The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-11-07
JENNY LIND'S ROMANCE.
The Love Affair in the Lie of the
Nightingale.


Nightingale.
No one could see Jenny Lind and not
fall under the charm of her perfect
naturalness, freshness and originality
Although her features were irregular,
she was anything but plain; her COM
pleXion was fair; she had abundant
laxen hair and the most wonderful
gray eyes, beautiful figure and hands
and arms and graceful movements. Hers
was not the slow, sinuous grace, which
has its own charm; her movements
were light, decided and expressive.
She always seemed to do everything
more quickly than anyone else. At
this time she was studying the part Of
"Susanna"-a sweet part she SAID it
was, and had the partition of the
"Nozze" always on the knee. In the
evening she sang her Swedish songs,
and then we all went out to listen to
the nightingale's singing under the
magnificent old beeches. She had a
passion for the song of these "little
sisters Of hers, and used to mimic them
"
was filled with music
1t was strange that it should have
been the fate of my father, writes C.
NJ Simpson in the'New Review who
was entirely destitute of musical sense,
to be of use to the most celebrated
singer of the day. 1t was in 1s49 she
had resolved to give up the stage and
n. .,{tt 10 NJ
Harris, a young Indian officer, brother
to Mrs Joseph arote, whom she met at
the Palace, Norwich. My mother and
l had just returned from our drive one
cold afternoon in April, and I found in
the hall note from Miss Lind for my
mother, asking her to beg my father to
call on her next day'to meet her trustees
about her marriage settlements, either
at three. or, if that were not possible, at.
nine, P. II. It SO happened that he was
not free at three, so he went to her at
nine. She did not expect him, and was
quite alone. They entered at once
upon business, aud my father soon
found out that she was very half
hearted about the matter altogether.
Indeed, she could scarcely have found
q partner less suited to her Mr. Har-
ris and his family were intensely low
church. and they thought that the re-
maipdcr Of the great priIna doDna's life
could not be more appropriately spent
than IN atoniRg for her theatrical
career. The attraction to Jenny was in
her lovers goodness. She said he had
such q pure mind"
But when she was first introduced to
him size said to Mrs. Stanley: What
dali young mani" Nothing could be
more true. He was heavy and stupid,
but tail, fair and good looking. The
Stanlcys supported Jenny in her reso-
luton to give up the stage, and so in
decd did Mrs Grote from a different
reason, for, in spite of her intense sym
pathy with her young friends artistic
al career. she saw that the strain was
too great Jenny was worn out by
fatigue and emotion. She threw her
self into every part as if she herself
were suffering the woes Of the hero.
inc, unlike other great actors and
actresses, who succeed in making their
to certain degree me-
chanical. But her essentially truthful
spirit could not do this. The tears she
wcpt in La Sonnambula" came from
her heart. We had more than once the
stage box, and could sec that she was
almost overpowered by her feelings
She had led this trying life for upward
of ten years, and she longcd for rest
and the peace and regularity of domes-
tic life. The manager of Her Majesty's
theater, MIR. Lumlcy. was in despair.
1t was almost ruin TO him to lose her.
and he urged for at least few fare
well performances; she offered instead
a series of dramatic concerts. Only one
took place.
Although the ''Flauto Mfgico. which
was chosen for the first performance,
would seem to be independent of act
ng, the hbretto is so eminently stupid
and undramatic, yet, in spite of Jenny
Linds splendid singing. the whole af-
falr fell fiat, to her great disappoint-
nent Never before had she met
with a cold reception. Mrs Grote and
Lumiey entreated her to give the oper.
ltic performances but she would not
field At length my father succeeded
where they failed. They suggested that
darrls could not object if he really |
owed her; he urged tho unfairness of |
disappointing Lumley, and finally the
termination which a
allure would put to her whole career.
SO she promised to give six farewell |
lights Lumley was overjoyed. and |
ent us boxes for all six The enthu- |.
iaSm of the audience knew no bounds. |
ct no one could believe that the sing
II. in the very plenitude of her powers |
she was only twenty-eight), really in |
ended these te be the last of her tri- !
lmphs. But it was so, and after the
urtain fell on the last Of the six she |
lever appeared again on any stage
lr. Harris had consented to those
performances, and he and Jenny were
once more on good terms.
She lived at this time in little house
'ery near Us 1t was called Clairville
cottage; it was covered with roses and
Keepers; it had q pretty garden. and
vas thoroughly rural The backs Of
he houses in Brech!n place now oc-
'upy the ground. She and Claudius
i2rris often joined our country rides
lie generally fell to my share, and did
,os find him exciting company. Lord
an S6NUnA sometimes io,pe3 r,c ouo