Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-22

q 1lT Oh nave ever
rivaled Jenny Lind in
the hearts Of the people, as they could not
rival her in song. She was the queen of
hearts, as she was the queen of song. More
than a generation has passed since she
captured all America by her singing and
by her pure, womanly life, yet none who
heard or saw her have ever forgotten the
emotions Of that hour. She was trium-
phantly above all others the human night
ingale, warbling notes that rivaled those Of
her feathered namesake.
She had experienced a wonderful Euro
pean career, such as no other had won, be-
fore she was heard on American shores.
She had sung before immense audiences in
every capital of Europe, and before all of
the crowned heads. She had been the well
come and honored guest of the highest ard
best in all the countries of the continent,
and was the idol of the people. Her fame
had leaped the ocean and extended TO
America. An English actor or two had
made professionally tours through this coun-
try, and had been moderately successful,
but no singer of great note had ever cross
ed the AT antic to try her powers on these
shores. She was the pioneer in that line,
and although she has been followed by
many other birds of song, Jenny Lind still
stands without a rival in this country.
1t was a daring venture for Mr. Barnum
to attempt to introduce this new and I'M
diences, and no one of less daring spirit,
or with less faith in his own powers would
have undertaken 1t. He made to her what
was then fabulous offer for a series of
100 concerts. 1t must be remembered that
the population of the country was less than
half what it is now, and it's wealth was lot
one-tenth as great. Washington was scarce
ly more than a struggling village, and Chi
cage was almost wholly unknown There
were scarcely a dozen cities where it was
thought possible that paying audiences
could be obtained. Yet she carried away
with her as her share of the proceeds of
the ninety-five concerts a very large for
tune, after giving away more than $4,000
to various charities.
Welcomed In New York.
1t was in August of 1850 that the wonder
full singer sailed from Liverpool for New
York. On Sunday, September 1, the steam
er reached New York, where every prepa-
| ration had been made to receive her.
Thousands of persons crowded the shipping
and piers, as the Atlantic steamed up to
her landing place. while other thousands
were crowded on the wharf A bower of
green trees, decorated with flags and two
triumphal arches We're arranged upon the
wharf. AS she appeared on the deck of
the steamer, leaning upon the arm of Mr..
Barnum, a great shout of welcome went up
frcm the thousands who had been standing
there for hours awaiting to get glimpse
of her. Never before had there been such
forgotten, and within a few minutes of
her arrival at the hotel not less than ten
thousand persons had gathered around the
entrance. AT midnight she was serenaded
by one OF the musical societies of the city,
numbering on the occasion more than 200
singers. AT least 20, 600 persons were pres
emit. The musicians had been escorted to
the hotel by 800 uniformed firemen, bearing
torches. The calls for the songstress We're
so vehement that Mr.. Barnum was compell-
ed to lead her out on the balcony, when the
cheering lasted several minutes.
The enthusiasm continued undated for
several weeks She was the idol of society,"
and her rooms at the hotel were thronged
with visitors, including all those prominent
in church and state, and the carriages of
the leaders of Gotham society were seen
in front of the hotel during all fashionable
hours. When her carriage appeared at the
door it was Immediately surrounded by an
enthusiastic crowd.
The first concert was to take place at
Castle Garden on the evening of September
IL. Great preparations had been made for
this first appearance. The great parterre
and gallery of Castle Garden were divided
off by imaginary lines into four compart-
ments, each of which was designated by
lamps of a peculiar color. The tickets
We're printed in colors corresponding to
those of the lamps, thus designating the
position of the seat of the holder One
hundred ushers wearing appropriate colors
were in attendance. The tickets were sold
at auction, Mr.. Genin, halter, paying S225
for the first choice.
The Audience Went Wild.
When the singer was led down to the
footliGhts the entire audience arose and
received her with shouts of applause and
the waving of hats and hand<crchiefs and
theRasting of bouquets on the stage. 1t
was by far the largest audience that had
ever greeted her. and the enthusiasm agi-
tated her at first so that it was with diff
Guilty she uttered the first notes. but in
moment she recovered herself, and then her
triumph was complete. The enthusiasm had
been wrought up to the highest pitch, but
the wonderful musical powers of the singer
were far beyond anything ever before
heard, and many times the singing was lost
in spontaneous outburst Of applause A
voice SO rich full, so clear and so
sweetly musical had not been dreamed of.
At the conclusion of the concert she was
several times called before the curtain, the
applause lasting for several minutes on
each occasion. At last the audience called
for MIR. Barnum, who appeared and an
nounced that the entire proceeds of the
concert would be devoted to charitable OBJ
Jects. ON this announcement the audience
went v lid with its cheering.
From New York she went to Boston
Philadelphia, Providence, Baltimore Wash
ington and all the principal cities of the
country, meeting with the same wonderful
success Wherever she appeared she was
feted and honored. In this city President
Fillmore called upon her at her hotel and
entertained her one evening at the White
House. While here all the prominent men
of the country then in the city, including
Mr.. Webster. Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Crittenden
Gen. Cass and Col. Benton, called unon
her. Two or three very amusing things
occurred during the two concerts she gave
in this city. Both of the concerts We're at
tended by the President and his family
and by every member of the cabinet At
the first concert, while the overture was
being played by the orchestra, the yener-
able Henry Clay, feeble with age and in
creasing intirmities, entered the door. A
murmur of applause greeted his appear
ance, but IT was hushed, and the number
completed by the orchestra. On it's COM
pletion the audience broke into wild
cheer. The leader of the orchestra did not
notice the thin and feeble figure of the
popular idol slowly making his way to his
| seat. and took the applause as tribute
to his orchestra, and began bowling right
and left. He soon discovered that the
eyes of the people We're all turned in one
direction, and that was not toward him.
About that time some one shouted out:
Three cheers for Harry Clayl and they
were given with a will, the abashed
orchestra leader sunk into his chair.
Webster Joined in the Chorus.
On the next evening several Of the men,
bers of the cabinet were detained by
dinner given by the Russian minister, and
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