Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-01-29
Dnniel W cbstcs. q uidye,,ny Lind.

during the session. OF Congress, and as q
,aark of her respect, md with view to the
eclat, sent polite Invitations to the president
Mr.. Fillmore, the members Of the Cabinet,
Mr. Clay, and many other distinguished
members Of both houses Of Congress. 1t
happened that on that day several members
Of the Cabinet and Senate were dining with
Mr.. Bobisco, the Russian Minister. His
good dinner and choice wines had kept the
party SO late, that the copsertwas nearly over
when Webster, Clay, Crittenden aud Others
came in; whether from the hurry in which
they came, or from the heat Of the room,
their faces we're little flushed, and they all
looked somewhat Gurffed.
After the applause with which these gen.
;lcmen had been received, had subsided,
and silence once morerestorcd, the second
part Of the consert was opened by Jenny
Lind, with "Hail Columbia. /"
This took place during the height Of the
debate and excitement Of the slavery ques.
ton, and the compromise resolutions of Mr..
Clay; and this patriotic air as part Of the
programme, was considered peculiarly ap-
propriatc at concert, where the head Of
the government, and q large .,unlbcr of both
BRANCHES ofthe Legislative Derartaeat were
present. At the close of the first verse,
Wcbstcr's patriotism boiled over; he could
stand it no longer; and rising like Olympian
Jove, he added his deep sonoroas bass voice
to the chorus; and venture to say, that
never in the whole course OF her career, did
she ever hear or receive oue.half Of the ap.
plause as that with which her song and
Webster's chorus was grested.
Mrs. Webster, who sat Immediately be-
hind him, kept tugging at his coat-tail to
r,ake him sit down or stop singing, but it
was of no earthly use aud at the close Of
each verse, Webster Joined in, and it was
hard to say whether Jenny Lind, Webster,
or the audience were the most deligh,e,d
have seen Bubni, Lablaehc and the two
Crisis, On the stage at one time, but such a
happy conjunction in tho, national air Of
Hal Columhia," a. Jenny Lind's tenor
and Daniel Webstcrs bass, we shall never
see or hear again.
AT the close of the air, Mr. Webster rose
with his hat in his hand, and made her such
a bow as Chesterfield wo I'D have decmai
fortune for his son, and which eclipse
D'Orsays be t. Jenny Lind ] she'd at the
distinguished honor, ooprtisie t, the foor; /;
Webster, determined not to De outdonc in
politene3s, bowed aFY;n; Miss Lind racouiti
sled, the house reapriauded, and this was
repeated nine times or I'm villain else.
have seen Eiagara and Taglioni, Mars
and Lalibran; I have walked through tbe
ruins at Postum ani the Colosseum by
moonlight crossed Menia Bridge and the
Thames Tunnel, but never while memory
lasts will this scene fade away
Being something of wag, and deeming
this too good to be lost, the next day it was
currently reported that Barnum had engag
ell M Clay and Mr.. Webster to accompany
Miss Lind and himself as far as Richmani,
and assist her at her concert. For some
days nothing but Miss Lind's concert and
the ,cport about Clay and Webster, was
talked Of about the capital.
A few days after this l was sitting in the
congressional post Office, when a member
came in, with whom had always been on
friendly terms, and to my usual very cordi-
al Good morning." the gentleman with
lips closely compressed, pale as his shirt,
and clipping his words very shorty, replied
in sort O.! stacca,o style, "Good morning,
sir. Can haze word with you in pri.
vate ?" Heaven defend me from chal-
lenge thought |. Still, never dreaming
how could have incurred the gentleman $
displeasure, I replied very politely, with
pleasure" After leading ME some distance
through the crooked passages Of the Capital
he stopped short, and looking me full in
the face, and seemingly as anxious for a
fight as a bull terrier, he began:
| uuucA olduu, sti lhdt d uluSt Insulting
report has been very extensively circulated
in this city about two Of the most distin-
guished men ofmy party, and ] have heard
from more than one source that you arc the
author My object, sir, is to know whether
you are the author, and if SO, whether you
hold yourself responsible" Being still in
the dark, and utterly unable to com mprehcnd
/ the drift of his remark lreplied, Sir, l DO
not know what you are talking about you
will be please 10 speak somewhat more in
telligibly." "Woll sir, y said hc his color
rising at my coolness, Il have learned from
the most unquestionable authority, that you
have said that Barnum had engaged Mr..
Clay and Mr.. Webster to accompany and
assist Jennie Lind at her concerts in Rich.
mond." | never was so equally diviled be-
tween an inclination to laugh outright or to
get vexed and hesitating moment whcth.
er | should abuse hip for his stupidity, or
; laugh in his face, it occurred to me that il
he could swallow SO much, his credulity was
capacious enough to digest much more. Sc
comprcssing my lips, and trying to look as
fierce as poss bic, said:in the same staccato
tone of voice in which lie had dspoken. "Yes,