Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/489

 have it not," if it would so surely lead to fortune. The truth is, the sweet singer has shown, from the opening of her career, the same thoughtfulness for the poor and unfortunate. Miss Bremer, in her brief notice of Miss Lind, says that on the return of this gifted and noble girl, from her first successful tour in Germany, she sent, through the papers of Stockholm, an address to the public, stating that, "as she once more had the happiness to be in her native land, she would be glad to sing again to her countrymen, and that the income of the opera, in which she was for the season to appear, would be devoted to raise a fund for a school where elèves for the theatre would be educated to virtue and knowledge." Christian Andersen, one of the most distinguished men in Sweden, in his reminiscences tells a similar tale of Jenny Lind. He says, "she is happy, belonging no longer to the world. Yet she loves art with her whole soul. She feels her vocation. Her noble and pious disposition cannot be spoiled by homage. On one occasion only, in my hearing, did she express joy and self-consciousness in bpi talent. It was during her last stay at Copenhagen. Every evening she appeared either at the concert or in opera. She beard of a society, the object of which was to take unfortunate children out of the hands of their parents by whom they were compelled to beg or steal, and place them in better circumstances. Benevolent people subscribed annually for their support, yet the means for this excellent purpose were but small. 'I have an evening disengaged,' said she, 'I will give a performance for these poor children, but we must have double prices.' Such a performance was given, and returned large proceeds. When she heard the amount, her countenance lit up, and tears filled her eyes. 'It is beautiful,' said she, 'that I can sing so.'"

It is stated that, while performing in Germany, she gave away no less a sum than thirty thousand florins; and the Rev. Dr. Baird, whom we has before quoted, says, "it is said, on what we believe to be good authority, that during Miss Lind's visits to England, nearly sixty thousand pounds sterling were secured for objects of charity in this country by her efforts."

While in America she distributed to charitable societies, in the various cities she has visited, probably not less than fifty thousand dollars; the whole profits of her first concert, namely ten thousand dollars, she gave to be thus distributed in the city of New York. Yet she has a nobler, because more necessary work of charity planned. Having already made a liberal, though not extravagant provision for her own future support, as well as for the support of her honoured parents, who reside in Sweden, she is now desirous of appropriating the avails of her visit to America, to promote education among the poor of her native land.

But let us complete our outline of the history of "the Swedish Nightingale," as she has been well called. In 1852, after her ninety-fifth concert, she prematurely concluded her engagement with Mr. Barnum, as an article in it enabled her to do, and sacrificing some thirty thousand dollars by this proceeding, continued the series of concerts on her own account; soon after rumours were heard of her marriage with Otto Goldschmidt, a German pianist of some European celebrity; and these rumours were confirmed when in 1852, she passed through England on her way to Germany. Since that period she has only made her public appearance at a few concerts at Vienna,