n the merit of the case.

The great man listened and replied: "I have noticed you scattering your
means round here pretty freely but you haven't said 'turkey' to me."

Surprised but glad and unabashed the claimant said "I was coming
to that," produced a thousand-dollar bank roll and entered into an
understanding as to what was to be done next day, when the bill was due
on the calendar.

The great man took the money, repaired to a gambling house, had
an extraordinary run of luck, won heavily, and playing all night,
forgetting about his engagement, went to bed at daylight, not appearing
in the House at all. The bill was called, and there being nobody to
represent it, under the rule it went over and to the bottom of the
calendar, killed for that session at least.

The day after the claimant met his recreant attorney on the avenue face
to face and took him to task for his delinquency.

"Ah, yes," said the great man, "you are the little rascal who tried to
bribe me the other day. Here is your dirty money. Take it and be off
with you. I was just seeing how far you would go."

The comment made by those who best knew the great man was that if
instead of winning in the gambling house he had lost he would have been
up betimes at his place in the House, and doing his utmost to pass the
claimant's bill and obtain a second fee.

Another memory of those days has to do with music. This was the
coming of Jenny Lind to America. It seemed an event. When she reached
Washington Mr. Barnum asked at the office of my father's newspaper for
a smart lad to sell the programs of the concert--a new thing in artistic
showmanry. "I don't want a paper carrier, or a newsboy," said he, "but
a young gentleman, three or four young gentlemen." I was sent to him.
We readily agreed upon the commission to be received--five cents on
each twenty-five cent program--the oldest of old men do not forget such
transactions. But, as an extra percentage for "organizing the force,"
I demanded a concert seat. Choice seats were going at a fabulous figure
and Barnum at first demurred. But I told him I was a musical student,
stood my ground, and, perhaps seeing something unusual in the eager
spirit of a little boy, he gave in and the bargain was struck.

Two of my pals became my assistants. But my sales beat both of them
hollow. Before the concert began I had sold my programs and was in my
seat. I recall that my money profit was something over five dollars.

The