he had ever heard or seen。〃
〃William；〃 shouted Mansfield； 〃get my Winchester and find that man。〃
So Mansfield and William went out among the crowds； and when William saw a big； aggressive…looking fellow who he thought would stand up and fight； he said： 〃There he is。〃
Mansfield immediately walked up to the man； covered him with his rifle； and shouted： 〃Hold up your hands； you wretch； and take back immediately the insulting remark you made about my play and acting and apologize。〃
The man said： 〃Why； Mr。 Mansfield； somebody has been lying to you about me。 Your performance to…night was the best thing I ever saw in my life。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Mansfield； shouldering his rifle； and added in the most tragic tone： 〃William； lead the way back to the car。〃
Among the most interesting memories of old New Yorkers are the suppers which Mr。 Augustin Daly gave on the one hundredth performance of a play。 Like everything which Daly did； the entertainment was perfect。 A frequent and honored guest on these occasions was General Sherman； who was then retired from the army and living in New York。 Sherman was a military genius but a great deal more。 He was one of the most sensitive men in the world。 Of course； the attraction at these suppers was Miss Rehan； Daly's leading lady。 Her personal charm； her velvet voice； and her inimitable coquetry made every guest anxious to be her escort。 She would pretend to be in doubt whether to accept the attentions of General Sherman or myself； but when the general began to display considerable irritation； the brow of Mars was smoothed and the warrior made happy by a gracious acceptance of his arm。
On one of these occasions I heard the best after…dinner speech of my life。 The speaker was one of the most beautiful women in the country； Miss Fanny Davenport。 That night she seemed to be inspired； and her eloquence； her wit； her humor； her sparkling genius； together with the impression of her amazing beauty were very effective。
P。 T。 Barnum； the showman； was a many…sided and interesting character。 I saw much of him as he rented from the Harlem Railroad Company the Madison Square Garden； year after year。 Barnum never has had an equal in his profession and was an excellent business man。 In a broad way he was a man of affairs； and with his vast fund of anecdotes and reminiscences very entertaining socially。
An Englishman of note came to me with a letter of introduction； and I asked him whom he would like to meet。 He said： 〃I think principally Mr。 P。 T。 Barnum。〃 I told this to Barnum； who knew all about him； and said： 〃As a gentleman； he knows how to meet me。〃 When I informed my English friend； he expressed his regret and at once sent Barnum his card and an invitation for dinner。 At the dinner Barnum easily carried off the honors with his wonderful fund of unusual adventures。
My first contact with Mr。 Barnum occurred many years before； when I was a boy up in Peekskill。 At that time he had a museum and a show in a building at the corner of Ann Street and Broadway； opposite the old Astor House。 By skilful advertising he kept people all over the country expecting something new and wonderful and anxious to visit his show。
There had been an Indian massacre on the Western plains。 The particulars filled the newspapers and led to action by the government in retaliation。 Barnum advertised that he had succeeded in securing the Sioux warriors whom the government had captured； and who would re…enact every day the bloody battle in which they were victorious。
It was one of the hottest afternoons in August when I appeared there from the country。 The Indians were on the top floor； under the roof。 The performance was sufficiently blood…curdling to satisfy the most exacting reader of a penny…dreadful。 After the performance； when the audience left； I was too fascinated to go； and remained in the rear of the hall； gazing at these dreadful savages。 One of them took off his head…gear； dropped his tomahawk and scalping…knife； and said in the broadest Irish to his neighbor： 〃Moike； if this weather don't cool off； I will be nothing but a grease spot。〃 This was among the many illusions which have been dissipated for me in a long life。 Notwithstanding that； I still have faith； and dearly love to be fooled； but not to have the fraud exposed。
Wyndham； the celebrated English actor； was playing one night in New York。 He saw me in the audience and sent a messenger inviting me to meet him at supper at the Hoffman House。 After the theatre I went to the hotel； asked at the desk in what room the theatrical supper was； and found there Bronson Howard； the playwright； and some others。 I told them the object of my search； and Mr。 Howard said： 〃You are just in the right place。〃
The English actor came later； and also a large number of other guests。 I was very much surprised and flattered at being made practically the guest of honor。 In the usual and inevitable after…dinner speeches I joined enthusiastically in the prospects of American contributions to drama and especially the genius of Bronson Howard。
