The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-08-21
ALL FOR LOVE.
The Career of n Man Who Went
Crazy for Love Of Jenny Lind.

The Career of n Man who Went
Crazy for Love Of Jenny Lind.
"BoOts" Van Steenberg is well
known in the region near the Catskill
mountains. His Christian name is
Tobias, but because he wears an enor-
nous pair Of boots in all kinds of
weather he has for years been known
simply rs "boots." Twenty-eight years
ago he lost his heart to the cantatrice
Jenny Lind, in her first series of con-
certs in this country, and his reason
followed his heart soon afterwards.
His romantic history, bis strange cos
tune and his idiosyncracies have made
him an object alike of pity and of Gu
riosity throughout all the country side.
Dressed ia butternut trousers, wooden
shirt and heavy top boots, and decSrat.
ed with colOred ribbons from head to
foot, he marches briskly from town to
town making patriotic and Sentimental
speeches and singing songs. Like the
Wandering Jew, hidden 10 traverse the
earth without resting, "Boots" seems
to be walking out q life sentence of
perpetual motion. On arriving at
town or village, he mounts up to some
conspicuous position, and gives a series
Of "view-halloos" that attrac: the
townspeople. They break into 2eals !
of laughter at his queer sayings and lu-
dicrous songs. Then he passes his hat
for coins. His chief theme is love,
and on this subject alone he seems to
have full control of his faculties. His
great blue ewes dilate, the bearded face |
usually expressionless, is lighted up
with animation and intelligence, and |
in clear, ringing tones, and smoothly |
rounded sentences he gives full swing
TO the passion OF his early days. lie
has a ii,,le hut near Platteville Glove, |
between Overlook and Roundtop noun |
tains, in which he occasionally lodges |
at night. Here are collected all sorts |
of curusities that he has picked up in
his travels. The spot would seem 10
hsve been selected with care. 1t is
one of the most romantic and pictur-
esque regiors of that charming cOun- |
try. Near it is the Plattekill falls, a |
cataract Of ll2 feet, which, while not
soextensive as Niagara in the wild beau
~ of its vast towering banks, worn by
the ceaseless flow of waters into the
sounding buttresses and mighty bas-
tions. 1t is not easy to visit this won
der of the Catskill mountains, owing
to the tall, sharp rocks that surround
il, but il will not be long before it will
be thoroughly explored by the lovers
Of wild scenery.
The interior Of "BOots" Van Steen-
berg's hut is dressed with evergreens
and laurel. Above the chimney piece
is an elaborate frame that was once
gilded. Within it is the picture, now
very much faded. ofJenny Lind. This
is tie KEY to Boots" history. When
only twenty-three years Of age, Steen-
berg visited New York. He had q
considerable sum of money with him,
and he became fascinated with city life.
One evening in September, 1850, in
Tripler hall, he heard Jenny Lind sing.
He became infatuated with her. In the
$50 concerts, the extept of her engage
ment with Barnum, be listened to her
nightly. He expended nearly 81, 900
in bouquets of choice flowers for her.
These he threw to her himself from his
seat in the pit. 49,. III
After this she sang in Castle Gar
den. While standing at the stage door
Of this theatre one night. after the play,
as was bis custom. in hopes to catch
glimpse of Jenny Lind, "Boots" felt
light hand touch his arm. 1t was the
sOngstress herself. She had recognized
the young man as he who had nightly
thrown Der aowes from the pit. She
handed him Der card. Boots says
"6he was living near Bowling Green.
I went to see her. She treated me very
politely. / asked her to marry me.
She said she'd think about il. Invent
TO the house every day. hung about
the place every night. Sometimes she
would see me and sometimes send word
that she was not well. l thought of her
while asleep. My existence was wrapt
up in her. At length, when / Thought
was sure of winning her, a man named
Otto Goldsohmidt arrived from Eu-
rope. THIS map seemed TO have a sup
ernatural power over her. She dis
carded me. The smile from her sweet
lips that usually greeted me as ! sat
directly under the fOotlights was turn
ed into n cold stare"
As he said this, "Boots" seemed
overcome with emotion. Tears trick
eled down his weather-beaten face.
The train of his thoughts seemed lost
in chaos, and he appeared to be no
more a reasoning beng. He had sent
to her native city, Stockholm, for a
large picture of her. In all he had
expended over 81 900 on Jenny Lind,
and he soon found his money well
nigh expended. Soon he heard of her
marriage to GOldschmidt in Boston,