Explore "Jenny Lind the Artist" by Henry Scott Holland on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
On the 24th of May, 1842, while Mdlle. Lind was still tortured by doubts as to the best course to follow, in this difficult crisis, the Directors of the Royal Theatre at Stockholm sent her the offer of a definite and official engagement-or rather re-engagement-at the Opera-House in which her early triumphs had been achieved. It must be confessed, that the terms proposed by the _Direktion_ were more in accordance with her former _status_ at the Royal Theatre, than with that which was the just due of the great artist she had now become. The engagement was to last either one, or two years; from the 1st of July, 1842, to the same date, in 1843, or 1844-the longest period for which an engagement was legally possible. The salary was fixed at 1800 _Riksdaler Banco, per annum_- equal to about £150, in English money; with the privilege of an extra "benefit"; and "extra service-money, according to the regulations of the Royal Theatre," for each appearance; the necessary "silk costumes and bridal gowns" being provided at the expense of the management. In return for these emoluments, Mdlle. Lind was engaged to submit, in all things, to the regulations laid down for the direction of the Royal Theatre, in the year 1839; but she was permitted to extend her stay abroad, until September, 1842, without diminution of salary, as a compensation for the expenses connected with her home journey.
To this not very tempting offer, she replied, as follows: -