The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-04-16

CASTLE GARDEN, WHEN JENNY LIND aAyG
peared on the scene, escorted 10y about
twenty COW panies of New York volunteer
fircmen-the latter then representing the
greatest power in New York city-wth
torches. The firemen formed so A. to keep
back the crowd and give the musician.
ample space for by this time not less than
10000 people We're again gathered along
the two streets. In few minutes Mile
Lind escorted by myself, appeared Mt the
window, which was the signal for several
minutes of loud cheering The serenade
then began, and it was 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 Sho thanked them
cordially, and after few minutes CONVEX
sation retired, wearied and delighted with
the events OF the day.
AT 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 ms much as possible. So we made a
tour of the city to select a place for an
opening. Everywhere we went we were
escorted 10y large crowds. Indeed, nothing
uuL btuIS l4lnti wis ltlhtu hDOuJ OF
thought Of Finally we selected Castle
Garden. so great WA the demand for tick
cts that 1t was decided to dispose OF them
Mt auction and ut the place W hero abe was
to sing for the first time in America This
too, was an Observation-Disclosures to an en-
tertainmcnt had never before been auc
toned in this city.
1.-The day was dreary and wet in the ex
l,,,N L.. .l..l al
though an unexpected imposition of ON
shilling, or f2is cents, admisson-it wa
all shillinss then, oar chief currency be
ing English and Spanish coin at that tim,
was placed on all who entered by tn,
proprietor of the Garden. Genin, the hat
ter, bid In tho first ticket ever sold 70,
Jenny Lind In America at a.ss.3.5, a sum thai
appeared immense In those days. The frs
day l,429 tickets were sold, the gross
amount realized being s9,1l925, and tbt
second day the remaining seats to the
number Of 3,055, brought s15,3l9, making 4
total of S24, 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"
Barnums original contract with the
great singer contained some SCfunRe pro
visions. He agreed to furnish her with n
waiting maid, male servant and a score
tary, to pay all their expenses, to furnish
her each day with carriage and horses,
and to pay her 1000 for each concert or
oratorio In which shc sang, He agreed to
pay Julius Benedict S3o, 900 to conduct 10
concerts. aud to pay Bsiletti, the BARITONE,
Sl2, 800 for tho same number q concerts.
After giving ninety-three concerts in the
United States and in Cuba the contract
was annulled by Miss Lind, who paid Mr.
Barnum 81, 600 each for the seven concerts
lacking to make leo, and S25.0 900 forfeit tr
not completing the $50 according to ttse
contract Jenny Hnd's net avniI. Of ths
concerts under Mr.. Barnum's manass
ment, after deducting the Is, 900 and -, no
forfeit money, were $t7o, o7o.a, and Mr.
Barnums gross receipts. after paying
Jenny Lind, were s535, 4S3. y
More than forty years have passed since
the first of those concerts WIS given.
Jenny Lind's beautiful voice has long been
silenced.