XXXIX.
INTRODUCTION.
In the “Autobiography of P. T. Barnum,” published in 1855, I partly promised to write a book which should expose some of the chief humbugs of the world. The invitation of my friends Messrs. Cauldwell and Whitney of the “Weekly Mercury” caused me to furnish for that paper a series of articles in which I very naturally took up the subject in question. This book is a revision and re-arrangement of a portion of those articles. If I should find that I have met a popular demand, I shall in due time put forth a second volume. There is not the least danger of a dearth of materials.
I once travelled through the Southern States in company with a magician. The first day in each town, he astonished his auditors with his deceptions. He then announced that on the following day he would show how each trick was performed, and how every man might thus become his own magician. That exposé spoiled the legerdemain market on that particular route, for several years. So, if we could have a full exposure of “the tricks of trade” of all sorts, of humbugs and deceivers of past times, religious, political, financial, scientific, quackish and so forth, we might perhaps look for a somewhat wiser generation to follow us. I shall be well satisfied if I can do something towards so good a purpose.
P. T. BARNUM.
CHAPTER I.—GENERAL VIEW OF THE SUBJECT.—HUMBUG UNIVERSAL.—IN RELIGION.—IN POLITICS.—IN BUSINESS.—IN SCIENCE.—IN MEDICINE.—HOW IT IS TO CEASE.—THE GREATEST HUMBUG OF ALL. 11
CHAPTER II.—DEFINITION OF THE WORD HUMBUG.—WARREN OF LONDON.—GENIN THE HATTER.—GOSLING’S BLACKING. 18
CHAPTER III.—MONSIEUR MANGIN, THE FRENCH HUMBUG. 29
CHAPTER IV.—OLD GRIZZLY ADAMS. 37
CHAPTER V.—THE GOLDEN PIGEONS.—GRIZZLY ADAMS.—GERMAN CHEMIST.—HAPPY FAMILY.—FRENCH NATURALIST. 46
CHAPTER VI.—THE WHALE, THE ANGEL FISH, AND THE GOLDEN PIGEON. 53
CHAPTER VII.—PEASE’S HOARHOUND CANDY.—THE DORR REBELLION.—THE PHILADELPHIA ALDERMAN. 57
CHAPTER VIII.—BRANDRETH’S PILLS.—MAGNIFICENT ADVERTISING.—POWER OF IMAGINATION. 65
CHAPTER IX.—THE DAVENPORT BROTHERS, THEIR RISE AND PROGRESS.—SPIRITUAL ROPE-TYING.—MUSIC PLAYING.—CABINET SECRETS.—“THEY CHOOSE DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT,” ETC.—THE SPIRITUAL HAND.—HOW THE THING IS DONE.—DR. W. F. VAN VLECK. 73
CHAPTER X.—THE SPIRIT-RAPPING AND MEDIUM HUMBUGS.—THEIR ORIGIN.—HOW THE THING IS DONE.—$500 REWARD. 82
CHAPTER XI.—THE “BALLOT TEST.”—THE OLD GENTLEMAN AND HIS “DISEASED” RELATIVES.—A “HUNGRY SPIRIT.”—“PALMING” A BALLOT.—REVELATIONS ON STRIPS OF PAPER. 88
CHAPTER XII.—SPIRITUAL “LETTERS ON THE ARM.”—HOW TO MAKE THEM YOURSELF.—THE TAMBOURINE AND RING FEATS.—DEXTER’S DANCING HATS.—PHOSPHORESCENT OIL.—SOME SPIRITUAL SLANG. 96
CHAPTER XIII.—DEMONSTRATIONS BY “SAMPSON” UNDER A TABLE.—A MEDIUM WHO IS HAPPY WITH HER FEET.—EXPOSÉ OF ANOTHER OPERATOR IN DARK CIRCLES. 102
CHAPTER XIV.—SPIRITUAL PHOTOGRAPHING.—COLORADO JEWETT AND THE SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHS OF GENERAL JACKSON, HENRY CLAY, DANIEL WEBSTER,
