The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-09
The English Press and the Lind Mania In
the United States.

The English Press and the Lind Mania In |
the United States.
The English Journals, and even some Of the |
French newspapers, have INDUCED in ridicule,
sneers, and sarcasm upon the American press
and people, because we have had Jenny Lind
mania. They say that the exaggerated enthus-
ann Of Americans rot only brings them, but the
object of idolauy herself into contempt The Eng
lsh journals. particularly, pride themselves upoa
the decent degrees of admiration to which their
enthusiasm is always confederation going be-
yond the precise sum of one pound and one shil-
ling-hat aristocratic old currency, known in Gui-
nea times, when slavery was a current English
trade and the coast of Africa supplied good por-
ten of the revenues OF British philanthropists. OF
course, there is end to the sales of wit and hui
NOR which have been evolved from our smgularly
animated reception of Jenny Lind, and il would
take columns of our paper TO reproduce the hun
dredth part Of the comments of those who are
always glad to find an American theme upon which
to bluAder, and exhibit their apparent wisdom.
There may be some reason, we confess, for the
English press to indulge in humor at the scenes
which have been acted here during the Lind ex-
element; but the very stolid, dull, and Flooding
character of Enelishmen units them for under
standing the nature Of our public enthusiasm or of
the people of this country. We have more money
than acknowledgement beef than bowels-more
fun than fashion-mo brains than beer-mcrc
soul than selfshness-more impulses TO be enliven-
ed than interests to be consued-more freedom
for exeitements than excitements for freedom
more downright, hearty, unconsidered, frolicsome,
go-ahe adativeness, than ever could be generated
among people, the mass of whom are forced to
live small wages, and to find their own tea and
sugar. For instance, when Dickens came over to
this country we had one of our frocs. Every part
of the popular pageant had the appearance OF
absurdity. 1t was one of our carnivals of Gu
nosity and fun-a determination to have
time-and good time-the birth of frolic, fun,
and fancy, even though We upset the temporary
idol. The affair was got up by two or three
individuals only, aided by the newspapers, and
yet it was affair worth talking about. Bi-
gadier General Morris and Col. w. H. Max
well-we are all colonies, generals, captains,
corporals, or prvates-lead of the army of exsita-
ton, and away we went, battering down dull
ness and stupidity, arousing the sluggards of So
ciety, and besiegng the whole city, till all the
inhabitants came out" No doubt, all this
appeared very absurd TO strangers. They could
not understand it. But we did-everybody here
understood il. 1t is a common thing to have such
frolics. They destroy the moned monotony Of the
metropolis, and we can well afford to have them
once month, by way of merriment When Lord
Morpeth was here, at the same time we had ane-
Their and different excitement, conducted in con-
sideration of his lordshps rank on different scale
from that which marked Dickenss career; for, af-
ter ALL there is poetry, taste and method in all these
frolics. They are not all alike. They are in har-
mony with the characters lionzed for the occasion
Now, in the Jenny Lind demonstrations, we have
only repeated in similar way, suited to her posi-
ton, the same exaggerated scenes which amused
the people when Dickens, the literary ion-per-
chance the other literary snimal-was the grand
feature. We received Jenny Lind with all the en-
thusiasm that could be mustered, not only because
we really proposed to beat the European cities in
the production Of that article, have in steam
sbips, bu, that we could amuse ourselves and pos
sibly be the cause of wit IN others" How was
all this excitement createdl Bamum, who had
long been engaged in patronizing the line arts at
his Museum, on an exaggerated scale, began to
feel the PRIDE of place He had procured great
curiosity, al enormous risk, and he had an am
bition TO excel not only in making money, but as a
manager. Everybody said, "Bamum will do it,"
He was in fair way of so doing. He came to us,
and appealed TO our good nature for assistance
crowded letters upon us from London-freighted
our columns, with every breath of wind from Eu-
rope, and produced the " necessary documents" as
he termed them, with as much anxiety as if he
had the woolly horse, the Fejee mermaid, or Joyce
Heth. We were willing TO have our good nature
used to its utmost limit because the enterprise re-
quired courage; and when Jenny Lind arrived, we
did all we could to aid Barnum's frolic. BY extra
ordinary appeals to the good nature OF editors gene
rally he went on successfully. His path was
strewn with roses. Sunshine poured down upon
his hopes, and he was in the course of being
thoroughly blessed.
Few men can bear prosperity. Barnum believed
that he had made Jenny Lind, as he had made the
Fejee mermaid. His full blown pride, however,
overthrow him. by folly and duplicity he assailed
the press in series Of apparently fabricated letters
giving the public TO understand that the public
journals are in the habit Of taking payment for
such articles as have been published for him
From that moment we lost all sympathy for him
and his enterprise. We gave him a chance 10
vindcate himself, and to produce the original let
ters published in Boston. lie has done nothing |
and the inference s, that he was willing 10 repre-
sent that any or ell those who have befriended |
him, are TO be bought and sold 10 the HIGHEST |
bidder, Ike cattle in the market This is the |
whole secret Of Barnums Lind msnis in its rise
and tall, aud IL will prove warning to those who
even csrelessly repeat such charges, without the
slightest ground upon which TO base an opinion.
The public have had their Jenny Lind carnival |
season. They are now coming to their senses. |
Her merits fairly appreciated, and she will hold
the position in the public mind TO which she 10 |
justly entitled as great artiSfc. That we
can respect, criticise. and appreciate the fine |
arts in this country, as well as Europeans,
there cannot be a question. Parodi's advent
viii PROVE this. II will be seen how a grea,
tragic vocalist-a perfect a,tistc-wl be treated. |
We shall show how independent we are of all those
musical oliques, which are barriers against genius,
in ell European cities-how It is left to New York |
TO discover, stamp. and place in lis proper poeitlon