American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-05-02
A Musical Prodigy.

In the advance sheets of Benhnm's M,l-
sicaI ReUieW for May a sketch of unusual
interest is given in the history of mu-
steal prodigy, named Rose Mansfield Ev-
ersole, who is but four years and seven
months of age She is a native of Indi-
ana, born in Washington, Daviess Co., Ind. :,
at present living in Dayton, Ohio The
first evidence given by her of any pecul-
iarly marked musical organization &C.
CURED as early as when she was but four
months old, when she invariably gave
every token of delight in both vocal and
instrumental music. This continued to
increase with each day of her life. When
she was seven months old her mother
would place her before the keyboard of the
piano, circumstance which always filled
her with the liveliest satisfaction. While
thus seated she never pounded the keys
after the ordinary infantile manner, but
touched them one at time in short ar
peggiOs, and always in harmony. There
has never been the least semblance of
teaching bestowed upon her, it having
been wisely decided by her parents to let
her take her own course in all matters re-
lating 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: Mann
ma, tant did gin a body" She had
heard " Coming Thro' the Rye" and in
trying to arrange it for the piano met
with no slight difficulty, as may easily be
imagined. During that year she gradual
ly improved, and toward the close of it
arranged and played the March in Nor
ma" which she had heard and which
struck her young fancy. When she was
about two years and three months old she
played the old tune Amsterdam" cor
rectly at the first attempt, and without
single particle of instruction
She composed when but three years old
my First Polka" the Rose Bud
Waltz" when only month older, SON.
alta and march when four years of age;
all of these pieces being published in the
May number of the Rerieu. If tune be
sung to her, she will Immediately repro
duce it upon the piano without hesita-
ton and without hunting about for it.
No matter how far apart two given tones
may be, it makes no difference to her;
she will give them Immediately. Vocal
music is a 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 re-
turn home she sang and played az
dreamt that dwelt in marble halls" try
ing to Initiate Louise Kellogg even in the
final trill 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 the article in Benhan's Rerie,o
states that he has seen the prodigy, and
knows whereof he writes. In conclusion
he says: As we have already hereinbe-
fore 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.
'haf Chl &c inc hvy nIrIp OH
is a fact needing no argu-
ment in confirmation, and that this
genius, if genuine, as it needs must be
to work such glorious results thus prema-
aturely, will bring forth its full fruition,
is as certain.