Word: barnumism
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...Eventful Life of Phineas Taylor Barnum...
...Bethel, Conn., Barnum was born on July 5, 1810. He arrived late for the holiday. But it was safer...
...began by keeping a store. At the age of 18 he met Charity Hallet, who became wife and pious companion. At 26, he owned the first "show" entitled " Barnum's Grand Scientific and Musical Theatre," with which he visited towns as far as New Orleans. His prize " exhibit" was a negress who claimed to be 161 years old and to have been George Washington's nurse. Juggling on street corners and selling bibles contributed to his support...
...Barnum's first fortune, acquired between 1841 and 1851, began with his ownership of the American Museum, reached its climax when he imported Jenny Lind, disappeared with a clock company...
...embryo of the circus " side show." " Curiosities natural and unnatural ": the Feegee Mermaid, the diorama of Napoleon's funeral, the negro who had cured his skin of " color" and who predicted the fading out of slavery, cannibals and grotesque sea monsters, beauty shows and the Life of P. T. Barnum, Written by Himself were only some of the sensations propagated by the " master of monstrosities...