Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-08-01

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JENNIE LINDs rR DNER.
pBools'' Van Siesn aaAn n
/ Il slse region near ~ s-
] Iz1ns. Ills ChsisiiAn s. 8s. 4at.
! because 10 wears - fl7 naie ol
boots ID III kinax u = has iut
years keen kn1pn sl3 e
/ TmenIx- sight years aSo is e4Ei
| Is fhn ennfasrixe. JAnnV Nj hef
/ l'rst series oE <onrefls - eo4nlrr.
end his reazoa fo'IoHkIi A4f. 6oon
afkerw4Fd. His 1of fF. BIS
esranee coSiaias, ass ssI ssafiEs
] Is1xe mad him 50 oI a. n.47
aaa III eusipA.t aakl '.'l
xsy 49, d. - II -. 81 IF60sefs,
wooden shirt, and heavy top boots. and
decorated with colored Fi6hons from
head to foot, he marches briskly from
town to lown, making patriotic and
sentimental speeches and singing songs.
Like the Wandering Jew, bidden 70
traverse the earth without stopping or
resting, Boots" seems to be Naik-
ing out llfs sentence Of perpetual mo-
| ton.
On arriving at town or village he
mounts up 10 some conspicuous position
and gives series of"view-haloos" that
attract the towns-people. They break
INTO peals Of laughter at his queer say
ings and ludicrous songs Then he
passes his hat for coins. His chief
theme il love, and on this subject alone
he seems to have full control OF his fac
ulties. His great blue eyes dilate, the
bearded face, usually expressionless, is
lighted up with animation and intelli-
gence, and in clear ringing tones and
smoothly rounded sentences he gives
iull swing 10 the passion oil his early
days. He has little hut near Platte
kill Glove, between Overlook and
Rohndtop mountains, In which he oc-
casionalIy lodges at night.
Here are collected all sorts Of curios.
tiles that he has picked up ia his trav-
els. The spot would seem 60 have
been selected with care. It is one OF
the most romantic and picturesque re-
gions of that charming country. Near
Il is the Platte Falls, caiaract of 112
feet, which, while not so extensive as
Niagara, resembles Niagara 70 the wild
beauty Of its vast towering banks, worn
by the ceaseless flow Of water into
sounding buttresses and mighty bas-
tions. 1t is not easy to visit This won
der of the Catslklll Mountains, owing to
the tall, sharp rocks that surround it,
but it will not be long before il will be
thoroughly explored BY the Iovers Of
wild scenefy
The enterior Of Boots Van Steen-
berg's hut N dressed with evergreen
and laurel. Above the chinney-piece
is an elaborate frame that was once gill
ded. Within 1t is the picture, now
very much faded, Of Jenny lind. This
is the key TO "BoOts'" history.
When only tweniy-throe sears of age
Steenberg visited this city. He had a
considerable sum OF money with him,
and he became fascinaled with city
life. One evening in Sepiamber, 1850,
in Tripler Hall he heard Jenny Lind
sing. He became infatuated with her.
In the 100 concerts, The nx1ent of her
engagement with Barnuns be listened
to her nightly. He exp<nded nearly
$1,000 in bouquets of chalee flowers
for her. These he threw t0 her him
self from his seat in the Dit
After this she sang in Ca4kle Garden.
While standing at the siaee door of this
theatre one night after The blay, as was
his custom, in hopes to c6t6h . glimpse
of Jenny Lind, Boots felka light hand
touch his arm. II was thb songstrcss
herself. She had recognixed the young
man as he who had nightly brown her
flowers from the pit. She landed him
her card. Boots says:
"She was living near The Bowling
Green. went TO see hef. She treat
ed me very politely. esked her TO
marry me. She said she'd mink about
it. went to the house eeerv day.
hung about the place every night
Sometimes she would see rae and some
times send word that she AS not well.
] thought other while awaks and dreamt
of her while asleep. NY ekistence was
wrapt up in her. At len1th, when
thought was sure of Winning her, q
man named Otto Goldschmidt arrived
from Europe. This man seemed 70
have supernatural power over her
She discarded me. The SmiIe from her
sweet lips that usually greeted me as
| sat directly under The fooliights was
turned into a cold stare
As he said this s. Boots seemed over.
come with emotion. Tears trickled
down bis weather-beaien face. The
tram Of his thoughts seemed lost in
chaos, and he appeared be no more
reasoning being. He had sent to her
native city, Stockholm. for large pic
ture OF her, and had his own picture
engraved and copies sent 10 her. In all
he had expended over 81, 900 on Jen-
nv Lind, and he soon found his money
well nigh expended. Soon be heard Of
her marriage 10 GoIdschmidt in Boston.
The anxiety, the hesrt-burnings that
had rent his pastoral breast for months,
then eliminated In severe mental
shock, and his reason was dethroned.-
lie returned to his home on the Hud-
son, and endeavored 10 raise money
wheFewith TO follow Mr.. and Mrs.
Goldschmidt to Charleston. whittier they
were ABOUT to journey. Hewas unsuc-
cessful At first, but at length becoming
possessed with the noticn that he. bad
money in the Kingston Savings Bank.
he went there, drew check for $500,
and presented IL. 1t vas nagned with
his full name. Strange 10 say, a dis