The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1893-12-01
JENNY LIND'S ROMANCE.
The Love Affair In the Life Of the
Nightingale.


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
faxen 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 ight, decided and expressive.
She always seemed to do everything
more quickly than anyone else. At
this time she was studying the part of
Susanna 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
and excite their rivalry, so that the air
was filed with music.
1t was strange that it should have
been the fate of my father, writes c.
M. 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 lS49 she
had resolved to give up the stage and
had affianced herself to Mr.. Claudius
Harris, young Indian officer, brother
to Mrs Joseph Grote, whom she met at
the Palace, Norwich. My mother and
had just returned from our drive one
cold afternoon in April, and found in
the hall note from Miss Lind for nv
mother, asking her to beg my father to
caiI on fISr aext tzns,
about her marriage settlements, either
at three, or, if that were not possible, at
nine, p. m. 1t SO happened that he was
not free at three, SO he went to her at
nine. She did not expect him. and wis
quite alone. They entered at once
upon business, and my father soon
found out that she was very half
hearted about the altogether.
Indeed, she could scarcely have found
partner less suited to her. Mr., Har-
ris and his family were intensely low
church, and they thought that the re-
mainder of the great prilna donna's life
could not be more appropriately spent
than in atoning for her theatrical
career. The attraction to Jenny was in
her lovers goodness. She said he had
such pure mind. |"
But when she was first introduced To
him she said to Mrs. Stanley: What a
dull young mani" Nothing col2d bd
more true He was heavy and stupid,
but tall, fair and good looking.I Thc
Stanleys supported Denny in hefrbso-
luton to give up the stage. and - iins
deed did Mrs Grote from a difKant
reason, for, in spite Of her intense ginl
pathy with her young friend ak tic.
al career, she saw that The strai aas
too great. Jenny was worn out bV
fatigue and emotion. She threw hef-
self into every part as IL she herself
were suffering the woes of the llero-
inc, unlike other great actors and
actresses who succeed in 1nakiug their.
representation 10 a certain degree me
chanical. But her essentially truthful
spirit could not do this. The tears she
wept in ssLa Sonnambnlas' came from
her heart We had more than once the
stage box, and could see that she was
almost oyerpowered by her feelings.
She had led this trying life for upward
Of ten years, and she lohged for reat
and the peace and reguIafity of domes.
tic life. The manager Of Her Majesty,s
theater. MIR. Lumley, was in despair.
Twas almost ruin ia; him to lose her.
and he urged for a5s least q few fare
well performances: she offered instead
a series Of dramatic concerts. Onlyone
took place
Although the ssFlauto Magico.' which
was chosen for the first performance,
would seem to be independent Of act
ing, the libretto is SO eininentIy stupid
and undramatie, yet. Ia spite Of Jenny
Lind's splendid singing, the whole az.
fair fell fat, to her great dsappoint-
ment Never before had she met
with cold reception. Mrs. 0rota and \
Lumley entreated her 70 give the dper.
attic performances but she would not
yield. AT length ny father succeeded
where they failed. They su0eestedthat
iiarTls could not object if he really
loved her; he urged the unsairness Of
disappointing Lumley. and 1naliy the
unsatisfactory terminationI which q
failure would paIt to her whble career
So'sie promised TO give six f.newen
nights Lumlay was overjbyed, and
sent q boxes fof ali six ,Ts,e enthu-
siasm Of The agdienee knew - bounds.
Xet 70 one could believe that the sing
er, r the very plepitude Of Ser powers 4
gshe vas o1sly twenty y-pight really ipsg
tepaed these to be the lasS 81 her tris
umphs But it was 60. and after tlsa
curtain fell on tho Inst 81 Tx eh3