AMERICAN ENTHUSIASM, SPECULATIVE AND MUSICAL. [From the" Atlas."]

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 510, 5 March 1851, Page 4

AMERICAN ENTHUSIASM, SPECULATIVE AND MUSICAL. [From the " Atlas."]

Tlie Jenny Lind furore in America is about as characteristic a sperimen of Yankeeism as could well be found. Elsewhere the enthusiasm would be about the < women or the sitter. And such the unsophisticated amongst us might imagine the enthusiasm in America. Not a bit of it. In the long accounts sent us of the lady's tumultuous greetings, we hear not a word about her voice. To be sure, her sioging is said to " have created as much enthusiasm as in her first debut in the British metropolis." but the critic very wisely will not venture on the subject at present. On the second day he is equally cautious, only remarking that Jenny was equally satisfied with the building, the audience, and herself. Tins collocation of the three parties to the undertaking is infinitely amusine. With regard to the audience, and herself, the satisfaction was, of course, mutual; in these case, as in nffaiisof honour, there oan be no satisfaction unless it is mutual, but we con. fess we should be glad to discover if the building was a» completely tatisfied with Jenny as Jenny with the building. In short, the Americans, do not care one straw about Jenny Lind or her voice. They are simply gone wild about a succeisful speculation. They exhibit their enthusiasm fora bit in themoit frantic demonstrations. The " venture "is a new one ; it is more piquant than cotton, more fresh than California, more honest than repudiation. In consequence, tli& delight of our spec ulating fiiends knows no bounds. The first moment the Speculation arrived, every man in New York forgot his own business in his anxiety to see the medium of the expected transfer of so many dollars. The Speculation, one enthusiast exclaimi, " was raised by the Great Spirit to make the rest of the world humble," which, under the circumstances, is perhaps true. Torrents of rain hindered not the entire population from flocking to Ihe hotel, where a thousand persons had actually taken beds in expectation of the event. At Üble the Speculation was introduced to 500 Indies — " each of whom she shook by the hand ;''— rather a troublesome operation, even for a Speculation. The Speculation was earnestly desired not to be affronted

i with the weither — it was meiely an accident. Seven hundred and fifty prize poems are written on the Speculation— the successful competitor cnnies off 2QO dollars, and leaves behind him a copy of verseß, " full of fulsome adulation of herself," which Jenny Lind is expected to sin-;:. Peihaps when she does sing ll ~ as it is a poem bought for so many dollars— the critics may tell us something about the manner and style of singing it, about winch we are rather curious. Who is to compose the music, does not appear. In America, the ladits are as good hands at a speculation as the gentlemen. So they passed their time in writing notes to Jenny Land, fabricating monster bouquets, mid forwarding invitatioi s. Four hundred ladies carry the Speculation off to the American Ait Union, ot which she is duly enrolled a member. The clergy are not behind in their devotion to the Speculation. Dr. Cummings, r> lamoui anti-slavery orator, subs to her with a sis dollar bouquet. Next arrives Bishop Hughes, " who laid on the nattering unction in the moxt delicate m-mner." Discussions are rife on all aides, touching the personal appearance, the intellect, and religious sensibilities of the Speculation. On all points, so profitable a creature is pronounced perfect. The proprietor of the hotel, who was said to have given 1000 dollars for the lodgment of the Speculation did his part in the worship by filling her room with new and splendid furniture at a cost of GOOO dollars. Mixed np with the detail* of receptions, dinners, speeches, bouquets, and cntiCßin — the true points of the speculation appear most characteristically. " The papers weie full of discussions on the price and »ale of the tickets and the chances of Mr. Barnum's success, almost evnybudy in New Yotk having a diffeient opinion as to the proper scale of prices. The choice seats, it was known, would bu auctioned." Auctioned they were accordingly ; and the following are the details: — It was attended by 3000 or 4000 notwithstanding a heavy rain and the unexpected imposition of one shilling a head for admission to the Gaiden. Mr, Biirimm aud the auctioneer had much tiouble to dispel some mystification which rumour had raised. The latter took his stand in the very spot where ,'enny Lind was to stand, and "proceeded to sell the fiist ticket, having) the right to the first choice seat to the first concert ol | Jenny Lind in America." After a tremendous cotnpe- j tiiiou, it was knocked down to a liatter, for 225 dollars, amid vociferous cheering. The next choice seats went ] at much less prices. On Saturday there were sold 142J tickets, at the average price of 6 dollars 38 cents, amounting; to 91 195 dollais. The hotter had to choose a seat for which he had paid more than thhty times as much as any oDe else, amongst a Bet of seatß altogether hlike. He chose one just under Jenny Lind, and the next to it went for only ten dollars. But the hatter is not such n tool as be seems. He will make his own little speculation out of the matter. As for the seat, be troubles himself about that very slightly; he bought the place for a puff. Amid hit competitors, who ran him very close, were three sellers of quark medicines. Fortunately tor the American bowels, the more harmless tradesman pi evaded. He is to wear one of his own best lut* to the concert, and expects in a month to be the first hatter in the city. Well« there is as much earnestness in our cousins' way of following up a speculation at acuteness in making it. The gold dust of the Sacramento is more painfully earned than that which pours forth Irom the throat of Jenny Lind. The great hit of the day, in a place wheie every one thinks of nothing but hiit>, deserves its hour ; and we must admit that it has obtained it*