The official, who had compromised
with me for a two months' license at
2,000 francs, was amazed as well as
annoyed at the success of my "dwarf."
He came, or sent a man, to the levees to
take account of the receipts and every
additional thousand francs gave him an
additional twinge. He seriously appealed
to me to give him more money, but when
I reminded him of the excellent bargain
he supposed he was making, especially
when he added the conditional clause
that I should forfeit the 2,000 francs if
I did not exhibit or if the General died,
he smiled faintly and said something
about a "Yankee trick." I asked him if
he would renew our agreement for two
months more on the same terms; and
he shrugged his shoulders and said:
"No, Monsieur Barnum; you will pay me
twenty-five per cent of your receipts
when the two months of our contract
expires."
But I did not; for I appealed to the
authorities, claiming that I should pay
only the ordinary theatrical tax, since
the General's exhibition consisted
chiefly of character imitations in various
costumes, and he was more attractive
as an actor than as a natural curiosity.
HYLAND
