Chapter II: 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 _expose_ 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.

CONTENTS.

I. PERSONAL REMINISCENCES.

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

II. THE SPIRITUALISTS.

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.--EXPOSE OF ANOTHER OPERATOR IN
DARK CIRCLES. 102

CHAPTER XIV.--SPIRITUAL PHOTOGRAPHING.--COLORADO JEWETT AND THE
SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHS OF GENERAL JACKSON, HENRY CLAY, DANIEL WEBSTER,
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS, NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, ETC.--A LADY OF DISTINCTION
SEEKS AND FINDS A SPIRITUAL PHOTOGRAPH OF HER DECEASED INFANT, AND
HER DEAD BROTHER WHO WAS YET ALIVE.--HOW IT WAS DONE. 109

CHAPTER XV.--BANNER OF LIGHT.--MESSAGES FROM THE DEAD.--SPIRITUAL
CIVILITIES.--SPIRIT "HOLLERING."--HANS VON VLEET, THE FEMALE
DUTCHMAN.--MRS. CONANT'S "CIRCLES."--PAINE'S TABLE-TIPPING HUMBUG
EXPOSED. 119

CHAPTER XVI.--SPIRITUALIST HUMBUGS WAKING UP.--FOSTER HEARD
FROM.--S. B. BRITTAIN HEARD FROM.--THE BOSTON ARTISTS AND THEIR
SPIRITUAL PORTRAITS.--THE WASHINGTON MEDIUM AND HIS SPIRITUAL
HANDS.--THE DAVENPORT BROTHERS AND THE SEA-CAPTAIN'S
WHEAT-FLOUR.--THE DAVENPORT BROTHERS ROUGHLY SHOWN UP BY JOHN
BULL.--HOW A SHINGLE "STUMPED" THE SPIRITS. 130

CHAPTER XVII.--THE DAVENPORT BROTHERS SHOWN UP ONCE MORE.--THE
SPIRITUALIST BOGUS BABY.--A LADY BRINGS FORTH A MOTIVE
FORCE.--"GUM" ARABIC.--SPIRITUALIST HEBREW.--THE ALLEN BOY.--DR.
RANDALL.--PORTLAND EVENING COURIER.--THE FOOLS NOT ALL DEAD YET. 145

III. TRADE AND BUSINESS IMPOSITIONS.

CHAPTER XVIII.--ADULTERATIONS OF FOOD.--ADULTERATIONS OF LIQUOR.--THE
COLONEL'S WHISKEY.--THE HUMBUGOMETER. 152

CHAPTER XIX.--ADULTERATIONS IN DRINKS.--RIDING HOME ON YOUR
WINE-BARREL.--LIST OF THINGS TO MAKE RUM.--THINGS TO COLOR IT
WITH.--CANAL-BOAT HASH.--ENGLISH ADULTERATION LAW.--EFFECT OF DRUGS
USED.--HOW TO USE THEM.--BUYING LIQUORS UNDER THE CUSTOM-HOUSE
LOCK.--HOMOEOPATHIC DOSE. 160

CHAPTER XX.--THE PETER FUNKS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS.--THE RURAL DIVINE
AND THE WATCH.--RISE AND PROGRESS OF MOCK AUCTIONS.--THEIR DECLINE
AND FALL. 167

CHAPTER XXI.--LOTTERY SHARKS.--BOULT AND HIS BROTHERS.--KENNETH,
KIMBALL & COMPANY.--A MORE CENTRAL LOCATION WANTED FOR
BUSINESS.--TWO SEVENTEENTHLIES.--STRANGE COINCIDENCE. 175

CHAPTER XXII.--ANOTHER LOTTERY HUMBUG.--TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY
RECIPES.--VILE BOOKS.--"ADVANTAGE-CARDS."--A PACKAGE FOR YOU;
PLEASE SEND THE MONEY.--PEDDLING IN WESTERN NEW YORK. 182

CHAPTER XXIII.--A CALIFORNIA COAL MINE.--A HARTFORD COAL
MINE.--MYSTERIOUS SUBTERRANEAN CANAL ON THE ISTHMUS. 189

IV. MONEY MANIAS.

CHAPTER XXIV.--THE PETROLEUM HUMBUG.--THE NEW YORK AND RANGOON
PETROLEUM COMPANY. 195

CHAPTER XXV.--THE TULIPOMANIA. 204

CHAPTER XXVI.--JOHN BULL'S GREAT MONEY HUMBUG.--THE SOUTH SEA
BUBBLE IN 1720. 213

CHAPTER XXVII.--BUSINESS HUMBUGS.--JOHN LAW.--THE MISSISSIPPI
SCHEME.--JOHNNY CRAPAUD AS GREEDY AS JOHNNY BULL. 221

V. MEDICINE AND QUACKS.

CHAPTER XXVIII.--DOCTORS AND IMAGINATION.--FIRING A JOKE OUT OF A
CANNON.--THE PARIS EYE WATER.--MAJENDIE ON MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE.--OLD
SANDS OF LIFE. 232

CHAPTER XXIX.--THE CONSUMPTIVE REMEDY.--E. ANDREWS, M. D.--BORN
WITHOUT BIRTHRIGHTS.--HASHEESH CANDY.--ROBACK THE GREAT.--A CONJUROR
OPPOSED TO LYING. 237

CHAPTER XXX.--MONSIGNORE CRISTOFORO RISCHIO; OR IL CRESO, THE
NOSTRUM-VENDER OF FLORENCE.--A MODEL FOR OUR QUACK DOCTORS. 242

VI. HOAXES.

CHAPTER XXXI.--THE TWENTY-SEVENTH STREET GHOST.--SPIRITS ON THE
RAMPAGE. 251

CHAPTER XXXII.--THE MOON HOAX. 259

CHAPTER XXXIII.--THE MISCEGENATION HOAX.--A GREAT LITERARY
SELL.--POLITICAL HUMBUGGING.--TRICKS OF THE WIRE-PULLERS.--MACHINERY
EMPLOYED TO RENDER THE PAMPHLET NOTORIOUS.--WHO WERE SOLD AND HOW
IT WAS DONE. 273

VII. GHOSTS AND WITCHCRAFTS.