Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1860-03-25

HIS R~EHARxABLE PowERs-THE SINGULAR Er
FEcT OF FTs NUsIc UPON HIMSELF

HIS REMARKABLE PowERs-THE SINGULAR ~
FrcT OF HTs Music UPON HIMSELF
We have before allnded to the remarkable
ta'ent 81 the blind slave boy Tom. thep-operty
ot a ctntleman in Savannah. The report OF
this boys wonderful powers il thus confirmed
by the Charleston Courier, ofJanuay "a he
editor SAYS:
He strikes the KEYS with an the confidence
Of one largely gifted with the musical facHIt7.
who bad devoted many wears 10 the ~cuiiva-
son of The talent. His MANIPULATION Is most
Erscef1l, his touch is bow exqIisiteiV Aicate,
and then al The strength Of his frail bndF is
tarcwn into his hands, and be strikes the ir-
smmrHt with imPsssiaBed esrnestness.
In bis execution he not only produces the
piece With perfect fidelity. giving every note
is sound, but the style Of the performer Is
likewise exactly initiated. Several OF our most
distinguished musieisns performed in Toms
hearing long and complex operate pieces. and
the hcsven-taueht bor reproduced them With
ont committing a single mistake.
We might conclude that this bows tslsni
CONSISTED IN a remarkable development Of the
Facility Of memory and intuition. did he cor
TIRE himself 70 those compositions be learns
by The ear: but be not only astoniFhes hv the
Quickness with which b. acduires a piece. no
natter how loHg and difficult. but re impro-
q ses win readiness and fnency. On The oc-
cas-on Of which We speak, Tom vas directed
By MS mas er to play an %sriginsl piece, andbe
complied with cheerful readiness. He com
posed with ~ the ease and confidence that
marx The fluent orator in The use Of words.
These original compositions increase the
wondering interest excited BY The perform
aHce OF this prodigy, ind force us to look upon
biz a. one possessed II ahat rare, strange Eift.
termed genius.
We have alluded 70 the exquisiteIv graceful
touch % this lad bat what 8e have said con
cerniug his manipulation gives 10 idea Of his
style and manner; FOR be has a style OF bis
own, which Is seen when improrising. and IL
: as brilliant as it is original and peculiar.
But u % his manner and couHtenanee that
NOS Profoundly Impress When not under the
influence Of sweet sounds. his face is devoid
az lUe and expression. This is partly owing
20 bhndnes. but in Far greater measure 10 FIN
becility. We see a boy with a decidedly Afri-
can type OF face, low rsirsating forehead,
hat- spreadiag nose, and projecting upper lin.
with eveTF mark Of idiocv; w see ais 7qrt-
uare and stupid negro led 10 the piano staol
he lakes his seat but The first touch on The
responsive keys shows us thar his soul is made
Tor melody. He sweeps bic hands over the
seTs Win tie air Of a master and then We
oehold ne inspiration manifesling itself In bis
e-ountenance and movements, tHl interest
changes into awe, and we are dumb with as
Ahe 4ftodh peneEfateE his whole
being An e~cstatie influence flows from the
keys into his fingers, and rolls ike a tide
through ne veins, lighting up a Ere in every
nerve, as i courses along. His head is thrown
back now n rests on one shoulder. then On
me ether again IL falls unon his breast. A
hght kndles on the black face. and, as we
gaze, wondering, the fashion Of his eounse-
nance seems changed. L Is absolutely beam
uiuL The divine raFishment Increases every
moment; and when be Is thoroughly sufased
with the inspiration Of The melody. the muscles
q his face twitch, and bis upper teeth are
pressed nrmly on bis lower lip. a feeling Of
rererance steals over us as we behold tits mvs-
FERROUS and Sudden transformation.
EEPoHT OF BoAED OF HEAErH-0meiai list o.
1eaths DO he city % Memphis, Der The week ending Sat-
1'isy. Mare = 1862 az o'eodkP. r.
H-a ls-lahn e~alaEher, % years. pusumonia
= smith, % years, ounsgmpasn--.2-Paf-
lck Lln7a. % Fesrs. drruund
ck HOLsT& son. ssr.aas.
Naoh 2-Nely Luwood. - yea1s, burn.
VI r. SIXTH ssztoa.
HEeh s7-Eivard ChiassE. 20 yes-s cot repoasa 80
-Af- ~ YEAR lr9prF----a-P1tric Cuaner.
Fesrs ustrifss Hau-zEat Preston. 9 year,. dranu..
l-r-anas DsaEan. 60 years e7nvuisious aerro ~.
Ears, typhoid urumauia.--2s-N s~Eowlen, 81
a X FLAHERU. seraus
ttu.s ss,!se % males 2 feHalss,s q whites
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