Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-02
MUCH INTEREST IN
THE MUSIC SEASON
Many Brilliant Performances
Scheduled-Music
Notes

NEXT Wednesday, October 8. will be
~ the ne-hundredth anniversary OF
the birth Of one of the great singers OF
the world. Jenny Lind. the Swedish
Nightingale" and one of the earliest OF
singers who had n distinguished success
in the United States. While the Ameri-
can tour OF the great singer was an un-
questioned artistic success. it was one
of the most skllfully advertised events
that the country has ever seen, the
business end Of tho venture being
handled by no less a parsonage than the
late =. T. Barnum, not only the greatest
Snowman of his time, but also the
cleverest press agent that has ever put
one over on press made suspicious
by sad experiences or an Innocent public
ever wiling to be "stung" again.
Not that any one did not receive the
full value of~his money in hearing Jenny
Lind. She was really great artist, and
she came at time In the musical de-
vClopment of the country when IL was
OF especial value for the public to hear
Just that kind OF singer But the clever
"stunls" to which Mr.. Barnum not only
had recourse. but many of which he
or giuated, made the visit of the swedish
singer a matter which excited as much
national attention as world series does
today.
TNHB first american trip OF Jenny Lind
i took place when she was thirty years
of age; that IL. in 1850. and the first
concert was given in New York on Sep
tember | of that year. Mr.. Barnum was
publicity man par excellence; he was
not working" the papers of single
city, beyond witch the ambition of the
latter day publicity man seldom extends,
but he had the press of the whole nation
not only taking what he sent out, but
| actually clamorng for more. Mr.. Bar
mum, running true to form, saw that
they got II
AS a matter OF record. Jenny Lind ap-
peared in only ninety-flve concerts, but
the advance publicity" had been of
such character that this number netted
her sl76,675Oo. Not so bad, even for
| seventy years ago.
There are probably only two singers
today who make as much in n year We
Know that they are making 1t because
| they pay income tax on this larger
amount; at least we are told so and we
know singers we'll enough TO know that
| II they are paying the income tax on
these sums they are getting them. As
the late Oscar Hammerstein said, the
| most sensitive nerve OF the song bird
Ia the pocltetbook nerve. although the
same authority admitted that the Sheer
or pure" nerve had the greater strength
| DARNUM knew all the elements oi
- publicity. and therefore he knew
that to prepare the public for what he
| wanted to do he would have to begin fai
In advance of her first actual appearance
| In this country For six months before
| her arrival in New York he had the
whole American public almost on tiptoe
| to hear her.
MIR. BARNUM. among other things
4fl conceived the idea of Offering q
prize Of 5000 for the best poetic tribute
to the singer. 1t was to take the form oi
an ode and was to be entitled Greeting
to America" The best poets Of that dag
| competed and the prize was won BY
| Bayard Taylor whose own centenary
| occurs next year. But the best-remem
bered Of the poetic tributes" IL this car
be called one, was by William Aller
Butler, who represented Mr.. Barnum a.
saying:
| so, Jenny, come along You're Just tn,
| card for me;
And quit these kings and queens for tn,
country of the free.
They'll welcome you with speeches anC
serenades and rockets,
And you will touch their hearts and
will touch their pockets.
And II between us both the public ism
skinned
Why, my name isn't Barnum, nor 1
yours Jenny Lind"
The crowd which welcomed the SINCE
on her first appearance in New YorI
blocked Broadway from the Canal stree
pier to the Irving House. and that eve
ming the New York Musical Fund Societ
of 200 musicians serenaded Jenny Line
Iwho was escorted by 900 firemen bearin