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Broadway。 When she did so she saw a throng of not less than twenty thousand persons gathered to do her honor。 And there that throng remained all the rest of the afternoon and until late in the evening。 At her request Barnum took dinner with her that afternoon。 According to the European custom she offered to pledge his health in a glass of wine； and was doubtless much surprised at his response。 He said to her： 〃Miss Lind； I do not think you can ask any other favor on earth which I would not gladly grant。 But I am a teetotaler； and must beg to be permitted to drink to your health and happiness in a glass of cold water。〃
Late that night Miss Lind was serenaded by the New York Musical Fund Society； which numbered； on that occasion； two hundred musicians。 They were escorted to the hotel by about three hundred firemen； clad in their picturesque uniform and bearing flaming torches。 Fully thirty thousand spectators were at this hour gathered about the hotel； and in response to their vociferous calls Miss Lind stepped upon the balcony and bowed to them。
Such was the great singer's first day in America； and for several weeks thereafter the public interest in her was scarcely less demonstrative。 Her rooms were thronged by visitors； among whom were the most notable people in society； in the learned professions and in public life。 The street before the hotel was almost blocked day after day by the carriages of fashionable people； and Barnum's only anxiety was lest the aristocratic part of the community should monopolize her altogether； and thus mar his interest by cutting her off from the sympathy she had excited among the common people。 The shop…keepers of the city showered their attentions upon her； sending her cart…loads of specimens of their most valuable wares； for which they asked no other return than her acceptance and her autograph acknowledgment。 Gloves； bonnets； shawls； gowns； chairs； carriages； pianos； and almost every imaginable article of use or ornament was named for her。 Songs and musical compositions were dedicated to her； and poems were published in her honor。 Day after day and week after week her doings formed the most conspicuous news in the daily journals。
Some weeks before Miss Lind's arrival in America Barnum had offered a prize of two hundred dollars for the best ode； to be set to music and sung by her at her first concert。 Its topic was to be； 〃Greeting to America。〃 In response several hundred poems were sent in； mostly pretty poor stuff； though several of them were very good。 After a great deal of hard work in reading and considering them； the Prize Committee selected as the best the one offered by Bayard Taylor。 It was set to music by Julius Benedict； and was as follows：
GREETING TO AMERICA
WORDS BY BAYARD TAYLORMUSIC BY JULIUS BENEDICT。
I greet with a full heart the Land of the West； Whose Banner of Stars o'er a world is unrolled； Whose empire o'ershadows Atlantic's wide breast； And opens to sunset its gateway of gold！ The land of the mountain； the land of the lake； And rivers that roll in magnificent tide Where the souls of the mighty from slumber awake； And hallow the soil for whose freedom they died！
Thou Cradle of empire！ though wide be the foam That severs the land of my fathers and thee； I hear； from thy bosom； the welcome of home； For song has a home in the hearts of the Free！ And long as thy waters shall gleam in the sun； And long as thy heroes remember their scars； Be the hands of thy children united as one； And Peace shed her light on thy Banner of Stars！
This award gave general satisfaction； although a few disappointed competitors complained。 This remarkable competition and the other features of Miss Lind's reception in America； attracted so much attention in England that the London Times in one day devoted several columns of space to the subject。
Of course the American press literally teemed with matter about Miss Lind and Barnum。 The poetical competition demanded much attention； and presently a witty pamphlet was published； entitled 〃Barnum's Parnassus； being Confidential Disclosures of the Prize Committee on the Jenny Lind Song。〃 It pretended to give all or most of the poems that had been offered in the competition； though of course none of them were genuine。 Many of them； however； contained fine satirical hits on the whole business； such； for example； as the following：
BARNUMOPSIS。
A RECITATIVE。
When to the common rest that crowns his days； Dusty and worn the tired pedestrian goes； What light is that whose wide o'erlooking blaze A sudden glory on his pathway throws？ 'Tis not the setting sun； whose drooping lid Closed on the weary world at half…past six； 'Tis not the rising moon； whose rays are hid Behind the city's sombre piles of bricks。
It is the Drummond Light； that from the top Of Barnum's massive pile； sky…mingling there； Dart's its quick gleam o'er every shadowed shop； And gilds Broadway with unaccustomed glare。
There o'er the sordid gloom； whose deep'ning tracks Furrow the city's brow； the front of ages； Thy loftier light descends on cabs and hacks； And on two dozen different lines of stages！
O twilight Sun； with thy far darting ray； Thou art a type of him whose tireless hands Hung thee on high to guide the stranger's way； Where； in its pride； his vast Museum stands。
Him； who in search of wonders new and strange； Grasps the wide skirts of Nature's mystic robe Explores the circles of eternal change； And the dark chambers of the central globe。
He； from the reedy shores of fabled Nile； Has brought； thick…ribbed and ancient as old iron； That venerable beast； the crocodile； And many a skin of many a famous lion。
Go lose thyself in those continuous halls； Where strays the fond papa with son and daughter； And all that charms or startles or appals； Thou shalt behold； and for a single quarter。
Far from the Barcan deserts now withdrawn； There； huge constrictors coil their scaly backs； There； cased in glass； malignant and unshorn； Old murderers glare in sullenness and wax。
There many a varied form the sight beguiles； In rusty broadcloth decked and shocking hat； And there the unwieldy Lambert sits and smiles； In the majestic plenitude of fat。
Or for thy gayer hours； the orang…outang Or ape salutes thee with his strange grimace； And in their shapes； stuffed as on earth they sprang； Thine individual being thou canst trace！
And joys the youth in life's green spring； who goes With the sweet babe and the gray headed nurse； To see those Cosmoramic orbs disclose The varied beauties of the universe。
And last； not least； the marvellous Ethiope； Changing his skin by preternatural skill； Whom every setting sun's diurnal slope Leaves whiter than the last； and whitening still。
All that of monstrous； scaly； strange and queer； Has come from out the womb of earliest time； Thou hast； O Barnum； in thy keeping here； Nor is this allfor triumphs more sublime
Await thee yet！ I； Jenny Lind； who reigned Sublimely throned； the i