New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-22
A MUSICAL PRODIGY.
The N. Y. Tribune.

Correspondence Of The N Y. Tribune.
WArERrowN, Conn.,, Feb. IL, 1859.
There is residing in Wstertowp in this State little
musical prodigy, Mlss Abigail Emeline Atwood. She
is only ten years Of age and is able to perform the most
difficult music upon great variety of Instruments.
She learns readily by ea- and is able TO pl,y almost
any niece she htss upon any instrument she hes yet
tried and still she las hsd the least advantage
having never received any musical instruction what
ever-not being able 10 tell one note from another.
She is the daughter Of hardy old farmer, WHO prdes
himself upon the extraordinary natural capacities OF
his child and will not suffer her to receive instruction
in music So secluded has been toe he OF The little
wonder that she mas never q Locomotive, nor
train Of cars. She any ws'er orst noe even
a row boat A email party of ms were topping mere,
and having heard Of the little girl, must needs Wait
her ss hundreds Of others are doing tel yon that
4 never vet heard her music eNcelet. Tier POsers a
execution upon instrumebtsanlOst exceeds boef.
The msodcon che plays in every Key, nsDg nothiog,
however except common chords, and WIN edfpHnns
rapidity precision and skill HOrnppes, schOtpsches,
pOlkas watzes, marches, songs, Nc, sue IA peiiS.uy
familiar WITH and "at home on the instranen. ~nho
executing them. have listened to many good players,
but G, er heard such shifu and rapid playing Ia my
Ife Her most surprising performances, however are
upon the dul elmer. This instrument IL qaite noveity
in this country, but is common IN some foreign pNn Oh
the world suppose IL to have been IN common us,
lie able to perform the most difficult pieces upon TINS
noble insirumsnt with incredible rapidty, and stu her
execution may be said 10 be not very far removed from
absolute perfection. Her father bindfoldet her and
led her to her stston snd still she performed With the
! same precision and skill. She plays tho ACCORDION
beautifully bringing out all ths musc the Instrument
is capable of producing in the hands Of the most ac-
! compebed performers; but she is obliged to use
| small instrument she has no, sufficient strength
| 10 hold large one and the small one she is
| unable to use for any length of time. The guitar
she plays with skill using little Spanish instrument
of about half the ordinary size, and performs cfodta
bly, upon her little violin. She accompanies the diiier-
ent Instruments at times with her voice, which pos
sesses wonderful lulness, compass and Development,
owrg probably 10 the amount OF practice she has Al
ready had
She is entirely self.taught, and has so retentvs
memory as never to fail play the proper tone when
the name ia given. But the most extraordinary and
wonderful thing Of all IL, that when she IL playing any
tune she il acquainted WITH she will immediately
strike into any other tune she knows tcnh0m breoksHg
the time. In this she may safely challenge the most
ACCOMPLISHED scientific musicians in the world. TAX
ing into account her lack OF instruction, this 10 not
wonderful, what IL
Advantageous offers have been made her father To
give her n musical education and bring her before the
world but be is wealthy, and has mitd OF his Own,
and she remains here Could she be brought ou she
would, no doubt, produce sensaion hitherto unpar-
alleed for al amateur Of her years. 4. b. 4.