Evening star., 1935-10-06

This visit of the great singer, who "
stirred musical and unmusical Amer
lea to its depths, arousing an en-
thusiasm that has never since been
equaled, and the echo of which is
heard even to this day.
When one reads the comments on
her singing, both in this country and
abroad, all analytical attempts are
subserviant to the general admission
of the extraordinary appeal which she
exercised on all classes of people. Try
as they would, the writer's could not
explain the power that moved audi
ences to tears, and left them the
memory of an emotional experience
which brought out the best in their
natures. No other artist of any time
has so completely touched and won
the hearts of her hearers as did Jenny
Lind wherever she appeared.
1T IS true that the times were differ
ent and the attitude of mind
toward music more simple than at the
present moment. but this fact, coupled
with the artists feeling toward her
art. gives much to think about.
AS an individual. Jenny Lind had
none Of the attributes of personal
charm as we know it today. She was
not beautiful or elegant, and she
scorned any play for popular favor.
She was austere in her views OF life.
and did nothing to make for interest,"
ing publicity. No scandalous or even
sensational stories could be attached
to her mode of living, nor would she
accede one iota to her stern principles
for the sake of success.
She lived simply and worked hard,
putting her whole mind and soul into
her art. And her reward was the
tears of her listeners, springing from
hearts moved with both a human
and a spiritual response to the sound
Of her voice.
The phenomenon of this artist and
the reaction of the public can hardly
be understood today. so sophisticated
have become both the artists and pub
lie in their attitude toward art. But
Jenny Lind and her followers reached
to the truth of art, she with the gilt
of putting her heart into her song
and her auditors opening theirs to re-
ceive the full benefit Of a vitalizing
experience.
Here, the real objective of music
was realized when this artist, through
the nobility and sincerity of her
grasp of her art, carried her listeners
on the wings of melody to finer ap-
probation of the meaning of existence.
THE profound reverence for music
and the feeling Of responsibility
toward such a gift as was hers was
the foundation of Jenny Lind's pecu-
liar appeal. She was deeply sensible
that her voice was divine gift, for
which she must render an account
one day of her stewardship. Her con-
slant striving was for further attune-
ment with spiritual things and as a
means to this end she sought to per-
feet herself In an understanding of
religion and nature.
She once wrote, Il want to be near
trees and water and cathedral" and,
again, to her biographer, Il have al
ways put God first"
OF her public work she wrote: "If
you knew what a sensation of the
nearness of higher power one in
stinctively feels when one is permitted
to contribute to the good of mankind.
as I have done and still do, believe
me, it Is great gift of Gods mercy"
And another time: my unceasing
prayer is that what gave my fellows
may continue to live on through eter-
nifty and that the Giver of the gift
and not the creature to whom He
lent it may be praised and acknowl-
edged" The love for her art she ex-
pressed thus: eff I had nothing but
music in the world it would be
enough"
The attitude toward art today does
not always contain such high thoughts
and the response of the public seldom
reaches that warm quality to which
Jenny Lind was accustomed through
out her career. One writer said of
her when it was reported that she
had lost her voice, Never mind; If
she has still got her soul she is better
worth hearing than all the other
singers of the world" And that is
the secret Of all enduring success in
art, and in music in particular. If
an artist possesses a soul" of suffi-
cient greatness he will be enshrined
In the hearts of his public with loving
care and for all time.
TREAT as was her Interpretation Of
operatic roles, it was her ballad
singing that made the deepest i'm
preston. Into the simple texts Of
these songs she put her whole warmth
OF feeling, extracting from words and
melody all the beauty and sweetness
they contained. It is said that while
she sang her face, which in repose
was not beautiful, took on a radiance
as If she looked upon things beyond
the mortal vision. In oratorio, to
which she devoted her public singing
after her retirement from the opera
stage, 1t was the same. thing, and
through this power she gave to many
their first understanding of the great
truths embodied in such arias as II
Know That My Redeemer Liveth."
p. T. Barnum, whose interest in her
In the beginning was purely COM
mercial one, said: 1T Is a mistake
to say the fame Of Jenny Lind rests
solely upon her ability to sing. She
was q woman who would have been
adored If she had the voice Of crow"
Her charities were manifold and the
American tour was undertaken with
the desire to earn more money to en-
dow q school for poor, lost children
in her native country.
AS interesting as are the career and
personality of the artist herself, the
effect on her audiences is still more
striking. The American concert public
Of that period was neither large one
nor a greatly discriminating one, for
not many European artists had jour-
neyed to this country to display their
talents. Yet, to hear Jenny Lind was
NJ