The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-03-22
JENNY L,Np,s SYMPATHY.
Tho Humane Disposition Of tho Famou
s'Swcdish Nightingale"

Tho Humane Disposition Of the Famous
''Swctiish Nightingale"
Poverty. delicate health. neglect,
loneliness and grief marked tho early
life Of Jenny Lind; but instead OF
hardening her character, and making
it cynical and selfish. these early
trials made the great singer noble
woman. sympathetic and charita bic to
all who suffered in mind or body.
When she had become the diua TO
whom all Europe was open. and who
was courted by managers she insisted
that no engag ement with them should
prevent her singing for any charitable
purpose. They would have paid her
generously to remain silent save on
specific nights, but Jenny Lind would
use her voice in charity work when
and where she pleased. A writer gives
two anecdotes illustrative of her sym.
pathetic nature and her determination
to have her own way.
She arrived in small town In En-
gland, where she expected to rest for
day or two before going to large
city. To her vexation. she discovered
that she had been announced for
''monster conccrt;" that tickets had
been sold. and hall hired. With the
sternness that was natural to her when
indignant, she demanded of the man.
ayers an explanation Of this conduct
in robbing her of the expected rest.
They apologized. and admitted their
error. but begged her not to put them
to modification and loss by withdl aw-
ing the tickets.
Just consider, Mis-, Lindr' said one
of them, socing that she remained un-
affected. Crowds of people, who
never will have chance of hearing
you again, bought up all the cheap
seats; think of the disappointment to
them"
'.How much have you expended r
she sad, coldly. The amount was
named-something under thousand
dollars Jenny Lind wrote her cheek
for tho sum. and dismissed her man.
ayers. Within an hour she was driv.
ing about the town to find what chari-
table institution was most in need OF
money. She discovered that the hos
pital for incurables was the needy in
stitution. Immediately. by her orders.
the town was placarded with bills an
nouncing that Jenny Lind would sing
the next night at charity concert.
The managers were furious but help
less. for Jenny's time was at her own
disposal. The hall was crowded. for,
by Jenny's directions, a large number
of seats had been placed at a nominal
price for the benefit of the ''disap-
pointed people," The act of the great
vocalist not only replenished the treas
ury of the hospital, but called atten-
ton to the charity. and the result was
that within year it was placed be.
yond all need of private donations.
One day, while staying at hotel.
she overheard a servant lamenting to
another that none of them could "af-
ford to hear Jenny Lind sing" The
next aft ernoon all the servants of the
hotel assembled, at her request, in one
of the public parlors and listened to
Jenny's singing of Swedish. Scotch.
English and German ballads. Her
sympathy dictated the selections. and
they touched every heart. The llsten-
ers were so enthusiastic that Jenny
was obliged to tear to pieces the laces
and ribbons she was wearing that each
one might have a souvenir Of the hap
py day.
One of the English Princesses. her.
self known for her willingness to
promote by her presence deserving
object, demonstrated with Jenny Lind.
after she had become Madame Gold
schmidt, for her readiness 10 sing for
every charity.
"Your Royal Highness," said Jenny.
with smile, 1--WE must make use of
our royalty. however it is conferred.
as much for the public good as possi-
BILE. The fact of your royal birth ena-
bles you to do mora for others than
money could. My roy atty comes with
my voice, and I feel that l have no
more right to withhold the exercise of
it than. you feel to refuse to grace .
flower. show, OF open a school, or even
stand by some hospital patient few
moments to give her the satisfaction
of knowing that her Queens daughter
was at her side"
mo Sermon" said the Princess, in
telling the story, ''ever meant more to
me than the quiet argument of Jenny
Lind's, that ones advantages or tai
ents are SO many moral responsible
ties. ."-Lippincotfs Magazine.