It developed afterwards that the actors' dinner was set for several nights later； and that I was not invited or expected to this entertainment； which was given by Mr。 Howard to my actor friend； but by concert of action between the playwright and the actor； the whole affair was turned into a dinner to me。 Broadway was delighted at the joke； but did not have a better time over it than I did。
The supper parties after the play which Wyndham gave were among the most enjoyable entertainments in London。 His guests represented the best in society； government； art； literature； and drama。 His dining…room was built and furnished like the cabin of a yacht and the illusion was so complete that sensitive guests said they felt the rolling of the sea。
One evening he said to me： 〃I expect a countryman of yours； a charming fellow； but； poor devil； he has only one hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year。 He is still young； and all the managing mothers are after him for their daughters。〃
When the prosperous American with an income of three…quarters of a million arrived； I needed no introduction。 I knew him very well and about his affairs。 He had culture； was widely travelled； was both musical and artistic； and his fad was intimacy with prominent people。 His dinners were perfection and invitations were eagerly sought。 On the plea of delicate health he remained a brief period in the height of the season in London and Paris。 But during those few weeks he gave all that could be done by lavish wealth and perfect taste； and did it on an income of twenty thousand dollars a year。
Most of the year he lived modestly in the mountains of Switzerland or in Eastern travel； but was a welcome guest of the most important people in many lands。 The only deceit about it； if it was a deceit； was that he never went out of his way to deny his vast wealth； and as he never asked for anything there was no occasion to publish his inventory。 The pursuing mothers and daughters never succeeded； before his flight； in leading him far enough to ask for a show…down。
Many times during my visits to Europe I have been besieged to know the income of a countryman。 On account of the belief over there in the generality of enormous American fortunes； it is not difficult to create the impression of immense wealth。 While the man would have to make a statement and give references； the lady's story is seldom questioned。 I have known some hundreds and thousands of dollars become in the credulous eyes of suitors as many millions； and a few millions become multimillions。 In several instances the statements of the lady were accepted as she achieved her ambition。
For a tired man who has grown stale with years of unremitting work I know of no relief and recuperation equal to taking a steamer and crossing the ocean to Europe。 I did this for a few weeks in midsummer many times and always with splendid and most refreshing results。 With fortunate introductions； I became acquainted with many of the leading men of other countries； and this was a liberal education。
There is invariably a concert for charities to help the sailors on every ship。 I had many amusing experiences in presiding on these occasions。 I remember once we were having a rough night of it； and one of our artists； a famous singer； who had made a successful tour of the United States； was a little woman and her husband a giant。 He came to me during the performance and said： 〃My wife is awfully seasick； but she wants to sing； and I want her to。 In the intervals of her illness she is in pretty good shape for a little while。 If you will stop everything when you see me coming in with her； she will do her part。〃
I saw him rushing into the saloon with his wife in his arms； and immediately announced her for the next number。 She made a great triumph； but at the proper moment was caught up by her husband and carried again to the deck。 He said to me afterwards： 〃My wife was not at her best last night； because there is a peculiarity about seasickness and singers； the lower notes in which she is most effective are not at such times available or in working order。〃
Augustin Daly did a great service to the theatre by his wonderful genius as a manager。 He discovered talent everywhere and encouraged it。 He trained his company with the skill of a master； and produced in his theatres here and in London a series of wonderful plays。 He did not permit his artists to take part； as a rule； in these concerts on the ship； but it so happened that on one occasion we celebrated the Fourth of July。 I went to Mr。 Daly and asked him if he would not as an American take the management of the whole celebration。 This appealed to him； and he selected the best talent from his company。 Among them was Ada Rehan。 I knew Miss Rehan when she was in the stock company at Albany in her early days。 With Mr。 Daly； who discovered her； she soon developed into a star of the first magnitude。
Mr。 Daly persisted on my presiding and introducing the artists； and also delivering the Fourth of July oration。 The celebration was so successful in the saloon that Mr。 Daly had it repeated the next night