Andrew Johnson.”
I went to Washington myself, and had interviews with the President, Secretaries Seward, McCulloch and Welles, and also with Assistant Secretary of the Navy, G. V. Fox, who gave me several muskets and other “rebel trophies.” During my stay at the capital I had a pleasant interview with General Grant, who told me he had lately visited my Museum with one of his sons, and had been greatly gratified. Upon my mentioning, among other projects, that I had an idea of collecting the hats of distinguished individuals, he at once offered to send an orderly for the hat he had worn during his principal campaigns. All these gentlemen cordially approved of my plan for the establishment of a National Museum in New York.
But before this plan could be put into effective operation, an event occurred which is now to be narrated: The winter of 1867-68 was one of the coldest that had been known for years, and some thirty severe snowstorms occurred during the season. On Tuesday morning, March 3d, 1868, it was bitter cold. A heavy body of snow was on the ground, and as I sat at the breakfast table with my wife and an esteemed lady guest, the wife of my excellent friend Rev. A. C. Thomas, I read aloud the general news from the morning papers. Leisurely turning to the local columns, I said, “Hallo! Barnum’s Museum is burned.”
“Yes,” said my wife, with an incredulous smile, “I suspect it is.”
“It is a fact,” said I, “just listen; ‘Barnum’s Museum totally destroyed by fire.’ ”
This was read so coolly, and I showed so little excitement, that both of the ladies supposed I was joking. My wife simply remarked:
“Yes, it was totally destroyed two years ago, but Barnum built another one.”
“Yes, and that is burned,” I replied; “now listen,” and I proceeded very calmly to read the account of the fire. Mrs. Thomas, still believing from my manner that it was a joke, stole slyly behind my chair, and looking over my shoulder at the newspaper, she exclaimed:
“Why, Mrs. Barnum, the Museum is really burned. Here is the whole account of it in this morning’s paper.”
“Of course it is,” I remarked, with a smile, “how could you think I could joke on such a serious subject!”