Monday 14th (April)
Rather a pleasant morning but as I did not arise very early I
did not feel much like going to school. However I went, and recited poorly. Came
home in and there was quite an excitement about going to hear Jenny Lind sing. We
saw quite a show, Mira and her beau went, and had to climb six steps before they
could get into the hack into which they were to ride. They got off finally. Libby
felt very bad because she could not go. Cousin E[lizabeth] and Mr B[igger] went
down to William Spooner’s, Libby, Caroline and Thomas H[unt] are over to Aunt Chelita
[Charlotte]. Father and I are sitting alone at home.
There is excitement about going to hear Jenny Lind sing, but
who is going? It seems that Cousin Mira and her beau are the only family
members that will attend the concert. Marcellus Hagans does not want his
sweetheart to walk on this special occasion. He is just starting out
professionally and does not own a carriage, so he hires a hackney coach. He
does not realize how difficult it will be for Mira to climb the narrow steps
wearing her concert finery with a long skirt and voluminous stiff petticoats.
Serena sits comfortably across the street observing Mira’s difficult climb.
Libby is disappointed, but Serena does not seem to mind
missing the concert. She does not complain about sitting home alone with her
father.
Aunt Charlotte is Charlotte Goforth Lewis, the wife of
Serena’s Uncle Samuel.
The Cincinnati
Enquirer April 15, 1851
“The theatre, on the opening night, was completely filled,
and crowds packed the street at the side of the building peering through the
windows beside the first circle. Their continual clamor necessitated the police
firing several shots into the air in order to disperse them. The vigorous yells
and shrieks which followed cause a considerable annoyance (Hansen 117)”.
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