AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 95 



CHAPTER VIII. 



BRIDGEPORT — FALL OF ACADEMY — PROVIDENCE — BOSTON — CLASS OF 

 3,000 — 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. 



