Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-12-05
5r!rft NltsGfllonp.
Jenny Lind Visiting the Blind.

SA@@tO S~SSSeSS'
On Wednesday, Jenny Lind visited the New
York Asylum for the Blind, on Bath street.
She was accompanied by Hon. John Jay, ana
notice of her intended presence at the institution
was kept from the inmates. The superintendent
Mr. Chamberlain, even, was not informed of her
purpose until she was presented to him by Mr..
Jay. The Evening Post gives the following de.
tailed account Of the interview - Bost. COw.
The party arrived at the Asylum about half
past twelve, and upon her expressing willing
ness to sing to the pupils few OF her songs,
Mr.. Chamberlain directed the bell to be rung.
In about five minutes the party was asked into
the chapel, where we found the school assem-.
bled, all ignorent as yet of the purpose of this
unusual summons. There were about one huh
dred and thirty of these uniortunates, whose
eyes,
Bereft of light their seeing had forgot"
and who strOve in vain to crafty their intense
curiosity under which their reslessness and in-
tent expressions showed they were laboring
When MIR. Chamberlain announced to them
the generous compliment, which Miss Lind was
about paying them, there was general express.
sion of surprise and delight Her fame had OBJ
viously preceded her into this abode OF darkness,
and every one Of Its stricken inmates seemed to
appreciate the privilege that was in store for
them, and the wide distinction of her 10 whom
they owed It,
After laying aside her hat and gloves, Miss
Lind proceeded to the piano. and commenced
one of her most choice melodies, the name of
which does not occur 10 us. At first, all other
emotions among the pupils seemed to be swal-
lowed up in surprise, from which they did not
recover fully even in the second piece. They
seemed to be painfully intent upon every note
that fell from her lips, betraying in the play Of
their features and changes of color, their sus-
ceplbIlity to The variable effects of the music.
The third piece she sang was the Song of the
Brdling By this time, the pnpls began to re-
alise what had happened, and to understand
that the famous Jenny Lind had come, and was
actually singing to them. They now gave them.
selves wholly up to to the pleasure of the music,
and when they listened to the vocal teats which
have made the Bird Song so popular,th seemed
worried that they had no way Of adequately ex-
pressing their delight They could not exchange
with each other looks of admiration. and they
hnd never learned how other audiences are &C.
customed to "wreak their feelings upon express
SION" in the concert room. 1t was curious 10
watch the smile Of pleasure creep over their IA
ces, and give place betimes to a stern or sad ex-
preston, according to their relative susceptible
tiles, all strongly conlrasted with the compara-
tigely passive features of those who have all
their senses perfect to share the labor of observ-
alton and the pleasure of enjoyment When
Miss lind arose from the piano, the pupils no
longer attempted to restrain their expressions Of
delight, but spoke to each other about her sing
ing with as much enthusiasm as If they had Just
awakened to the pleasures of new sense.
We then were invited to walk through the in.
stitutlon, and it was gratifying to perceive tina,
though our visit had not been anticipated, the
most perfect neOtness and order seemed to per
vade the establishment The pupils thronget
about Miss Lind wherever she moved, and were
perfectly happy when she took them, as she die
many of them, by the hand and addressed them
All who were presented to her, testified, in thei
quain, and artless ways, the deepest sensibility
and gratitude for her attention One little girl
of about sixteen, to whom our eyes had beeI
attracted during the singing, by her ABSORBED
and delighted expression of countenance, ant
by a particularly small pair of hands, which sh'
1t held quietly in her lap, urged her way modestly
If through the crowd of her companions, and said
jokingly, that she wanted to see Jenny Lind
Miss Lind took hold of her delicate little hand
y aHs said
Poor sAins, wish you couA see the sky"