San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-30

=.
"a Barnum's greatest speculation. ant
- it turned out, his greatest singl,
xriumph was in bringing Jenny
Lind, the famous Swedish soprano
- this country.
In this Undertaking he risked every
Benny of his considerable fortune. The
contract with the singer provided that
Barnum was to pay her $1,000 a con
cert for one hundred and fifty per
formances, with an additional outlay
Of $37, 800 TO be paid for the services
OF musical conductor and others.
q 1t was further required that this
~ entire amount should be placed in
tae hands of London banking house
IN advance as security for the fulfill.
ment OF the terms of the contract.
Bankers Laughed at Him.
rs Barnum scraped together all his
resources and made efforts to raise
S1S7 800 in cash. He visited Wall
street and offered the president OF
his bank some second mortgages as
security. for a loan; he suggested
that the Jenny Lind contract be
made over to the bank. which was
10 appoint receiver of all profits
exceeding $4,000 concert. The
banker laughed and said: "Mr.
Barnum. it is generally believed in
Wall Street that your engagement
with Jenny Lind will ruin you. /
No NOT. think you will ever receive
70 much as three thousand dollars at
y single concert"
@r barnum was angry; he answered
rthat he would not take S1J0.OOO for
fsAls contract, but upon further in
kquiry in Wall Street he discovered
That NOBODY was willing to offer
anything for it.
Finally, John L. Aspinwall of the
reputable banking firm of Rowland
- Aspinwall, gave him letter of
xredit on Barring Brothers for large
um on his mortgages. He then
sold some of his real estate and dis
covered that with all his efforts he
was still $4,000 short of the required
sum. He knew no way Of getting it.
he happened to mention his pre-
9Ieament to the Rev. Abel c.
Inomas. q. good friend, who was
zone OF the leading Universalist
preachers OF this country: Barnum
Tas also an active Universalist. and
ne Rev. Abel &. Thomas lent him
he necessary $4,000.
IL hdu never neard Jenny
Lind sing, and he had never even
een her, since she had arrived in
&l<ondon few weeks after he left
there with General Tom Thumb;
but he had heard of her singing and
ner personality, for both were OBJ
xlects of universal admiration abroad.
~ Europe she was the idol and the
adeal OF the moment and whatever
people she visited readily accepted
per as genius whose gifts tbey
vere happy and privileged to enjoy.
IN this country she was unknown
10 all except the few transatIantic
travellers and those who read the
musical notes from abroad.
The contract with Jenny Lind
Fas made six months in advance
|Nf{ <-he time she was to appear in
W "a, and at first Barnum feared
T made mistake in letting So
e, interval eiapse lest the pub-
|<hod III off.
3 1t happened that on the dav the
news of the contract became nublic
he was in Philadelphia on business
md about to take a train back n
New York.
e Anxious to see how the announce
znent would strike a member of the
general public, Barnum told the
conductor. who was an acquaintance
chat he had just engaged Jenny Lind
10 visit this country.
a "Jenny Lind? is she a dancers-
sked the conductor.
The question chilled Barnum. He
Informed the conductor who and
Phat Jenny Lind was. as his first
fep in educating the public. and he |
ealized that he could not have foo
huch time for the work before him
Really, thought l." he wrote in his |
autobiography, eff this is all that n
nan in the capacity of a railroad |
onductor between Philadelphia and |
New York knows of the greatest |
ongstress in the world, 7 am NOT |
ure that six months will be foo |
Pug time for me to occupy in en- |
tightening the entire public in re-
ard to her merits"
Classical music has never had n
ircus appeal, but in order to come
ut OF his contract with a nrofit. |
5arnum had to sell Jenny Lind as
Extensively as he sold the circus in
tier years. His instinct was sound
hen he quizzed the conductor on
enny Lind, for it was to conductors
ID even TO brakemen that Barnum
ID TO appeal for financial support
his huge enterprise.
Working the Sentimental Public.
Promptly Barnum began an ex-
ensive campaign of shrewd public
n, newspaper and otherwise, that !