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ty to learn this sad but most needful lesson。 I had a very few of the same sort of experiences in Bridgeport； and they proved valuable to me。〃
One of Barnum's assignees was his neighbor and quondam 〃gamekeeper；〃 Mr。 Johnson； and he it was who had written to Barnum to return to America； to facilitate the settlement of his affairs。 He now told him that there was no probability of disposing of Iranistan at present； and that therefore he might as well move back into his old home。 That was August。 In September； Barnum's family followed him to America； and they decided to take Mr。 Johnson's advice and re…occupy Iranistan。 They went to Bridgeport； to superintend arrangements； and there Barnum's second daughter； Helen； was married to Mr。 S。 W。 Hurd； on October 20； 1857。
〃Meanwhile； Iranistan； which had been closed and unoccupied for more than two years； was once more opened to the carpenters and painters whom Mr。 Johnson sent there to put the house in order。 He agreed with Barnum that it was best to keep the property as long as possible； and in the interval； till a purchaser for the estate appeared； or till it was forced to auction； to take up the clock notes； whenever they were offered。 The workmen who were employed in the house were specially instructed not to smoke there； but nevertheless； it was subsequently discovered that some of the men were in the habit occasionally of going into the main dome to eat their dinners which they brought with them； and that they stayed there awhile after dinner to smoke their pipes。 In all probability； one of these lighted pipes was left on the cushion which covered the circular seat in the dome and ignited the tow with which the cushion was stuffed。 It may have been days and even weeks before this smouldering tow fire burst into flame。
Barnum was staying at the Astor House； in New York； when； on the morning of December 18； 1857； he received a telegram from his brother； Philo F。 Barnum； dated at Bridgeport； and informing him that Iranistan was burned to the ground that morning。 The alarm was given at eleven o'clock on the night of the 17th； and the fire burned till one o'clock on the morning of the 18th。
This was； of course； a considerable loss to Barnum's estate； for the house had cost about 150；000。 It was also generally regarded as a public calamity。 This house had been the only building in its peculiar style of architecture of any pretension in America； and many persons had visited Bridgeport every year expressly to see it。 The insurance on the mansion had usually been about 62；000； but Barnum had let some of the policies expire without renewing them； so that at the time of the fire there was only 28；000 insurance on the property。 Most of the furniture and pictures were saved； generally in a damaged state。
Subsequently； the assignees sold the grounds and outhouses of Iranistan to Elias Howe； Jr。； the inventor of the sewing…machine。 The property brought 50；000； which； with the 28；000 insurance went into Barnum's assets to satisfy clock creditors。 It was Mr。 Howe's intention to erect a splendid mansion on the estate； but his untimely and lamented death prevented the fulfilment of the plan。
CHAPTER XXIX。 THE ART OF MONEY GETTING。
THE LECTURE FIELDSUCCESSCAMBRIDGEOXFORDAN UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENTBARNUM EQUAL TO THE OCCASIONINVITED TO STAY A WEEK。
Seeing the necessity of making more money to assist in extricating his affairs from financial disorder； Barnum went back to England； taking with him Tom Thumb； whom he exhibited in all the principal places of England； Scotland and Wales； this was early in 1858。
The tour was a profitable one； and the money； as fast as it came in； was remitted to his agents and assignees in America。
At the suggestion of some of his American friends In London； Barnum next appeared on the lecture platform。 The subject chosen was 〃The Art of Money Getting；〃 although Barnum told his friends that in the light of recent events he felt more competent to speak on the art of money losing。 But they assured him that his name having been associated with the Jenny Lind concerts and other great money…making enterprises； the lecture would undoubtedly prove both attractive and profitable。
The lecture was widely advertised； of course； and at the appointed time the great St。 James' Hall； Regent Street； Piccadilly； was completely filled。 It was the evening of December 29； 1858。 We subjoin extracts from the lecture； which was closely listened to and well received by many more audiences than the one which heard it first at St。 James' Hall。
Those who really desire to attain an independence； have only to set their minds upon it； and adopt the proper means； as they do in regard to any other object which they wish to accomplish； and the thing is easily done。 But however easy it may be found to make money； I have no doubt many of my hearers will agree it is the most difficult thing in the world to keep it。 The road to wealth is； as Dr。 Franklin truly says； 〃as plain as the road to mill。〃 It consists simply in expending less than we earn； that seems to be a very simple problem。 Mr。 Micawber； one of those happy creations of the genial Dickens； puts the case in a strong light when he says that to have an income of twenty pounds per annum； and spend twenty pounds and sixpence； is to be the most miserable of men； whereas； to have an income of only twenty pounds； and spend but nineteen pounds and sixpence； is to be the happiest of mortals。 Many of my hearers may say； 〃we understand this； this is economy； and we know economy is wealth； we know we can't eat our cake and keep it also。〃 Yet I beg to say that perhaps more cases of failure arise from mistakes on this point than almost any other。 The fact is； many people think they understand economy when they really do not。
True economy is misapprehended； and people go through life without properly comprehending what that principle is。 One says； 〃I have an income of so much； and here is my neighbor who has the same； yet every year he gets something ahead and I fall short； why is it？ I know all about economy。〃 He thinks he does； but he does not。 There are many who think that economy consists in saving cheese…parings and candle…ends； in cutting off twopence from the laundress' bill and doing all sorts of little mean； dirty things。 Economy is not meanness。 The misfortune is； also； that this class of persons let their economy apply in only one direction。 They fancy they are so wonderfully economical in saving a half…penny where they ought to spend twopence； that they think they can afford to squander in other directions。 A few years ago； before kerosene oil was discovered or thought of； one might stop over night at almost any farmer's house in the agricultural districts and get a very good supper； but after supper he might attempt to read in the sitting…room； and would find it impossible with the inefficient light of one candle。 The hostess； seeing his dilemma； would say： 〃It is rather difficult to read here evenings； the proverb says 'you must have a ship at sea in order to be able to burn two candles at once；' we never have an extra candle except on extra occasions。〃 These extra occasions occur； perhaps； twice a year。 In th