Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-01-02
ARoMANCE OF JENNY LIND.

World says: THE presence in this vicinity
within the past few days of an eccentric in
iiviiual known popularity as Boots" Van
Steenbaugh. has recalled romance OF the
almost forgotten days when Jenny Lind, the
fair songstress, enchanted thousands OF the
people of the metropolis with her delicious
warblings, and won for her such an homage
as only true art or brilliant genius can COM
maud The old, weather beaten man who
now strolls through towns and villages ID
this section of the State, with unkempt hair
streaming in the wind, and wearing pic.
turesque costume ornamented with lantastl-
calIy.arrauged ribbons of red, blue and
white, was in early life an attractive and
polished man, of distinguished personal ap.
pearance, and gentleman by birth, educa-
ton and fortune. He was first enthralied
by the nightingale of song, and finally
sought and obtained an introduction to her.
Jenny Lind listened to his avowals ofundy.
iug affection, aud, it is said even gave bim
some encouragement, but on y i'll the end to
re ject his advances.
Such was the Intensity of his passion and
the sensitiveness of his nature that after the
rejection of his suit for the hand of the fair
songstress he became mentally shipwrecked.
and ever since life has been a dreary desert
to the luckless lover. gentleman ia
miliar with this romance in real
life who knew the history of this
unhappy affair, said that Van Steeubaugh
was the favorite son OF wealthy parents who
resided in Ulster county. He was always
supplied literally with money, and was opu-
lar in social circles in New York city, where
he spent much of his time. He was in the
metropolis when Jenny Lind made her ap-
PEI. S..n:: created snch furore, and
night after night found him before tie f2"l'
lights applauding her wildly and showering
floral gifts on the stage.
Upon making her acquaintance he nade
her many costly gifts, aggregating in value,
it is said, some $50, 900. There appears lit,
tie reason for believing that his suit was ell
couraged, and he followed his charmer from
ty TO city, paying her continuous and
marked attention. AT last she discarded
him, and with his rejection his reason lett
him, and he has since lived the life OF
wanderer, roaming about in the woods and
highways in the vicinity of Kingston. o..
casonally he takes short stroll along the
Hudson, collecting funds to Establish II
bank" and, singular to relate, he receives
generous contributions even from stran
gers. A former acquaintance of the
now mental and physical shipwreck
called at his howell recently snd
found in an old and well.thumbed
diary these words, jotted down in the old
mans handwriting: Jenny may not be
called beautiful, but loved TO look upon
her face, and when she appeared on the
stage stood until the great storm ofap
pIause had subsided. / was jealous because
she seemed to desire every one to have the
pleasure of seeing her. But, then, | sup
pose she thought the people bad paid to
see her and didn't want any one to be
cheated Her turning her head first to the
left aud then to the right was but the art
less manifestation of a simple and beautiful
character" Oa another leaf of the diary
were these words: And that song bird
sang OF summer coming night. Was It
true?' Beneath these words were "Da-
mond ornaments and point lace fan CON-
pleted her royal costume"
The old man is treated very kindly by
all with whom he comes in contact, and
even the children greet him warmly. He
pays visit to this city about once year,
and after making short, and often inco-
herent, speeches, proposes "Three cheers
for George Washington and the great Amer
ican eagle" closing with song. The con-
tributions made to the eccentric wanderer
often aggregate some $50. What he does
with his mouey no one appears to know,
and some persons are of the impression that
he has considerable amount boarded away
in caves in the earth.