Struggles and Triumphs · Chapter
XXII: Close of the Campaign explained
Barnum recounts the final leg of Jenny Lind's American tour, including a visit to the Hermitage, an April Fools' prank on his company, a concert in a pork house, and a ruse in Cincinnati.
What happens
Barnum recounts the final leg of Jenny Lind's American tour, including a visit to the Hermitage, an April Fools' prank on his company, a concert in a pork house, and a ruse in Cincinnati. Upon returning to New York, tensions with Lind's advisers lead to an early termination of their contract after the ninety-third concert, with Lind paying a forfeiture. The chapter concludes with Lind's marriage to Otto Goldschmidt and a statement of the tour's total receipts.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak of Barnum’s redemption arc:…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Showmanship and Humbug
Barnum's April Fools' prank and the Cincinnati ruse demonstrate his flair for theatrical deception and public amusement.
- Public Perception and Reputation
The crowd's reaction to the Cincinnati ruse and the influence of Lind's advisers highlight the constant negotiation of public image.
- Financial Wisdom and Economy
Barnum's offer to close the contract for a forfeiture and his statement of total receipts underscore the financial calculations behind the tour.
Characters to notice
- P. T. Barnum
Orchestrates an April Fools' prank, negotiates the end of the Lind engagement, and reflects on the tour's conclusion.
- Jenny Lind
Visits the Hermitage, performs in various cities, and accepts Barnum's offer to close the contract after the ninety-third concert.
- Le Grand Smith
Receives a fake telegraph about his village burning; later plays an April Fools' revenge by fabricating a highway robbery plot.
- Mr. Otto Goldschmidt
Marries Jenny Lind after the tour concludes.
- Mr. James Gordon Bennett
Not directly mentioned in excerpts, but referenced in the context of advisers; omitted as no direct evidence.
- George D. Prentice
Accompanies the party from Louisville to Cincinnati with his wife.
Key passages
“I'll give five dollars to any man who will take me out and give me a good horsewhipping! I deserve it, and am willing to pay for having it done. To think that I should have been such a fool as to have paid forty-eight dollars for four tickets for my wife, two daughters, and myself, to listen to music for only two hours, makes me mad with myself, and I want to pay somebody for giving me a thundering good horsewhipping!”
A ticket buyer in Nashville regretted spending $48 on four tickets for a two-hour concert and offered $5 for someone to horsewhip him.
Illustrates the post-purchase regret and the high cost of Lind's concerts.
“Well, Barnum has humbugged us after all!”
A Cincinnati crowd member admitted that Barnum had fooled them by passing Jenny Lind off as his daughter.
Shows Barnum's successful ruse to avoid a crowd.
