business； would enable him to make the payments when due。 Barnum therefore asked him to purchase the collection in his own name； to give a writing securing it to Barnum； provided he made the payments punctually； including the rent of his building； to allow Barnum twelve dollars and a half a week on which to support his family； and if at any time he failed to meet the installment due； he would vacate the premises； and forfeit all that might have been paid to that date。 〃In fact； Mr。 Olmsted。〃 Barnum continued； earnestly； 〃you may bind me in any way； and as tightly as you pleaseonly give me a chance to dig out； or scratch out； and I will do so or forfeit all the labor and trouble I may have incurred。〃
In reply to this letter； which Barnum took to his house himself； Mr。 Olmsted named an hour when he could call on him。 Barnum was there at the exact moment； and Olmsted was pleased with his punctuality。 He inquired closely as to Barnum's habits and antecedents； and the latter frankly narrated his experiences as a caterer for the public； mentioning his amusement ventures