Useful and dangerous

Iranistan was a Moorish Revival mansion in Bridgeport commissioned by P. T. Barnum in 1848. The grandiose structure survived only a decade before being destroyed by fire in 1857.

“Money is in some respects life's fire: It is a very excellent servant, but a terrible master.’’

— Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum (1810-1891) an American showman, businessman and politician (most notably as mayor of his hometown, Bridgeport, Conn., and as a state legislator) remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and co-founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus (1871–2017) with James Anthony Bailey. He was also an author, publisher and philanthropist, though he said of himself: "I am a showman by profession ... and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me.’’ He is widely credited with the adage "There's a sucker born every minute,’’ although no evidence has been found confirming that he said this.