SOLON ROBINSON, 1850 419 



and gambrel-roofed houses, and erected a palace. If 

 curiosity should prompt him to take a nearer view, he 

 will be still more surprised; for he will see a building 

 unlike any other in America. It is three stories high, 

 besides the basement, in the central part, and crowned 

 with a dome, somewhat like the capitol at Washington, 

 which is supported by lesser ones, and minarets upon the 

 corners of the main building and wings, after the style of 

 some oriental palace. The entire front is 120 feet, includ- 

 ing at each end, a half circular conservatory, with dome 

 roofs, which give a beautiful finish to the wings. The 

 front portico, with its costly carving, and ornamental fin- 

 ish, has a very inviting look of enjoyment in a warm day, 

 while that in the rear, (enclosed with glass,) is equally 

 so, in a cool morning ; for there, the invalid, shielded from 

 the wind, may take a long morning walk in the bright 

 sun. Strangers sometimes think the appearance of the 

 house fantastic, and perhaps conclude the owner is some 

 vain fellow, who has inherited a fortune to spend, and is 

 in a fair way of doing the job rapidly. Besides the house, 

 he sees a most costly conservatory, or grapery, and gar- 

 dener's cottage, carriage house, stables, and barn, with 

 little temples, summer houses, and other necessary struc- 

 tures, all wearing their domes and minarets in perfect 

 keeping with the principal building, and showing an ap- 

 parent expenditure of money beyond the means of ordi- 

 nary mortals. How mistaken in all his conclusions. The 

 proprietor, is no other prince nor nabob than the some- 

 what celebrated P. T. Barnum, owner of the New-York 

 and Philadelphia Museums ; who has made his wealth by 

 his own exertions, and is freely spending it in beautifying 

 and improving the soil of his native land. Instead of 

 being unapproachable, he and his family appear just as 

 all well-cultivated farmers' families should appear; afflu- 

 ent, without that ostentation that makes themselves and 

 guests uncomfortable. Mrs. B. is a woman "who careth 

 after her household," seeing with her own eyes that all 

 things are in order ; even the kitchen, the most important 



