New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-24
Another Musical Prodigy.


In Benham's Musical Reciew for May, a
| sketch of unusual interest is given in the
| history of musical prodigy, named Rose
Mansfield EversOle, who is but four years
and seven months of age. She is native
of Indiana, bora in Washington, Daviess
county, Indiana, at present living in Day
ton, Ohio. The first evidence given by her
of any peculiarly marked musical organiza
| ton, occurred as early as when she was but
four monthsO old, when she invariably gave
every token of delight in both vocal and
instrumental music. This continued to in
crease with each day of her life.
When she was seven months old her
nother would place her before the key
board of the piano, a circumstance which
always filled her with the liveliest satisfac.
ton. While thus seated she never pounded
the keys after the ordinary infantlie man
! ner, but touched them one at time in
short arpeggiOs, and always in harmony.
There has never been the least semblance
of teaching best"w wed upon her, it having
been wisely decided by her parents to let
her take her course in all matters relating
to music One day, shortly after this, her
mother, hearing her Crying, asked her what
the matter was. The little one, wiping
away the tears, sobbed out, Mamma, l
ing Thre' the Rye" and in trying to ar
range it for the piano met with no slight
difficulty. as may easily be imagined.
During the year she gradually improved,
and toward the close OF it arranged and
PLAYED the March in Norma" which she
had heard and which had struck her young
fancy. When she was about two years and
three months old she played the old tune
Amsterdam" correctly at the first attempt
and without a single particle of instruction.
She composed, when but three years old,
any First Polka" 1.-THE Rose Bud Waltz
| when only month older; sOnatina and a
march when four years of age--all OF these
pieces being published in the May number
| of the Reuieac. If tone be sung to her,
she will Immediately reproduce it upon the
piano without hesitation and without hunt
ing about for it. No matter how far apart
two given notes may be, it makes no differ
ence to her; she will give them imme-
diately. Vocal music is source OF great
delight to her.
She attended the opera by the Kellogg
troupe last fall, and heard the Bohemian
Girl This performance inspired her with
perfect enthusiasm, and ON her return home
she sang and played IL Dreamed that |
Dwelt in Marble Halls" trying to initiate
Louise Kellogg even in the final trlli and
high tone introduced in the cadenza.
Faust also pleased her greatly, and she
remembered the Flower Song" and played
it the next day. The writer of he article
in Benhan's Rerieac states that he has seen
the prodigy, and knows whereof he writes.
In conclusion he says:
As we have already herelnbefore stated,
no forcing" process has been, or will be
resorted to by the parents of this little
prodigy. but nature will be permitted to
work her own perfect work. That she is
inspired by genius almost unparalleled,
is fact needing no argument in contirma-
ton. and that this genius, if genuine, as it
needs must be to work such glorious results
thus prematurely, will bring forth its full
fruitiOn, is as certain.