The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-15 00:00:00

7HEATRICAL AND MUSICAL.

Blind Tom has given his last concert in London,
and this singular and inexplicable phenomenon will appear
during the forthcoming season before Parisian audiences.
The extraordinary powers of this negro lad are no tricks
of the stage, but performances which have puzzled, and
continue to puzzle, the greated masters. Mr. Howard
presides over Tom's entertainment in a manner which
displays to the greatest advantage the powers of his
protege, and leaves on the public a pleasing impression of
the kindly feeling which exists between the musical
genius and his guardian, and that every opportunity is
given to those present to test his powers. no extra-
ordinary grimaces and antics of the young negro on the
stage have led some to conclude that almost every faculty
he possessed was absorbed in one, and that nature in gift-
ing him with an unequalled ear, and power of analysing
sound, was compelled to deprive him not only of sight, but
of reasoning faculties. This Mr. Howard denies.
" Blind Torn," he announced, "is not an idiot, but, on the
contrary, possesses no ordinary capacity of brain. Still
be is peculiar in disposition, and far from being easily
controlled." At times both himself and the audience
had been astonished at the piece performed in answer to
his announcement. Lately in Scotland, during the in-
terval of rest, the sound of the tuning of a fiddle had come
from an adjoining apartment where a dancing master was
instructing a class. On returning-to the stage, Mr. Howard
gave the piece selected, but Tom reproduced the sounds on
1
the piano he had just heard, to the surprise and delight of
the audience. Mr. Howard invited Tom to repeat the inci-
dent, which he did to the satisfaction of all present. A
young lady, in response to the manager, stepped on the
stage and played a difficult and elaborate piece. Torn
turned his back, put his hand up to his ears, bent his head
forward, and on the conclusion sat down and repeated the
selection, with an accuracy so marvellous, that if it were
not well authenticated, people would be justified in think-
ing that the performance had been pre-concerted. He can
analyse the most discordant sounds and re-produce every-
thing ho hears. To him, musical notes are the alphabet,
and with his back to the audience, so that even the idea
that a glimmer of sight might not account for the fact, he
tells the article any one of the audience may hold up
to public view, spelling the word by the notes struck
on the piano. His touch is exquisite; his voice clear
and finely modulated, and he performs in his entertain-
ment, the most grotesque and extraordinary musical com-
bination which Mr. Howard terms "monstrosities," with
an execution which might well satisfy and delight, the
° most fastidious taste.

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE, LIVERPOOL.
The combinationbetween Messrs. Henderson and Byron
the common management of the three leading theatres
—however advantageous it may be to the lessees, and
probably the drama—has brought about one change which
every playgoer in the community will regret. We refer
to the retirement of Mr. Edward English, the acting mana-
ger of the Prince of Wales Theatre. This gentleman first
made the acquaintance of Liverpool people as agent
for Mr. E. A. Sothern, when "Lord Dundreary" was a
stranger in his native town, and we are persuaded that not
a little of Mr. Sothern's early success, both in America and
and in this country, may be traced to the tact and energy
of Mr. English. It is all very well to reflect that talent is sure
to be found out by the public, but without good management
talent (especially in theatrical matters) stands a very fair
chance of growing old before being recognised. This, how-
ever, was not Mr. Sothern's fate under Mr. English's care. In-
deed, the palpable success of the latter recommended him
to Mr. Henderson for the office of acting manager of the
Prince of Wales Theatre, and every one knows that the
anticipation has not been disappointed. In his hands the
theatre has been a pattern of good management under no
small difficulties. At the old house in Clayton-square he