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' in exchange for 'Goldfinches。' I finally was introduced to Mr。 John L。 Aspinwall； of the firm of Messrs。 Howland & Aspinwall； and he gave me a letter of credit from his firm on Baring Brothers； for a large sum on collateral securities； which a spirit of genuine respect for my enterprise induced him to accept。
〃After disposing of several pieces of property for cash； I footed up the various amounts； and still discovered myself 5；000 short。 I felt that it was indeed the last feather that breaks the camel's back。' Happening casually to state my desperate case to the Rev。 Abel C。 Thomas； of Philadelphia； for many years a friend of mine； he promptly placed the requisite amount at my disposal。 I gladly accepted his proffered friendship； and felt that he had removed a mountain…weight from my shoulders。〃
And now nothing remained to do but to arouse public curiosity and interest。 Barnum was a master…hand at that work； and never did he show himself more of a master than on this occasion。 He kept the press literally teeming with notices in one form or another。 Here is a sample of the strain in which he wrote：
〃Perhaps I may not make any money by this enterprise； but I assure you that if I knew I should not make a farthing profit； I would ratify the engagement； so anxious am I that the United States should be visited by a lady whose vocal powers have never been approached by any other human being； and whose character is charity； simplicity； and goodness personified。
〃Miss Lind has great anxiety to visit America。 She speaks of this country and its institutions in the highest terms of praise。 In her engagement with me （which includes Havana）； she expressly reserves the right to give charitable concerts whenever she thinks proper。
Since her debut in England； she has given to the poor from her own private purse more than the whole amount which I have engaged to pay her； and the proceeds of concerts for charitable purposes in Great Britain； where she has sung gratuitously； have realized more than ten times that amount。〃
And so it came to pass that； before September rolled around； curiosity； interest and enthusiasm over the great singer were at fever heat； and New York thought and dreamed only of her coming。
Never； in the history of music or in the history of entertainments in America； has the advent of a foreign artist been hailed with so much enthusiasm。
A large share of this public interest was natural and genuine； and would； in any event； have been accorded to Miss Lind。 But a considerable portion of it was due to the shrewd and energetic advertising of Mr。 Barnum。 Under any auspices the great singer's tour in America would have been successful； but under no other management would it have approximated to what it was under Barnum。
CHAPTER XVII。 ARRIVAL OF JENNY LIND。
FIRST MEETING WITH BARNUMRECEPTION IN NEW YORKPOEMS IN HER HONORA FURORE OF PUBLIC INTERESTSALE OF TICKETS FOR THE FIRST CONCERTBARNUM'S CHANGE IN TERMSTEN THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR CHARITYENORMOUS SUCCESS OF THE FIRST CONCERT。
Jenny Lind sailed for America on Wednesday morning； August 21； 1850。 She was accompanied by Messrs。 Benedict and Belletti； Mr。 Wilton； her two cousins； and three or four servants。 She also brought with her a piano for her use。 Mr。 Barnum had engaged the necessary accommodations for the company on the steamship Atlantic； and their departure from England was an event of great public interest。 In America their coming was looked upon much as the visit of a royal personage would have been。 It was expected that the steamer would reach New York on Sunday； September 1st。 Mr。 Barnum； however； determined to be on hand to meet his distinguished guest at no matter what time she reached the port。 He； therefore； went on Saturday to Staten Island； and spent the night at the house of his friend； Dr。 Doane； the health officer of the port。
The steamship was sighted just before noon on Sunday； and soon afterward Mr。 Barnum； who went out with the health officer； was standing on the deck where； for the first time； he met the famous singer。 After they had shaken hands and uttered a few commonplace words of greeting Miss Lind asked him when and where he had heard her sing。
〃I never had the pleasure of seeing you before in my life；〃 he replied。
〃How is it possible that you dared risk so much money on a person whom you never heard sing？〃 she asked in great surprise。
〃I risked it；〃 answered Barnum； 〃on your reputation； which in musical matters I would much rather trust than my own judgment。〃
The fact was that； although Barnum did rely largely upon Miss Lind's reputation as an artist； he also took into account her equally great reputation for benevolence； generosity and general loveliness of disposition。 He knew that these traits of character would appeal with a special force to the warm…hearted and enthusiastic American public。 Indeed； he afterward confessed that had it not been for this peculiarity of her disposition； he never would have ventured to make the engagement with her； and he always believed that as many people came to see and hear her on this account as on account of her skill as a singer。
Seldom has any visitor to New York received a more remarkable greeting than did the 〃Swedish Nightingale。〃 Mr。 Barnum's efforts to arouse public interest in her had not been in vain。 The whole city was anxious to get the first possible glimpse of her。 But beside this bona fide interest in her； Mr。 Barnum had seen to it that her landing was made all possible use of as an advertisement。 On the wharf at which she landed a bower of green trees； decorated with flags； had been prepared。 There were also two handsome triumphal arches； on one of which was inscribed； 〃Welcome； Jenny Lind！〃 and on the other； 〃Welcome to America！〃
Probably the singer thought； and possibly some of the general public also imagined； that these decorations had been erected by the city government； or at least by some committee of public…spirited citizens。 Mr。 Barnum； however； never found fault with any one for suspecting that he was chiefly responsible for them； and there is every reason to believe that the cost of them was to be found entered in his books； charged to the account of advertising。
Thousands of people were thronged along the water front； on the piers and on the shipping； to greet the Atlantic as it reached its dock。 So great was the rush to see the illustrious guest that one man was crowded overboard； an incident which Miss Lind herself witnessed； and at which she was much alarmed。 He was rescued with no other harm than a thorough wetting。 Barnum's carriage was in waiting for Miss Lind； and the great showman himself； after placing her within it； mounted the box at the driver's side。 He took that seat as a legitimate advertisement； and his presence there aided those who filled the windows and sidewalks along the entire way to the Irving House； and there were many thousands of them； in coming to the conclusion that Jenny Lind had really arrived。
Five minutes after Miss Lind had entered the hotel； Barnum invited her to look out of a window opening on Broadway。 When she did so she saw a throng of not less than twenty thousand persons gathered to do h