AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 9$ 



CHAPTER VIII. 



BRIDGEPORT FALL OF ACADEMY PROVIDENCE BOSTON CLASS OF 

 2,OOO LYNN PURCHASE OF A RESIDENCE PORTLAND BANGOR. 



ON entering New England, my first stop was 

 at the beautiful town of Bridgeport, somewhat 

 celebrated as the home of the renowned sensa- 

 tionalist, P. T. Barnum, who has, during quite an 

 eventful career, acquired and lost many fortunes. 

 As the winter had not yet passed, I here erected 

 an academy, which became the scene of an inci- 

 dent which will forever remain fixed on my 

 memory. The people of Bridgeport turned out 

 nobly, filling my academy to its utmost capacity, 

 when, hearing a noise, I looked in the direction 

 whence it proceeded, and, to my horror, saw the 

 seats falling, with their occupants, precipitating 

 them to the ground ! Of course all for a time 

 was confusion and affright, but, strange to say, 

 not one of the immense crowd was injured by 

 the accident 



