The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-04-30

CASTLE Garden, WHEN JENNY LIND SANG.
peared en- the scene, escorted by about
twenty companies of New York volunteer
firemeD--the latter then representing the
greatest power in New York city-Vith
torches. The firemen formed as to keep
back the crowd and give the musicians
ample space, for by this time not less than
20,GC0 people were again gathered along
the two streets. In Il few minutes Mile.
Lind escorted by myself, appeared at the
window, which was the signal for several
minutes of loud cheering. The serenade
then began, and it was a grand one, worthy
of the occasion. Then a committee waited
on Jenny Lind and presented her with an
address of welcome in the name of the
musicians of America She thanked them
cordially, and after few minutes conver-
sation retired, wearied and delighted with
the events OF the day.
cat that time New York was very poorly
supplied with opera halls. Jenny Lind
hall, afterward Tripler hall, was still in
complete, although work had been pushed
on it as much as possible. So we made
tour of the city to select a place for an
opening. Everywhere we went we were
escorted by large crowds. Indeed, nothing
but Jenny Lind was talked about or
thought of Finally we selected Castle
! Garden. So great was the demand for tick
| cts that it was decided to dispose of them
| at auction and at the place where she was
| to sing for the first time IL America. This,
| too, WAS an innovation-tickets to an en-
| tertainment had never before been auc-
! toned in this city.
| ''The day was dreary and wet in the ex-
| treme but the house was crowded, al
though an unexpected imposition of one
| oh
all shillings then, our chief currency be-
ing English and Spanish coin at that time
: was placed on all who entered by the
proprietor of the Garden. Genin, the hat
| ter bid in the first ticket ever sold for
| Jenny Lind in America at 1925, sum that
| appeared immense in those days. The first
| day i,429 tickets were sold the gross
amount realized being s9,1l925, and the
| second day the remaining seats, to the
number of 3,O55, brought $15,3l9, making a
total of $224 43S. % for the first nights con
cert There isn't a question but Jenny
Lind's advent was the greatest amusement
event that has ever been witnessed in the
history of New York"
Barnum's original contract with the
great singer contained some strange pro-
visions. He agreed to furnish her with a
waiting maid, male servant and a secre-
|
her each day with a carriage and horses,
and to pay her $1,000 for each concert or
oratorio in which she sang. He agreed to
pay Julius Benedict So, 900 to conduct 15l
concerts, and to pay Belletti, the baritone,
s12, 500 for the same number of concerts.
After giving ninety-three concerts in the
| United States and i'll Cuba the contract
was annulled by Miss Lind, who paid Mr.
Barnum 81 600 each for the seven concerts
lacking to make 100, and $4,000 forfeit fol
not completing the $50 according to the
contract. Jenny Lind's net avails of the
concerts under Mr.. Barnum's manage
ment, after deducting the $4,000 and 81, ,OO(
forfeit money were $176,675.09, and Mr.
Barnum's gross receipts, after paying
Jenny Lind, were $685., ,4S6.25.
More than forty years have passed since
the first of those concerts was given
Jenny Lind's beautiful voice has long beer
silenced.