Jenny Lind's Great Triumph

1906

Won Jealous Rival by Sweetness of Simple Song

A beautiful little incident is told concerning Jenny Lind and Grisi, when they were rivals for popular favor in London. Both were invited to sing the same night at a court concert before the queen. Jenny Lind, being the younger, sang first, and was so disturbed by the fierce, scornful look of Grisi that she was at the point of failure, when suddenly an inspiration came to her. The accompanist was striking his final chords. She asked him to rise and took the vacant seat. Her fingers wandered over the keys in a loving prelude, and then she sang a little prayer which she had loved as a child. She hadn't sung it for years. As she sang she was no longer in the presence of royalty, but singing to loving friends in her fatherland.

Softly at first the plaintive notes floated on the air, swelling louder and richer every moment. The singer seemed to throw her whole soul into that weird, thrilling, plaintive "prayer." Gradually the song died away and ended in a sob. There was silence — the silence of admiring wonder. The audience sat spell-bound. Jenny Lind lifted her sweet eyes to look into the scornful face that had so disconcerted her. There was no fierce expression now; instead, a tear-drop glistened on the long, black lashes, and after a moment, with the impulsiveness of a child of the tropics, Grisi crossed to Jenny Lind's side, placed her arms about her, and kissed her, utterly regardless of the audience. — Exchange.

Comment: Maybe they ought to try that on American Idol. But you could say, 'Isn't it just like Grisi, stealing Jenny's moment and drawing attention to herself after such a tender moment?!' (The sentiment of this article is kind of sickening.)

Good Business Men

1899

Richard Cadbury, who died in Jerusalem in the spring of the present year, was one of those hard-working men who build up their own fortunes, and in doing so make the fortunes of many whom they employ. When his father died, thirty-eight years ago in Birmingham, England, Richard and his brother George found themselves the proprietors of a grocery business, one of the features of which was the manufacture of cocoa and chocolate. In it were employed a dozen men.

The sons determined to devote themselves entirely to the making of chocolate and cocoa. To-day the firm employs twenty-four hundred people in its extensive works on the outskirts of Birmingham, and the populous little town of Bournville is wholly dependent on the Cadbury enterprise for its existence.

It was, however, in relation to his workmen and workwomen that the best side of the successful business man was manifested. As prosperity came to him he allowed a share of it to fall in their way. And he not only showed by his conduct that he believed master and men to be one in aim and interest, but also that he recognized a higher Master of the business than Richard Cadbury.

The day's labors were always begun by gathering the people together for a few minutes of quiet acknowledgment of dependence on the goodness of God, and His ever-mindful care.

Richard Cadbury and his brother had a personal interest in every worker. When the women left the firm to get married, — the only thing they ever left for, — the brothers knew just where they went and how they were getting on. Such simple friendliness between employer and employed is the best check to the spirit of suspicion that in the present day divides the worker from the capitalist. — Youth's Companion.

Old Ladies Say Ballet Posters Too Risque

1910

Members of Home Resent Billboard Pictures of Women Scantily Dressed

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. — Opposite the Old Ladies' home in this city is a dead wall, which is used to advertise attractions at some of the local theaters. A bill poster put up a number of posters of ballet dancers clad in gaudy and scant attire. The inmates of the house, who saw them from their windows, were indignant.

They held a consultation and then resolved on action. They procured a number of newspapers, and with paste and pot made their way to the opposite side of the street and covered the lower limbs of the dancers, and were much pleased with their work. One of them remarked: "There now! I guess decency will not be outraged."


Lord's Prayer on Coin

New York. — A curious specimen of the fine work of a famous old American engraver, A. W. Overbaugh, has come to light in a little Staten Island town. The relic is an ancient gold dollar, in the center of which, in a circle one-sixth of an inch in diameter, Overbaugh engraved the Lord's prayer. The inscription cannot be seen with the naked eye, but is distinct with the aid of glasses. The engraving was done on a wager.

Girl Dies in Sunday School

1903

Swallows Mouthpiece of a Toy Balloon While the Service Is On and Chokes

New York, March 3.—Emma Rauch, 9 years old, swallowed the wooden mouthpiece of a toy balloon and died in the presence of the entire Sunday school of the Ainslee Presbyterian church in Brooklyn. The child bought the penny balloon while on the way to Sunday school. She inflated it in the church, but the mouthpiece slipped into her throat. Superintendent Follett tried in vain to extract the wood. He then summoned physicians and the child's parents. When it was seen that all efforts were futile and the doctors announced that death was approaching the whole school knelt and prayed until life was extinct.

—Davenport Daily Republican, Davenport, Iowa, March 4, 1903, page 1.


