The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-07-01
veritabie History,

veritabie History,
Ns> i-------s--------,..4
II there is any limit TO the credulity VI
the German journalist touching all mat
tiers relating TO America, or at least al
those which reflect upon the American
character, IL has not yet been discovered.
A recent feuilleton in Das Tageblatt of
Berlin, entitled Jenny Lind and Bar
mum" was written by somebody who calls
himself Franz Fridberg, who vouches for
the literal truthfulness" of the story,
which he says was told him by Maurice
Strakosch. Poor Strakosch, alas, is dead
and cannot defend himself. He was
most amiable raconteur, and none of his
friends was ever disposed TO exact the I'M
adorned truth from him when he was in
dulging his fondness for reminiscence, but
II is an insult TO his memory TO attribute
a story like this of Fridberg's to him.
The story in brief was as follows: Jenny
Lind had won great popularity in Eng
land, but earned no money. For the latter
convenient commodity she was Obliged TO
wait till she came to America. That visit
was brought about IN this way: Gold
schmidt, her accompanist, had gone TO
America to seek his fortune 1t had been
hard parting. for he loved the singer Che
afterward married her) and the result was
disappointment. He was about to return
home when he met Barnum and COM
planned TO him of his i'll luck. Barnum
was equ; lly unhappy. He had tried every
thing circus, violin yirtuosos, dancers,
educated apes, learned lecturer" -but all
in vain. Then Goldschmidt suggested
that he knew a singer in England who
might be card in America.
ct, ne Doh hot - hn,.
Jenny Lind,
"That's no name"
"But she sings beautifully"
GOOD thing for her, but no business for
me.
"But she's the greatest singer in Eng
land"
Better still for her But we'll talk
about something else.
After while spent in talk on other sub
jects Goldschmidt returned to the attack.
''For Gods sake" Barnum broke in
impatiently, "leave me in peace with your
singer We have as many singers rs there
are sands on the scashore.
"Pity, f" replied Goldschmidt carelessly;
"perhaps, after all, something might be
done with the Swedish Nightingale
Barnum leaped TO his feet. Whats
thatg Swedish
"That's what they call her in England
"What is she calledY"
"The Swedish Nightingale
"The Swedish Nightingale? Telegraph
at once to Miss Jenny Lind. | will engage
her for 100 concerts; $50, 600 down, free
voyage and living for three persons. At
oncel"
"But, my dear friend, you haven't
heard hertz
Heard herl What the devil do l know
about music? Swedish Nightingale I'm
meusel And you, unlucky wretch, wait
till now before telling mel"
Goldschmidt rushed to the telegraph Of
flee, sent the message received an answer
and the thing was done
This much of the story might be accept
cd good naturally, even If the facts were
not of record that the contract between
Barnum and Jenny Lind was negotiated
by Mr.. Barnum's agent, j. II. Wilton, in
January, 1850, with the singer herself;
that this was year and four months be-
fore Mr.. Goldschmidt, who joined her
company here in May, 1851, after Mr.. Ju-
Illus Benedict, the original pianist, had re-
turned to England, ever saw America, and
that the telegraphic message so peremp-
torily ordered and promptly sent was dis
patched eight years before there was an
Atlantic cablel
But the marvels are just beginning. A
new bridge was building in the harbor.
The newspapers announced that it was to
be dedicated when Jenny Lind arrived.
There it stands. regal structure. crowd
ed with humanity waiting for the ship.
Only invited guests have been given access
to it. The ship comes in sight. A tre
mendous excitement seizes the mass. All
crowd forward shrieking "Hurrah!' ~ way
ing handkerchiefs, stamping with their
feet A crash, a scream of horror! The
bridge has collapsed Was it an accident
due to the faulty construction of the
bridgeY oh, no! 1t was Barnum's most
mastery trick. He had provided the
money to build the bridge, hired the in
vited' public to stand on it at so per
head, placed those who could swim farthest
from the shore, the others nearer and the
moment the ship landed the piers were
pulled away and the structure, with all up
on it, precipitated into the water. A few
hours later kilograms flashed in all direc-
tions: Horrible catastrophel Five hun
dred dead! When the ship which brought
the Swedish nightingale to New York
hove in sight today, there was such a
crowd and a scramble on the newly built
landing bridge that it collapsed. Five
hundred persons drowned. When Miss
Jenny Lind heard of the dreadful catas-
trophe, she wept bitterly, and at once the
pious artist resolved to devote the proceeds
of her first concert to the relief of the fam
lilies of the victims. - And Mr.. Franz Frid-
berg concludes, putting the words into the
mouth Of the genial Maurice: "Barnum
did the biggest business he ever did in
America-that is, he did get bigger card
later-.Jumbo, the white elephant" 1t
would be an insult to the American intel
ligence TO reprint this story were it not for
the fact that it is published by one of the
best newspapers of Berlin as veritable his
otry.-New York Tribune.
The Currant Worm.
A gardener, one of the observant, old