Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-05-06

PIrEs's OrERA HousE-"BLrsp
ToN."-The famous Ethiopian phe-
nomenon, or miracle, "Blind Tom,"
made his first appearance at Piper's
Opera House last evening, before a
large and fashionable audience. The
fame of this wonderful musician has
gone before him throughout the land,
therefore his style and ability Is we'll
known, yet must be seen, to DO thor
oughly appreciated. As a flrst-class
theatrical attraction he Ia grand sue
cess, drawing crowded houses wher-
ever no goes, and Is now just over from
California. The piano being his speci-
atty, a grand piano accompanies him
In his travels as that instrument Is not
everywhere procurable. His entertain-
ment last evening was novel and ac-
ceptable In the highest degree, and We
have seldom seen a better pleased a,,-
dlsnse. Tom Is not handsome. He
never will be. In fact, he Is a full
blooded, big, healthy looking, black
negro, with tightly-curled hair. coarse
negro features, and looks good humor.
ediy ugly. Whatever he does seems to
be done with a hearty, ambitious will
lingness quite refreshing to contem-
plate. Blind from his birth, his only
tuition has been received through his
hearing. and although apparently at
least half an idiot In other respects, yet
his powers Of imitation, intense reten-
tiveness of memory, acute quickness of
car, and thorough conception Of music,
as we'll as power, exquisite taste and
brilliancy OF execution, all show that
his whole soul and being Is wrapped
up and intensified into that M divine
gift. He Is quite a good singer, pos
Ssssing a full basso-baritone voice, aud
sings some Of his own peculiar songs,
original in both words aud music,
specimens OF which last evening were,
Come along Moses' and The Man who
Picks his Banjo The music Is pleas
ing, but the subject matter OF most OF
his songs is crude aud disconnected.
having a w~himsically amusing disrt-
gard for either rhyme or reason. o.
G lsionally, too, In some Of the pieces
he played last evening We noticed that
he was rather faulty In regard to time,
and did not exactly stick to the text.
He played aud sang .'rhe Old Sexton"
very eXcellently. and played several
operatic and other gems OF popular
music in brilliant style. Tom seemed
to appreciate his own doingi highly,
for nc the end Of each good effort he
would impulsively arise to his feet aud
clap his hands and grin most Justify, a.
though he enjoyed the thing hugely.
Indeed, he was as full OF singular Ca
psrs as OIL overgrown monkey or bah
DON, and how those great, broad cod
fish of hands could perform such bril-
liant marvels of delicate music on the
piano was a continual source Of Won
der. His imitation of the banjo, music
box, bag-pipes and other Instruments,
as well as his execution OF the "Rain
Storm" and BATTLE OF Manassas"
drew forth great and we'll deserved ap.
plause. He executed the great aud
unrivaled feat Of playing Fishers
Hornpipe" with one hand, yankee
Doodle y with the other, and sang
Tramp Tramp" all ut one one time,
and each in different keys called for
by the audience. Professor Sauer, by
request, went upon the stage aud
played a piece on the piano which
Tom never heard before, yet he imme-
diately sat down and repeated the
same piece in fine style. His quick
ne.s OF ear and analysis Of sound
Is wonderful. Tom e%ntertains his
audience with original styles Of spell.
ing, tells queer stories and does lost OF
funny things. He il the greatest mu-
steal novelty of the age,and everybody
should see and hear him.