Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-13
CHAT ABOUT A SINGER.
P. T. BARNUM's REcoLLEcTlONs or
THE SWEDISH NIGHTINGALE

ing the Great Snowman . Lesson.
Profits of Her American Trip.
P. T. Barnum, who is spending q few weeks
in the city, gave reporter some interesting
"reminiscences of Jenny Lind few days ago..
"My autobiography, said the veteran show
man, ''gives nearly all that I can say about
Jenny Lind Her natural impulses were
most noble and good. l never met person
SO susceptible to the wants, needs or suffer
ings Of others I could at any time make her
tears flow by relating some case of want, and
her dollars would flow freely with her tears
She could not bear the thought of passing by
on the other side when she could relieve the
sorrow of any being, however humble
Mr.. Barnum told touching story Of an
incident that occurred when Jenny was sing
ing in Boston "a poor working girl" he
said, ''thurst So into the hands Of the ticket
seller at the Boston Temple for back seat
at Jenny's concert. On receiving the ticket
she said: There goes my wages for one
week, but l must hear that good angel sing
Jenny's secretary, her cousin, Max Hjortz-
berg, heard the remark and Immediately
went to the greenroom and laughingly told
it to Jenny | shall never forget how she
jumped to her feet and exclaimed: oh, this
must not bel Poor girl, she shall not lose
her money! It is wicked Max, take this
money'-handing him twenty dollar gold
piece-'search out that dear creature ard put
it in her hands, with my love. God bless
herp Cousin Max found the girl, gave her
the money and message. and witnessed a
flood of grateful tears from the working
girls eyes. If she is alive today she will re-
member it.
HER KINDEST REGARDS.
"When I was struggling against the
Jerome clock debts, in 1885," MIR. Barnum
went on, ~ took my wife and children to
London. One day Jenny's husband, Otto
Goldsmith, called on me and said: Mrs.
Lind, hearing of your financial misfortune,
desired me to call on you and say if few
hundred pounds, or thousand, will serve to
relieve your present wants, l am to hand it
to you with her kindest regards. We are now
living in Dresden, and my wife says if you
will take your family there she will gladly
find you nice apartments at low rent, and
we shall both be glad to render you any SER
vice we can The kind offer was declined
with thanks, but it shows the charitable
character of this almost angelic woman
''She has two children, the elder son. The
daughter has voice which Sir Julius Bene-
dict told me he believed if cultivated would
prove equal to her mothers But he
added, her parents are rich, and have no am
bition to have her attain musical renown,
which would involve such arduous study and
practice
''Her share of profits in our musical cam
paign, in 1850 and 1851, was SOS, 675O 90. She
sang in ninety-three concerts. She was
worth over 100000 when she left the
United States in 1851, and this sum has been
increased by occasional concerts in Great
Britain, and by the judicious investments of
her husband.
''Kind and lady like as Jenny Lind was,
she had horror of meeting strangers, and
will tell you this story, though it is against
myself. During the first few weeks of our
engagement l introduced to her numbers of
ladies and gentlemen who desired to see her.
She frequently intiIhated to me that it was
displeasing to her, but / was anxious to
crafty the people who SO persiStently sought
an introduction.
INTRODUCING A STRANGER.
"One morning at the Continental hotel in
Philadelphia, an esteemed lady friend called
Oh Tue dIu dokeu lOT Ill lubIOOuCJlOu W tQo
Swedish Nightingale told her how glad
I would be to crafty her, but these introduce
tons of strangers were very annoying to
Miss Lind and that really dreaded to go and
ask her permission. oh, do please do so just
this once, for am dying to speak to her.
urged my friend, and at last reluctantly
consented to ask her permission.
90 Miss Lind said, Il know You dislike to
have me introduce strangers simply because
they are friends of mine, and l refuse many
such requests daily, but a particular lady
friend of my family is waiting In the recep-
ton room, very anxious to speak few words
with you.
Jenny surprised me by saying with a
pleasant smile, Dear Mr.. Barnum, how can
refuse you anything! Bring up your lady
friend Immediately, by all means
81 FASTENED down stairs, brought up the
lady, and was delighted to INTRODUCES her.
Jenny bowed and received her graciously,
then pointed to a chair and they both were
seated Jenny's face at once assumed a sober
aspect as she said: Madam, do not know
what to say to you; we are perfect strangers.
You have come only to crafty an idle curl
oSity; what can / sayF
II was shocked to hear this, and to see my
friend turn as red as scarlet when she tried
to make some excuse. oh, do not apologize
said Jenny; 4 do not blame you half as
much as / do Mr.. Barnum / have warned
him often, and now I am compelled to give
him this severe lesson, which / am deter
mined be shall never forget
sit is needless to say that never did for
get it, nor, seeing the justice of Jennys posi-
ton, did 1 ever repeat the offense."
"How long has it been since Jenny Lind
gave any concerts" was asked
Il think it must be ten or fifteen years.
Mr. Barnum replied "She gave many for
charities in England that were never known
to the public The tickets were sold privately,
always at guinea each, and the hall was
always filed During the last year that she
sang, all her concerts were for the benefit 81
poor clsrgymen. New York Tribune.