The New York herald., 1870-07-24
MILE. CHRISTINE NILSSON.
Memoir Of the Greatest Vocalist the
World Ever Produced
THE SWEETEST SWEDISH NIGHTINGALE.
A PARALLEL.

PARALLEL. eH- N-'
ne history of art ike the history OF politics, often
repeats Itself It's law OF succession Is exemplned In
many ways. Twenty-Five years ago certain
''Swedsh Nightingale" burst upon the world at q
Time when the fortunes OF lyric art in this country
were at very low ebb. Two years ago younger
and fresher Swedish nightingale alighted English
chores at a time when the prospects OF one Of our
opera houses looked similarly hopeless, In botn
cases the voice OF the charmer exercised the veliest
enect upon the purse OF the respondent manager.
Between Jenny Lind and Christine Nilsson the re.
semblance so far Is noteworthy. Both were Swedes;
both were gifted with what the French are wont to
term uae Uotc 1ae'aomenase both owed to this Won
derful natural gift their elevation from q humble
origin and the attainment of handsome fortune;
both arrived In England at o critical moment
and changed the whole aspect OF aars; for 1t Is the
happy attribute OF good art that IL enrches not
merely the possessor, but all directly concerned In
Its production. millionaire frequently rises upon
the impoverishment Of others; successful states
man, successful general attains fame by the dis
comfture OF his opponents; but great artist makes
fun treasury and q wealthy fnpresarlo.
In lS47 the then director OF Her MaJesy's theatre,
Mr. Lumiey had the best OF reasons for blessing the
advent OF Jenny Lind. Things had gone worse and
with him, the Opera House was about TO close
Its DOORS when the fair Swedish singer suddenly
turned the heads OF Londoners and the tide OF luck
into Her Majesty's theatre. In 1867, twenty years
later, deep gloom seemed settling upon the for
tunes OF the house. and again the kindly North sent
O rescuer in Christine Nilsson. "When the SKY Is
darkest" says the proverb, "dawn is nearest"
Mr.. Mapleson had arrived at the ,nd,tra,s quart
d'heure which precedcs an improbable dawn;
but 1t came, nevertheless, and Mr.. Maple
son woke one fine morning in June to
ind himself and his new prl1llG donna
and his theatre famous. The magic OF twenty years
before had repeated itself-a single look, single
hearing had done 1t all. Old opera-goers recalled
Jenny Linds appearance and the consequent JtTore,
and predicted similar excitement in these saider
times Younger operagoers were eager for the
antecedents OF this wonderful singer who had cap
tivated London at first sight bur OF whom they had
as yet learned little or nothing. Who was shea
Where had she come from2 How 1t she had
not visited England before Z Patti we knew; Lucca
we knew; but who was this Nilsson heard Of but
dlny as q cantatrice at the Theatre Lyriquef "All
precious things, discovered late, TO those who seek
them issue iorth;' but young London was impa-
uent at the tardiness Of this discovery Paris had
enjoyed this luxury for three years, grumbled the
amateurs, ana no entrepreneur till now had been
prescient enough patriotic enough TO contest
the privilege with Paris. And then the question
was renewed Wnat were the new artists ante.
cedentsf
cHRIsTINE's YOUTH
The province CT Smoland In Sweden is famous
for tradition conerring sundry honors and privl-
leges upon It's community. Five cantons which |
form the southern portion Of tins province bear the
name OF Weland, signiiying defence. Inere is q |
legend In connection with the wars between
Sweden and Denmark before the two Kingdoms
were united, telling OF the patriotic deed OF a
Weand girl named Blinda, medieval judith OF
the North. All the fighting men OF weland were
aleld, awaiting the Danes, when a detachment Of
the army Of Invaders unexpectedly appeared In
Smoland. Blinda, parlcian Swede, lett in COM
mand OF her fathers husbands castle tthe
legend is vague concerning her relationship
to the castenan) proved herself equal to
the emergency. Welcoming the invaders, she
lulled them into q false sense of security; and at
the close Of banquet, contriving to abstract the
arms gave the signal TO a band vi deyQled Swedish
women, who fell upon the Danes anr massacred
them from tie chiefs downwards, the general being
undertaken by Bllnda herself However apocrypha
the story It has received some recognition at the
hands or the kings Of Sweden. In memory OF the
good service Of Blnda and her women sundry taxes
were remitted to weand. 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.
leagues nom the snal town Of vexie, Christine
Nilsson was born Her parents were humble in con-
aition-peasants aboring upon inextensive farm.
Before the age OF ten the musical ability of little
Christine asserted itself In various meagre ways.
The child was known for g sngularly sweet voice
and for fair knowledge OF the violin, picked up
bap-hazard Occasionally her parents would send
her 10 the fairs held in the different villages and
small towns OF the district where the little maids
beauty and fresh clear singing earned few copper
pieces, welcome enough 10 the haId-w0rkiDg couple
at home.
Burghers and peasants were generous enough
In then modest way lSmoland being far from rich
proyince TO the far, childish musician with blonde
hair, beautiful 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 proper
training in music. The child, however, for long re-
sisted all attempts to separate her from her parents,
though the latter seemed willing 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. Chris
tine herself was the youngest OF seven, and French
chroncier portrays her as generally wearing the
cast-on clothes OF one of her brothers. French
Jeusletonistes however, often allow their love Of
creating an effect TO overstep their regard for
CITY,
One day, while singing to ber own violin accom-
panment before a crowd Of peasants at d fair q
sTolling juggler offered her the magnificent sum Of
twenty riksdaer a year-about twenty-four shll-
lungs OF our money--f she would join his troupe.
Here ut all events was practical proposal, embrac-
ing actual terms. 1t would seem, however, that
Christine declined this first engagement, notwith
standing the lIberallty OF the enGepreneur. What
an interesting subject for painter 1t would make,
IA view Of the aftercareer 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-somewherc about the age OF thir-
teen or fourteen--domiciled with the Baroness OF
Lenhusen, lady once celebrated in her country as
a singer under the name OF Nile. valerius. gen
tleman amateur named Tonerielnm was the means
dedicate