CHAPTER XXVIII. 



BABNTJM IN THE FIELD. 



The prince of Showmen Vas suddenly developed as a 

 ' hen-man " ! Mr. Barnum was seized, one morning, with 

 violent spasms, and, upon finding himself safely within the 

 friendly shelter of " Iranistan," his physicians were duly 

 consulted, who examined his case critically, and reported 

 -that the disease lay chiefly in the head of their patient — 

 who, it was subsequently ascertained, was sufiering from a 

 severe attack of hen fever. 



Such was the violence of the demonstrations in this gen- 

 tleman's case, however, and so fearful were the indications 

 with him, even during the incipient stages of the affection, 

 that his friends feared that Phiiieas T. had really contracted 

 his " never-get-over." But, upon being informed (as I 

 was, soon afterwards) of this case, and questioned as to his 

 probable eventual recovery, I unhesitatingly gave it as my 

 opinion that his friends might rest assured the humbug that 

 coil Id kill hvm was yet to be discovered; and that, so far 

 as he was personally concerned, I entertained no sort of 



