The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-10-22
Mdlle. Chistine Nilsson.
CHRIsTINE's YOUTH.

The province of Smoland in Sweden is
famous for a tradition comforting sundry
honors and privileges upon its community.
Five cantons, which form the southern
portion of this province bear the name of
Weland, signifying defence. There is
legend in connection with the war between
Sweden and Denmark before the two king
doms were united; telling of the patriotic
deed of Welend girl named Blinda, a
medieval Judith of the North. All the
fighting men of Welend were afield, await
ing the Danes, when a detachment of the
army of invasion unexpectedly appeared in
Smoland. Blinda, patrician Swede, left in
command of her father or husbands castle
(the legend is vague concerning her rela-
tionship to the castellan) proved herself
equal to the emergency. Welcoming the
invaders, she lulled them into false sense
of security; and at the close of a banquet,
contriving to abstract the arms, gave the
signal to band of devoted Swedish women
who fell upon the Danes and massacred
them, from the chief downwards; the gen.
eral being undertaken by Blinda herself
However apocryphal the story, it has
received some recognition Of the hands of
the kings of Sweden. In memory of the
good service of Blinda and her women,
sundry taxes were RENTED to Weland;
equality of inheritance with the males was
conferred upon the females of the province;
and special honors are still accorded to
Weland lady when she marries or is buried.
In one Of the privileged cantons, at a
village three leagues from the small town
of Vexie, Christine Nilsson was born.
Her parents were humble in condition
peasants labouring upon an extensive farm.
Before the age of ten the musical ability of
little Christine asserted itself in various
meagre ways. The child was known for a
singularly sweet voice, and for fair
knowledge of the violin, picked up hap
hazard. Occasionally her parents would
send her to the fairs held in the different
villages and small towns of the district,
where the maids beauty and fresh, clear
singing earned few copper pieces, well
come enough to the hard working couple
at home.
Burghers and peasants were generous
enough in their modest way (Smoland
being far from a rich province) to the fair
childish musician with blonde hair, beauti-
full eyes, and an innocent face. The gen.
try, too, roundabout, made inquiries from
time to time after Christine; and one or
two urged her father and mother to allow
her to receive a proper training in music.
The child, however, for long resisted all
attempts to seperate her from her parents,
though the latter seemed willing to avail
themselves of the offers repeatedly made to
them.
They had reason enough to be tempted;
for at this period the Nilsson household
was very poor. Christine herself was the
youngest of seven; and French chronicler
portrays her as generally wearing the cast
off clothes of one of her brothers. French
feuilletonistes, however, often allow their
love of creating an effect to overstep their
regard for veracity.
One day while singing to her own violin
accompaniment before a crowd of peasants
at fair, strolling juggler offered her the
magnificent sum of 20 riksthaler q year
about twenty-four shillings of our money
if she would join his troupe. Here at all
events was practical proposal, embracing
actual terms. 1t would seem, however,
that Christine declined this first engage
ment, notwithstanding the liberality of the
entrepreneur. What an interesting subject
for painter it would make, in view of the
after-career of the artist: Christine Nilsson
offered her first engagement!
She did not join the man of cups and
balls, for we find her at length-somewhere
about the age of thirteen or fourteen
domiciled with the Baroness of Lenhusen,
lady once celebrated in her country as
singer under the name of Mdlle. Valerius.
She was an apt scholar; and in short
time her instructress judged her fit to leave
Gothenburgh, where the Baroness lived,
for Stockholm. Here Christine studied
under Franz Berwald, and here as one of
his pupils, she attracted the notice of
royalty. From Stockholm her patrons sent
her to Paris, where she completed her
musical education under Wartel, War
wick of his craft, true Diva-maker. A
dozen prime donne owe their celebrity to
the care and shrewdness of this teacher;
but had he trained only Christine Nilsson
his fame would be complete.