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he building。
〃My mind was distressed； not so much at the great pecuniary loss which the destruction of Iranistan would involve； as at the possibility that some of my family or visitors would be killed or seriously injured in attempting to save something from the fire。 Then I thought of the sore disappointment this calamity would cause to the young couple； as well as to those who were invited to the wedding。 I saw that Mr。 Thompson looked pale and anxious。
〃 'Never mind！' said I； 'we can't help these things； the house will probably be burned； but if no one is killed or injured； you shall be married to…night； if we are obliged to perform the ceremony in the coach…house。'
〃On our way； we overtook a fire company； and I implored them to 'hurry up their machine。' Arriving in sight of Iranistan； we saw huge volumes of smoke rolling out from the roof and many men on the top of the house were passing buckets of water to pour upon the fire。 Fortunately； several men had been engaged during the day in repairing the roof； and their ladders were against the house。 By these means and with the assistance of the men employed upon my grounds； water was passed very rapidly； and the flames were soon subdued without serious damage。 The inmates of Iranistan were thoroughly frightened； Catherine Hayes and other visitors； packed their trunks and had them carried out on the lawn； and the house came as near destruction as it well could and escape。〃
While Miss Hayes was at Bridgeport she gave； at Barnum's request； a concert for the benefit of 〃Mountain Grove Cemetery；〃 and the large proceeds were devoted to the erection of the stone tower and gateway that now adorn the entrance to that beautiful resting place of the dead。 Barnum had bought the eighty acres of land for this cemetery a few years before from several farmers。 He had been in the habit of tramping over it； gunning； and while thus engaged； had observed its admirable fitness for the purposes of a cemetery。 After the title deeds for the property were secured； it was offered for a cemetery； and at a meeting of citizens； several lots were subscribed for。 enough。 indeed； to cover the amount of the purchase money。 Thus was begun the 〃Mountain Grove Cemetery；〃 which is now beautifully laid out and adorned with many tasteful and costly monuments。 Among these are Barnum's own substantial granite monument； the family monuments of Harral； Bishop； Hubbell； Lyon； Wood； Loomis； Wordin； Hyde； and others； and General Tom Thumb erected a tall marble shaft which is surmounted by a life…size statue of himself。 There is no more charming burial…ground in the whole country； yet when the project was suggested； many persons preferred an intermural cemetery to this rural resting…place for their departed friends； though now all concur in considering it fortunate that this adjunct was secured to Bridgeport before the land could be permanently devoted to other purposes。
Mr。 Dion Boucicault also lectured at Bridgeport for the benefit of this cemetery and Tom Thumb gave an entertainment for the same object。 At Barnum's request and under his management； Tom Thumb and his wife； and Commodore Nutt and his wife； gave several exhibitions and entertainments for the benefit of the Bridgeport Charitable Society； the Bridgeport Library； and other local institutions。
CHAPTER XXIII。 SOME DOMESTIC ENTERPRISES。
PUTTING A PICKPOCKET ON EXHIBITIONTRAVELLING INCOGNITOTHE PEQUONNOCK BANKTHE NEW YORK CRYSTAL PALACEA POEM ON AN INCIDENT AT IRANISTAN。
In the summer of 1853 Alfred Bunn； formerly manager of Drury Lane Theatre； London； arrived in Boston。 He was then one of the most notable figures in the theatrical world。 It was he who had made the first engagement with Jenny Lind to appear in London。 She had been induced to break this engagement； however； through the solicitations of Mr。 Lumley； of Her Majesty's Theatre； with the result that Mr。 Lumley had to pay to Mr。 Bunn heavy damages for the breach of contract。 Barnum and Bunn had never met； though they knew each other well by reputation； and indeed Bunn labored under the delusion that he had met Barnum； for soon after his arrival he hastened to New York and entered Barnum's private office at the Museum with the exclamation； 〃Well； Barnum； do you remember me？〃
Barnum was confident that he had never seen him before； and indeed did not really know who he was。 But； quick as a flash； he thought that the ex…manager of Drury Lane must be the only living Englishman with presumption enough to accost him in this way。 So he answered without hesitation； 〃Why； this is Mr。 Bunn； isn't it？〃
〃Ah； my boy；〃 said Bunn； slapping him familiarly on the back； 〃I thought you would remember me。 Well； Barnum； how have you been since I last saw you？〃
Barnum replied in a manner that encouraged his impression that they were old acquaintances； and during the next two hours they had much gossip about men and affairs in London。 Bunn called upon Barnum several times after that； and probably never realized that Barnum really had been in London two or three years without making his acquaintance。 When Barnum went to London again in 1858 he renewed his acquaintance with Bunn and they became great chums。
The years 1851； 1852 and 1853 were mostly spent at Bridgeport； with frequent visits to New York of a day or two each。 In the last…named year he resigned the office of President of the Fairfield County Agricultural Society； but in accepting his resignation the society insisted that it should not go into effect until after the annual fair of 1854 His administration of the affairs of the society had been very successful； especially in relation to the fairs and cattle shows。
The manner in which Barnum turned every circumstance to account in the interest of these fairs is well shown in his dealings with a pickpocket at the fair of 1853。 The man was caught in the act of taking a pocket…book from a country farmer； and on arrest was found to be a notorious English thief。 He had already victimized many other visitors to the fair； and there was almost a state of panic among the visitors。 The fair was to close the next day。
Early the next morning the thief was taken before a justice； legally examined； and was bound over for trial。 Barnum then obtained consent from the Sheriff that the fellow should be put on the fair grounds； for the purpose of giving those who had been robbed an opportunity of identifying him。 For this purpose he was handcuffed and placed in a conspicuous position； where of course he was 〃the observed of all observers。〃 Then Barnum papered the country round about with handbills； stating that； for the last day of the fair； the managers had secured an extraordinary attraction。 They would； he said； exhibit； safely handcuffed； and without extra charge； a live pickpocket； who had on the day preceding been caught in the act of robbing an honest farmer。 Crowds of people rushed in to see the show； parents for miles around brought their children to see the awful example of iniquity； and great was the profit to the treasury of the fair。
At the close of his presidency in 1854 Barnum was asked to deliver the opening speech at the County Fair at Stamford。 He did so； delivering simply a