Part 23 (1/2)

MY DEAR MR BARNUM: The poem in question ritten by A

Wallace Thaxter, associate editor with Mr Clapp and lorious fellorote th poe of admiration for yourself Mr Clapp (Hon W W Clapp) published it with his full approbation I heard of your new trouble, in ret, and wish you as ready a release froenius has hitherto achieved under like circumstances

Yours, very truly B F shi+LLABER

The eport gratified Barnum more than all the rest The Mayor headed and ned a call for aof sye asseton Hall, the principal hall of the city Many people thronged the door, unable to gain entrance

Mr Charles B Hubbell, President of the Pequonnock Bank, was appointed President; Messrs Charles Foote, Cashi+er of the Connecticut Bank; Stephen Tomlinson, President of the Fareport City Bank, Hanford Lyon, Dwight Morris, E Ferris Bishop, A P Houston, and Wm H noble, Vice-Presidents, and Messrs Samuel M Chesney and Julius L Hanover, Secretaries

Mr Dwight Morris said that they hadtheir sympathy with their former fellow-citizen, P T

Barnum, in his pecuniary reverses It ell kno eport He had expended large sums to build up their city, had acco themselves homes, and it was principally to hi-place for the dead

[Applause] The citizens of Bridgeport hoped that hisresu the citizens of Fairfield County [Prolonged applause]

Mr W resolutions

WHEREAS, Our late neighbor and friend, P T Barnum, has become involved in financial misfortune which seeain residing in our vicinity--Resolved, That we as citizens of Bridgeport deeht return for the many acts of liberality, philanthropy, and public spirit in our midst, which have marked his prosperity, to offer him our tribute of respect and sympathy in this the hour of his trouble

Resolved, That in his intercourse with us in the private and social relations of life, Mr Barnus and honorable sentihbor, and exeenerous friend

Resolved, That in his ly associated his na us, connected with the institutions of religion, education, and comricultural, and other useful arts and sciences--with the spirit of public i as these reet that he has been of the the foremost, most liberal, and most efficient promoters

Resolved, That we hereby express to him our heartfelt sympathy in his rity, and our adnified fortitude and composure hich he has h no fault of his own, except a too generous confidence in pretended friends, and our earnest hope that he may yet return to that wealth which he has so nobly enally benefited

Resolved, That copies of these resolutions, signed by the President and other officers of this , be transmitted to Mr Barnum, and also to the press of this city

Mr E B Goodsell said that Mr Barnum had been the friend of the poor, and his hospitalities had been extended to eport should be proud to claim as one of their citizens P T Barnum His name ritten upon every charity in their city, and the temples of God bore its ily pen, he has been drawn into that whirlpool of destruction to himself and almost destruction to many in the city In theup a city on the east side of their little harbor, he had fallen by the hand of traitors He hoped that he ht survive his misfortunes and come back to live in their midst He did not expect that he could ever return with that ”pocketful of rocks” which he used to talk so much about; but, if he would coe hieport [Loud and prolonged applause]

Mr Oakley was loudly called for He said that he had deep regard for Mr Barnueport who had never received any aid from Mr Barnum, but he was ready to join in any expression of sympathy, and saw no reason why it should not assume a material form [loud applause]

He would only allude to Mr Barnum's unostentatious benevolence

To one of the churches of the city Mr Barnuave 500--to one of their churches in which he felt no interest beyond his interest for Bridgeport, and this was but a specimen of his munificence nobody could say that Mr Barnum had not made the best and most benevolent use of his e nueport He never yet had found a man as more eminently the friend of the poor man than P T Barnus ofman to start in business If Mr Barnument [Cheers] He sympathized with Mr Barnum He had talents which would cope with those of most of the human race He did not believe that there was a e a tear to him in his misfortune [loud applause] They should at least send him assurance that there were thousands of hearts in his own city which appreciated his noble benevolence, and loved and honored his character

Mr noble read the following letter from Mr Barnum:

”NEW YORK, April 25th, 1856

”DEAR SIR: I have just received a slip containing a call for a public eport, to sympathize with me in ned by most of our prominent citizens, as well as by many more who by hard labor earn their daily bread, and who appreciate a calale blow strips a man of his fortune, his dear hoent labor has acquired It is due to truth to say that I knew nothing of this movement until your letter inforhbors iswhichof h it thrills ratitude, yet it ith and fillsup to ht, above all this wreck, kind hearts which soar above the sordid atet this unexpected kindness frohbors I trust I as; I, however, do feel great consolation in believing that I never usedmy fellowmen, and that I never turned empty ahom I had the power to assist My poor sick wife, who needs the bracing air which our dear ho hand) would now have afforded her, is driven by the orders of her physician to a secluded spot on Long Island, where the sea-wind lends its healthful influence, and where I have also retired for the double purpose of consoling her and recruiting h the excitement of the last few months, has most seriously failed me In our quiet and humble retreat that which I most sincerely pray for is tranquillity and contentment I aeport friends will aid s No h similar scenes, can fully comprehend the misery which has been crowded into the last few rity, and I huht humility and reliance upon Providence, which will yet afford a thousand times more peace and true happiness than can be acquired in the dire strife and tur age The old, astes all of his tiher than blocks of houses and tracts of lands, and whose iron chest is craes, tied up with his own heart-strings, may console himself with the idea of safe investments; but he misses a pleasure which I firmly believe this lesson was intended to secure tomy mind to realize its wisdom

I think I hear you say,

When the devil was sick, The devil a saint would be, But when the devil got well, The devil a saint was he'

”Granted, but after all thecompared to the loss of honor, or health, or self-respect, or friends; a man who can find no source of happiness except in riches, is to be pitied for his blindness I certainly feel that the loss of money, of hoain to find a resting place away from the friends that I loved, and from where I had fondly hoped I was to endto rave placid and pleasant, is indeed a severe lesson; but after all I firh ret, beyond expression, that anytrusted to my name; it would not have been so if I had notthat all ations will be met It would have been much better if clock creditors had accepted the best offers that it was in my power to make them But it was not so to be, it is now too late, and as I willingly give up all I possess, I can do no more Wherever my future lot may be cast, I shall ever fondly cherish the kindness which I have always received froeport I a of the letter excited hter