Year: 1868

Daniel Webster and Jenny Ltnd.


Jenny Lind gave concert at Washington dur
ing the session Of Congress. and as a mark of
her respect, and with a view TO the ecldt, sent
polite invitations to the President, Fillmore, the
members of the Cabinet, Clay, and many other
distinguished members of both Houses of Con-
gress. 1t happened that that day several
members of the Cabinet and Senate we're dining
with Bodisco, the Russian Minister. His good
dinner and choice wines had kept the party SO
late that the concert was nearly over when Web
ster, Clay, Crittenden and others came in
whether from the hurry in which they came, or
from the heat Of the room, their faces were
little flushed, and they all looked somewhat
furried.


After the applause with which these gentle
men had been received had subsidized, and ST.
lence once more restored, the second part of the
concert was opened by Jenny Lind, with /" Hail
| Columbia


| This took place during the hight Of the debate
and excitement of the slavery question, and the
compromise resolutions of Clay and this pat
riotic air, as part of the programme, was con-
sidered peculiarly appropriate at a concert where
the head Of the Government and large number
of both branches of the Legislative Department
were present. At the close of the first verse.
Webster's patriotism boiled over; he could stand
it no longer and rising like Olympian Jove, he
added his deep, sonorous voice to the chorus
and venture 10 say, that never in the whole
course of her career did she ever hear or receive
one half of the applause that with which her
song and Webster's chorus was greeted


Mrs. Webster, who sat Immediately behind
him, kept tugging at bis coat-tail to make him
sit down or stop singing, but it was of no earthly
use-and at the close of each verse Webster
joined in, and it was hard to say whether Jenny
Lind, Webster or the audience were the most de-
lighted. have seen Rubini, Lablache, and the
| two Crisis on the stage at one time, but such
happy conjunction in the national air Of g Hail
Columb bia,' as Jenny Lind's tenor and Daniel
Webster's bass shall never see nor hear
again.


| At the close of the air Webster rose with his
hat in his hand, and made her such a bow
Chesterfield would have deemed fortune for
his son, and which eclipsed D'Orsay's best
Jenny Lind, blushing at the distinguished
honor, courtesed to the floor ; Webster, deter
mined not to be outdone in polteuess, bowed
again Miss Lind recourtesied the house again
applauded and this was repeated nine times,
or " I'm a villain else.'


| have seen Niagara and Taglioni, Mars and
Malibran; | have walked through the ruins at
P&stum and the Colosseum by moonlight; cross
ed Menai bridge and the Thames tunnel, but
never while memory lasts will this scene fade
away.


Being something of a wag, and deeming this
too good to be lost, the next day it was currently
reported that Barnum had engaged Clay and
Webster to accompany Jenny Lind and himself
rs far as Richmond, and assist her at her con-
cert. For some days nothing but Jenny Lind's
concert, and the report about Clay and Webster
was talked of about the capital.


| Soon after this was sitting in the Congress
sional post-ofice, when a member came in, with
whom bad always been on friendly terms, and
to my usual very cordial "Good morning." the
gentleman, with lips compressed, pale as his
Shirt and clipping his words very shortly, re-
| piled in sort of staccato style, Good morn
ing. SIR Can | have word with you in pr-
vate?' Heaven defend me from a challenge.
| thought l. Still, never dreaming how could
have incurred the gentleman's displeasure, re-
piled very politely, % With pleasure" After
leading me some distance through the crooked
passages of the capitol, he stopped short, and
looking me full in the face, and seemingly as
anxious for fight as bull-terrier, he began:
81 understand, sir, that most insulting re-
port has been very extensively circulated in this
city about two OF the most distinguished men of
my party, and have heard from more than one
source that you were the author. My object,
sir, is to know whether you are the author, and
if so, whether you hold yourself responsible. y
Being still in the dark and utterly unable to
comprehend the drift of his remark, replied,
Sir, l do not know what you are talking
about; you will be pleased to speak somewhat
/
choer rising at my coolness, " have learned
from most unquesIiorable authority that you
have said that Barnum bad engaged Clay and
Webster to accompany and assist Jenny Lind ut
her concerts in Richmond" ! never was SO d-
vided between an inclination to laugh outright
and to get vexed and hesitating moment
whether should abuse him for his stupidity, or
| laugh in his face it occurred to me that if he
could swallow SO much, his credulity was capa-
cious enough to digest much more. So, COM
pressing my lips and trying to look as fierce as
possible, l said in the same staccato tone of
voice in which he had spoken, "Yes, sir, am
responsible for that report, and ! reckon I've
seen the contract" My young opponent jaw
fell, and speaking in his usual natural drawl, he
bowed politely, and evidently with feelings of
great disappointment at not being able 10 get
fight: I" beg your pardon, sir was not aware
that you had seen the contract


do not know whether he ever told any one.
or whether his friends let him into the secret of
my disposition as wag, but Ger ain it was, for
some time, whenever he saw me ore side OF
Pennsylvania avenue, he always had some busi-
ness on the other.


! | told the joke to Webster at his own house.
before the nomination of the Whg party WAS
made. and ventured to suggest to him that when
be was elected President he ought to confer
some office on the man who was willing to fight
for him and the honor of his party. He assured
me that, if elected, the claims of this gentleman
should not be forgotten.


VoLxEY E. Howard closes his late letter with
the following suggestions -" l differ with the
Examiner as to who is the most judicious friend