COSTLY ADMIRATION

Jenny Lind—“the Swedish Nightingale”—didn’t just have fans in America. She had *mania*. Admiring her was practically a social hobby.

One night in Baltimore she received a big public serenade outside her hotel. She came out on the balcony to acknowledge the crowd, and the cheering went wild. In the middle of the commotion, Lind dropped a valuable shawl.

Bad move.

The crowd immediately grabbed it, tore it into small pieces, and carried the scraps home as souvenirs.

Sure, it’s flattering to be adored like that. But unless you’re selling merch… it’s not exactly profitable.