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on the whole the lecture was interrupted less than Barnum had anticipated； while the receipts were over one hundred pounds sterling。
At Oxford the hall was filled to suffocation half an hour before the time announced for the lecture to begin； and the sale of tickets was stopped。
Barnum therefore stepped upon the platform； and said： 〃Ladies and gentlemen： as every seat is now occupied and the ticket…office is closed； I propose to begin my lecture now and not keep you waiting till the advertised hour。〃
〃Good for you； old Barnum；〃〃Time is money；〃〃Nothing like economy；〃 yelled the audience。 Holding up his hand for silence； Barnum proceeded：
〃Young gentlemen； I have a word or two to say； in order that we may have a thorough understanding between ourselves at the outset。 I see symptoms of a pretty jolly time here this evening； and you have paid me liberally for the single hour of my time； which is at your service。 I am an old traveller and an old showman； and I like to please my patrons。 Now； it is quite immaterial to me； you may furnish the entertainment for the hour； or I will endeavor to do so； or we will take portions of the time by turns you supplying a part of the amusement and I a partas we say sometimes in America； 'you pays your money； and you takes your choice。' 〃
This frankness pleased the students； who agreed to this unique proposition unhesitatingly。
The lecture proceeded for fifteen minutes； when a voice called out： 〃Come； old chap！ you must be tired by this time。 Hold up now till we sing Yankee Doodle。〃 Whereupon they all joined in that honorable song with lusty good…will； Barnum meanwhile sitting down comfortably； to show them that he was quite satisfied with their manner of passing the time。 When the song was concluded； the leader of the party said： 〃Now； Mr。 Barnum； you may go ahead again。〃
The lecture went on； or rather A lecture； for Barnum began to adapt his remarks to the occasion。 Every few minutes would come some interruption； which was always as much enjoyed by Barnum as by the audience。 When the entertainment concluded； the young men crowded to the platform to shake hands with the speaker； declaring that they had had a 〃jolly good time；〃 while the leader said： 〃Stay with us a week； Barnum； and we'll dine you； wine you； and give you full houses every night。〃
Barnum would have accepted the invitation had he not been announced to lecture in London the next evening； and he told the students so。 They asked him all sorts of questions about America； the Museum and other shows； and expressed the hope that he would come out of his troubles all right。
At least a score of them invited him to breakfast with them the next morning； but he declined； until one young gentleman insisted on personal grounds。 〃My dear sir；〃 said he； 〃you must breakfast with me。 I have almost split my throat here to…night； and it is only fair for you to repay me by coming to see me in the morning。〃 This appeal was irresistible； and Barnum agreed to come。
The boys were pleased with his nerve and good nature； but they confided to him that they liked better to get people angry。 A few weeks before Howard Paul had left them in disgust； because they insisted on smoking when his wife was on the stage。 They added that the entertainment was excellent； and Howard Paul might have made a thousand pounds if he had kept his temper。
Some time later Barnum was offered L1；200； or 6；000； for the copyright of his lecture； the offer was； however； refused。
CHAPTER XXX。 AN ENTERPRISING ENGLISHMAN。
A NEW FRIENDDINNER TO TOM THUMB AND COMMODORE NUTTMEASURING THE GIANTTHE TWO ENGINES。
The morning after the lecture in Manchester a gentleman named John Fish called at the hotel where Barnum was staying。 He said that he had attended the lecture the evening before； and added that he was pretty well acquainted with the lecturer； having read his autobiography。 He went on to say that he was joint proprietor with another gentleman in a cotton…mill near Manchester； 〃although；〃 he said； 〃a few years ago I was working as a journeyman； and probably should have been at this time had I not read your book。〃
Observing Mr。 Barnum's surprise； he continued：
〃The fact is； Mr。 Barnum； upon reading your autobiography； I thought I perceived you tried to make yourself out worse than you really were； for I discovered a pleasant spirit and a good heart under the rougher exterior in which you chose to present yourself to the public； but；〃 he added； 〃after reading your life； I found myself in possession of renewed strength； and awakened energies and aspirations； and I said to myself； 'Why can't I go ahead and make money； as Barnum did？ He commenced without money and succeeded； why may not I？' In this train of thought；〃 he continued； 〃I went to a newspaper office and advertised for a partner with money to join me in establishing a cotton…mill。 I had no applications； and； remembering your experiences when you had money and wanted a partner； I spent half a crown in a similar experiment。 I advertised for a partner to join a man who had plenty of capital。 Then I had lots of applicants ready to introduce me into all sorts of occupations； from that of a banker to that of a horsejockey or gambler； if I would only furnish the money to start with。 After a while； I advertised again for a partner； and obtained one with money。 We have a good mill。 I devote myself closely to business； and have been very successful。 I know every line in your book； so； indeed； do several members of my family； and I have conducted my business on the principles laid down in your published 'Rules for Money…making。' I find them correct principles； and； sir； I have sought this interview in order to thank you for publishing your autobiography； and to tell you that to that act of yours I attribute my present position in life。〃
〃Your statement is certainly flattering；〃 said Mr。 Barnum； 〃and I am glad if I have been able in any manner； through my experiences； to aid you in starting in life。 But I presume your genius would have found vent in time if I had not written the book。〃
〃No； indeed； it would not；〃 he replied； in an earnest tone； 〃I am sure I should have worked as a mill…hand all my life if it had not been for you。 Oh； I have made no secret of it；〃 he continued； 〃the commercial men with whom I deal know all about it； indeed； they call me 'Barnum' on 'change here in Manchester。〃
On one occasion； when General Tom Thumb exhibited in Bury； Mr。 Fish closed his mill； and gave each of his employees a ticket to the exhibition； out of respect； as he said； to Barnum。 On a subsequent occasion； when the little General visited England the last time； Mr。 Fish invited him； his wife； Commodore Nutt； Minnie Warren； and the managers of 〃the show；〃 to a splendid and sumptuous dinner at his house； which the distinguished little party enjoyed exceedingly。
Soon after his return to America； Barnum read an account of a French giant then exhibiting in Paris； and said to be over eight feet in height。 As this was considerably taller than anything that the showman had ever beheld； he wrote to his friend Fish； who had expressed a wish to do him any service in his power； and requested him to go to Par