One hundred years ago
WE deeply regret to record the death of Jenny Lind (Mrs Otto Goldschmidt), which occurred on Tuesday. She occu- pied a special place in Europe. First in her art, perhaps the greatest vocalist who ever lived, she was the one public singer or actor to whom opinion ascribed all the virtues, — most of them quite justly. A woman of the most sincere piety, she was generous almost to excess in her gifts, not only of money but of energy, literally wearing herself out in the effort to benefit and to promote the instruction of all students of music. Of her generosity innumer- able instances are recorded, but only one in which she did harm. She and her husband were libelled, like all public characters; once so grossly that she brought an action, and recovered £2,000 damages. She at once restored it to the guilty paper, thus condoning one of the foulest of modern offences, and the one which of all others makes civilised life unhappy.
The Spectator, 5 November 1887
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