SWALLOWED TOY BALLOON

Strange Scene in Brooklyn Sunday School

NEW YORK, March 2—A remarkable scene was enacted in the Sunday school of the Ainslee Street Presbyterian Church, in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn yesterday. A short time before 10 o'clock Emma Rausch, nine years old left home for Sunday school. On the way she bought a penny whistling balloon. This she took into her class and while inflating it for the amusement of her classmates, the wooden mouth piece slipped into her throat. She gasped, and pain showed in her eyes. The children became alarmed and their exclamations of fright attracted the attention of Chas. Follett, superintendent of the Sunday school. He called to a trustee of the church and they worked to extricate the toy from the throat of the fast choking child. Not until she became unconscious was it believed that her condition was critical. Physicians were hastily summoned but could do nothing for her. When they announced that death was near the Rev. D. S. Dawson raised his hands and asked that all kneel and pray. Then he prayed aloud and fervently for the soul that was passing before their eyes.

The child's parents, who had been sent for, entered as the clergyman was about to begin his prayer. The meaning was clear to them, and they knelt sobbing beside their child and on the wings of the prayer of their playmates and friends the child's soul was borne away to its maker. Tenderly the body was carried to an adjoining room and Dr. Dawson led the awestricken congregation in a memorial service in place of the regular Sunday School exercises.

—The Daily Republican-News, Hamilton, Ohio, March 2, 1903, page 1.

Note: The Davenport paper had "Rauch" and the Ohio paper "Rausch" for the child's name.

Brother Isaiah, Healer: Blind Hope Leads Crippled and Suffering

1920--

NEW ORLEANS, April 3. -- The lame, the halt and the blind are beating a track to the door of "Brother Isaiah," who cures, he claims, by the laying on of hands.

"Brother Isaiah" was christened John Cudney. He is 75. He has been variously Mississippi River derelict, peddler of kindling wood and watchman on a government dredge.

Now he lives with an aged sister in a houseboat and day after day and far into each night prays with the sick and afflicted who come for his aid.

Many testify to his power to cure by faith. Others scoff. His followers emphasize his refusal to accept money or gifts.

When Cudney left the dredge he walked about the water front aiding the infirm he met. His fame spread. Now it is not uncommon for thousands to stand on the river bank watching him at his "miracles."

At first only the poor and illiterate came. Now, blind hope leads; white and black, poverty-stricken and wealthy come to him for aid. Once he prayed 22 hours and had to turn away supplicants to obtain rest and food. He prayed with them all that night in a driving rain until 6 o'clock in the morning.

Failed With a Few

For a while it looked bad for "Brother Isaiah." Some of those who had apparently been benefited found their joy was premature.

But the crowds came back when he said he had failed in some cases because of the "supplicant's lack of faith."

Others attested to complete cures; friends and relatives backed them up. One is Mrs. Emilia Letarovich, who for seven years had been an invalid. She walked away from the healer's boat crying that she was cured.

Careful checking of "cures" or "benefits" reveals that the Miracle Man has had little success in relieving those affected by organic diseases. But he has cured or benefited those who ailments might be due largely to imagination, shock or mental condition.

Woman Was Cured

Friends of Mrs. Alex Pujol, wife of the deputy commissioner of public works, who could scarcely walk or move her fingers because of rheumatism, say that she can now walk across the room and use her hands more freely than she has in years.

"This is the power of the living God," "Brother Isaiah" tells his crowds. "I lay my hands on and life takes place in the flesh of sickness. It is the spirit of the Lord that makes them well. None is cured save he who has faith in the Lord and his works. Those I have healed are healed by faith."

--The Des Moines News, Des Moines, Iowa, April 3, 1920, page 4.


"BROTHER ISAIAH" IS ORDERED TO USE SOAP
Healer Must Wash His Hands Between "Layings On," Declare New Orleans Board of Health

NEW ORLEANS -- "Brother Isaiah," aged "faith healer," here has fallen afoul of the state board of health which alleges he doesn't wash his hands between "laying on."

The "Brother" says he is entirely willing to use any soap prescribed. The mayor and police of New Orleans have refused to take action against the old man, because they say most people are anxious to have him continue his "healing."

Since he began his ministrations about a month ago the multitude that daily attends his sermons has increased to the point where the Red Cross has been forced to erect tents to care for the sick who await his treatments.

The old man will accept no money whatever.

Dr. Oscar Dowling, president of the State Board of Health, made the protest that the "healer" did not wash his hands between "layings on."

"Brother Isaiah" immediately stated his willingness to use soap.

Two crippled boys gave the old man soap when the first attempt to check his meetings was made. They ran away when he tried to pay them.

--Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, Wisconsin, April 4, 1920, page 10 of Part 2.