The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-02-21
TRIUMPHS
Of the Veritable Queen
of Song.
Jenny Lind's Superb
Successes.
Tale of the Famous Swede and Her
Career On these Shores, En-
gagingly RetOld.

| Lie GOur Ol jenny lIluu
America stands out still as the great
musical event in the life of the nation.
Other song birds have come and gone;
they have delighted audiences and
reaped rich returns in the way of ap-
plause and money, but none of them
have ever riyaled 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 OF
saw her have ever forgotten the emo
tions of that hour. She was triumph
antly above all others the human
nightingale, warbling notes that
rivaled those of her feathered name
sake.
She had experienced a wonderful
European career, such as no other had
won, before she was heard on the
American shores. She had sung before
immense audiences in every capital of
Europe, and before all of the crowned
heads. She had been the welcomed
and honored guest of tee highest and
best in all the countri& of the conti-
Her fame had leaped the ocean and
extended to America. An English
actor or two had made professional
tours through this country, and had
been moderately successful, but no
singer of great note had ever crossed
the Atlantic to try her powers on
these shores. She was the pioneer i'll
that line, and although she has been
followed by other birds of song, Jenny
| Lind still stands without rival in
this country.
| It was a daring venture for Mr..
Barnum to attempt to Introduce this
new and untried feature in entertain
| ing American audiences, and Lo one of
less daring spirit or with less faith in
his own powers would have under
taken it. He made her what was then
a fabulous offer for a series of 100
concerts. 1t must be remembered that
the population Of the country was less
than one-half of what it is now, and
! it's wealth was not one-tenth as great.
Washington was hardly more than a
struggling village, and Chicago was al
most 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 pro-
ceeds of the ninety-five concerts a
very large fortune, after giving away
more than $4,000 to various charities.
WELCOMED TO NEW YORK.
1t was in August of 1850 that the
wonderful singer sailed from Liver
pool for New York. Sunday, Septem-
Der 1St. the steamer reached New
York, where every preparation 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 thOu-
| sands were crowded on the wharf. A
bower of green trees, decorated with
flags, and two triumphant arches
were arranged upon the wharf. AS
she appeared on the deck of the steam
| er, leaning upon the arm of Mr.. Bar
mum, great shout of welcome went
up from the thousands who had been
standing there for hours waiting to
get a glimpse of her.
Never before had there been such en-
| thusiasm in New York. The day was
forgotten, and within few minutes
Of her arrival at the hotel not less than
10000 persons had gathered around the
entrance. At midnight she was sere-
ldu6u ny olle Ol Jil6 IllukSlCtl SOCleUleS
of the city, numbering ON the occasion
more than 200 singers. At least 10000
persons We're present. The musicians
had been escorted to the hotel by 800
uniformed iremen, bearing torches.
The calls for the songstress We're so
vehement that Mr.. Barnum was conf
PEELED to lead her out on the balcony,
when the cheering lasted several min
utes.
The enthusiasm continued unabated
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 ant |
the door it was Immediately surround
ed by an enthusiastic crowd.
The first concert was to take place at |
Castle Garden ON the evening Of Sep |
tember 18th. Great preparations had 1
been made for this first appearances !,
The great parteITe and gallery of
g. -