Evening star., 1923-06-24

II il InedttE " hiho
many amusing occurrences
not on the menu that oc-
Cured in the old Growers Theater
which before and during the civil
war occupied the site of the National
Among the most amusing of them all
was when Daniel Webster. Americas 8
greatest orator, and at the time of
the occurrence a member of the
Presidents cabinet, united his voice
with that of Jenny Lind, despite the
efforts of Mrs. Webster to pull him
down to his seat, to the amusement
Of an audience which filled every
nook and Granny of the theater.
Before telling the story 1t may be
Of interest to recall something of the
story of that most wonderful of all
singers. Jenny Lind was the first
great singer to visit the United
States and make a tour of the coun-
try. Others have followed her. but
none was welcomed with so great en-
thusiasm as the immortal Jenny.
Bishops of the church; high officials
of state and nation Joined in greet
ing her. This magnificent welcome
was not all to the singer, but much,
very much, to the woman, whose
purity of life, whose lovableness Of
character, and whose generosity to
the poor put her in class by her
self Yet in sweetness and purity of
tone she was the most wonderful of
all singers.
Jenny Lind was a native of Sweden.
ana throughout her professional ca
she was called 1.-The Swedish Night
ingale." In her ninth year she went
upon the stage and astonished and
delighted all who heard her by the
quality of her voice and its compass.
When she was twelve she mysteri-
ously and unaccountably lost her
voice, and recovered it four years
later as suddenly and Unexpectedly
as she had lost 1t.
Even at that youthful age her ex-
| quisite singing and her acting Gre
ated a deep impression at every re-
appearance. and her fame spread
from Sweden to Germany, to Paris
and to England. OF her first ap-
pearance in London writer of that
day thus recorded the effect on a
great audience:
'The uproar excited by her appear
ance was tremendous. The whole
crowded mass displayed an astound-
ing power of lungs, and hats and
handkerchiefs waved from all parts.
People came prepared to admire, but
they admired beyond the extent of
! their preparations. The delicious
quality of the performance-the rich,
gushing notes, were something en-
tirely new and fresh. The auditors
did not know what to make of it
They had heard singers over and
over again, but there-that wondrous
thing! A new sensation was actually
created. The sustained notes, swell
| ing with full richness, and fading
down to the softest piano, without
losing one fota of their quality, being
delicious when loud, delicious when
whispered, which dwelt in the public
| ear and reposed in the public heart
! these were the wonder-exciting phe-
nomena."
| X "
TT was in August. 1850, she came to
i America under the management OF
IP. T. Barnum. When the ship on
| which she was passenger reached
| it's pier in New York, 1t was estimated
that at least twenty thousand people
were there to greet her, and thou
L % hnf a
through crowded streets, all shouting
| a welcome.
At IL o'clock that night she was
| serenaded by one of the musical So
cieties of the city, numbering 200 mu-
sicians, while 10000 admirers crowd
ed the streets.
Her first concert was one of the
amazing successes of her career. In
nearly every city she visited In her
tour, the first choice of seat was
sold at auction. Some Of the prices
paid were astonishing. For instance
in Boston the choice sold for 1925, and
in Philadelphia at $3.50.
| OF the quality of her voice many
stories were told during her tour. one
of the most pleasing being of a ride
/ she took in 9 stage coach while al
| Boston. A bird of brilliant plumage
perched on a tree near the road as
they were driving slowly along. and
| trilled out it's sweetest notes. AT
Jenny's request, the stage stopped
! and she gave one Of her finest rou-
tlades. The beautiful bird seemed to