Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-05-28
Correspondence Of the Lewisburg Chronicle.
PHILAD., May 10, 1851.


add my mite to the incense which has been
already so lavishly burned upon heI
shrine? 1t seems like useless tribute
one which would scarcely be missed, if
withheld-yet l still feel as if, with your
permission, would like to give it.
The evening upon which We heard her,
was the last of her second course of con-
certs in our city and the room was crowded
to excess but fortunately our tickets Sc
cured us good position, not only for hear
ing, but seeing. 1 was very anxious to
hear her; but my imaginings of the fine
voice of the Swedish singer had been
raised to so high pitch, that l feared they
could never be realized. Yet she had
been represented as quite unprepossessing
inappearance, and, accordingly, l prepared
myself to see homcly and disagreeable
looking woman.
At the appointed time, graceful, lady
like figure, simply but elegantly attired,
appeared in front of the orchestra : and this
was Jenny Lind l Was surprizcd, and
scanned her more closely, to trace some
connection between the reality before me,
and the ideal which had formed of her,
but could find no resemblance. The COM
plexion was rather pale, but this l thoug int
an advantage, as proof that she did not
follow the odious custom Of professional
singers, free use of cosmetics. Her fea-
lures were not classical or perfect, by any
means; but the expressive countenance,
beaming with intelligence and amiability,
would have made any face beautiful, al
though possessing far greater imperfections.
Then, too, there Was charm in her sim
plicity of manner, and the entire absence
of either forwardness, ,awkwardness, or afiec-
tation, one or all of which too often char
acterize the most of our public performers.
In her there was no a.fectotton of anything
Jenny Lind, herself, stood before you-an
amiable and intelligent woman, whose nat
urally good disposition, adulation could not
spoil; and who, though not distinctly
JedutJM in person, was yet sufficiently
pretty for any one to fail in love with, even
at first sight. But enough of this TRADE
upon personal appearance it has nothing
to do with her excellence as singer, and
l merely spoke of it to help to do away
with the wrong impression which l know
exists in many minds with regard to her.
The first few words of the chant, 'Come
unto me all yc tha. labor" &c, enchained
the instant attention of the audience and
as she proceeded, and her notes rose higher
and higher, in their ascent they carried
with them the feelings of all who listened.
My imaginings were more than realized !;
for who could have imagined it possible
that such sounds could come from human
lips! The finest and highest notes died
away in silence-perfectly clear and dis
tinct to the last faint echo, which seemed
to linger awhile in the distance. And so
it WAS with the succeeding pieces" The
Echo" "The Bird Song &c, each was
perfect in its own peculiar way But
perhaps to me the most charming part of
the performance was the last, when the
full orchestra retired, and left Jenny alone
standing before us. She turned towards
us with pleasant smile, such as one
might bestow upon their own personal
friends /; and then, after slight adjusting
of the music stool, seated herself at the
piano, and passed her fingers lightly over
the keys, her face still half avcrted from
the instrument and directed towards the
audience. The lingering seemed to be
done unwittingly, and in mere playfulness,
as one may often see a lady do in private
parlor among her friends But in another
moment the words and air of "Home,
sweet Home," thrilled, not our cars alone,
but our hearts, with their perfect melody
and delightful import. Ono could not
then help feeling with the singer, that there
is indeed ''no place like home" 1t re-
quired no effort of memory to recall the
voice of " the bird singing gaily," for its
echoed notes were warbled clearly and dis
tinetly and in unmistaken accents.
But who has power to describe sweet
music? =? Though teeliny its influence most
powerfully, l have not; and will only beg
that all who can, will hear her and ENJOY
for themselves the pleasure which L can
not express. Respectfully,
MARIE ROSEAU.
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