The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-12
Blind Tom, tn. Negro Boy Pianist.

Blind Tom Is q veritable wonder. Many believe be-
OF the peculiar position Of the negro boy
that some little aptitude for music has been mag
ni1cd, from charitable interested motives, into
genius. and ignorant facility on the pianoforte
into first class manipulation. Such belief has no
foundation in fact The boy has positive genius, or
never from the darkness Of his mind could spring
such powers OF delicate and tender expression or
such keen comprehension Of the beauties Of
the musical art. Blind, with a mind almost vacant
with personnel so awkward, dsproportoned, op
posed TO the idea Of the dwelling place Of SOUL
awake to the refined influence OF divine harmony,
he executes the compositions Of great minds with
an intelligence and kindred sentiment which
many artists Of education who attempt them cannot
reach Memory and imitatveness the two organs by
which he accomplishcs the extraordinary results to
which we have listened with wonder and admira.
tion. He learns the difficult pieces which
no plays by hearing them from the hands Of
another His memory is wonderfully rctentive, that
after second hearing he repeats correctly the most
complicated passages He to have comprchsnded
the system Of lingering and, although he some
times ourages the laws his substitution Is always ngc
Nous and effective. By his initiative power he seizes
memory and imitation he : enabled TO reproduce imme.
diatcy any composition that he hears for the first time,
absolutely correct in FORM the leading themes preserved
and the passages in detail almost he heard them His
that he tell the Of every note In
dispersed chords the most confused dscors begin
ming With the lower note and naming each in succession
His vivid perception Of the individuality OF tones sug
gcsed TO his teacher 70 adopt system Of the alphabet to
The tones 10 that Tom can read anything card
fast as his teachers fingers the keys Il
IL matter OF asonshment TO hear this blind boy
play sonnet of Beethoven, also Gottschak's Last
Hopc,r with all the refined sentiment, the pathos
and abandon which the composition requires,
and to listen as he plays Thaberg's Home, Sweet
Home y with its SO well sustained theme, and Its delicate
manpulations finely rendered Hchas large re-
prtgire TO which he y constantly adding and he plays
all that be knows with sentiment and con brio which
indicate that his heart and all his mind are In his work
Blind negro Tom a study well as wonder ana
every time hear him gain some additional insight
into his character but where the light OF music comes
FROM where all else dark IL ono OF those mysteries
OF Providence which seek in vain TO unraveL Las,
evening Mr. Charles Fradel artist well known IN tn's
CITY was present and was kind enough perform one OF
his most beautiful and dicu compositions, after which
Tom Immediately performed II with entire sniis'"con
and amid the greatest enthusiasm ,,,,-...
He plays nightly at Dodworth Fan and public atien.
ton n beginning to be directed towards him. when
fully aroused thousands will flock TO listen 10 the most
remarkable phenomenon Of this or any other age