The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-01
A Musical Prodigy in Milwaukee.
ELLA Wheeler to the Chicago Times


prodigies. For years it has had the pub
lie singing and acting Of little George
Lay, now only IL years old, and for three
years it has had in it's midst marvellous
child-musician, designed to be the wonder
of the world, if her life is spared.
had heard Of Cherry Simpson often
during the last two years. had ex.
pected to see wonderful child, but was
not prepared for what saw and heard
last Saturday night. A child came into
the room looking her age, six years, no
more, no less. She was selcpossessed
and lady-like, yet wholly a child. Her
eye sparkled at sight Of the kitten and
puppy, and her cheek glowed with the
hue of health and exercise. There was
no precocious appearance of age about
her. When asked to play, she left off
her chase after the kitten, and gave lit
tie bound upon the piano stool. "Play
anything you like" said, and the tiny
hands brought forth the strains Of 'some-
thing" which she plays in three different
keys. Then came the Prayer from Fam.
per, and other operate airs, all in perfect
time and tune. Then she played what
she termed her ''own make.up,'-sweet
airs, full of pathos and melody. Next
she played DUETS with several persons
present, composing the second as she
played. She waits only long enough to
hear chord or two, then the tiny hands
fall upon the appropriate keys, and she
plays her part readily without discord.
Cherry Simpson does not know one
key from another. She knows no more
of the rules of music than any babe.
Notes are to her like Greek grammar.
She has had no training, no drilling. 1t
is simply the God-given talent, which
will arouse the world yet, speaking
through those small hands. She was
two years and eight months old, sitting at
the piano, playing "Yankec Doodle with
such hands, three fingers in the bass.
Since then she has been allowed free use
of the instrument, and afforded the op-
portunity to hear opera and concert
music. Further than this, she has not
been trained, and as consequence is
natural, healthy, happy child. She is
personally very lovely, possessing deli
cate, regular features, a mouth of ex-
quisite sweetness, and eyes of peculiar
magnetic lustre and brilliancy. She is
brimming over with vigorous life and
spirits--sometimes giving vent to her JOY
Gus feelings in comical leaps, and kicks,
and gurgles of lau ghter while sitting at
the piano. She sings swectly and with
feeling, and the other evening while in
the midst ola song, she broke into peal
of childish laughter, and rolled from the
piano stool-seeing cat stealing cream
on the dining-room table beyond. So the
child is not smothered by the genius, but
both rush harmoniouslv together, prom
Using glorious maturity in good time.
saw her on the street the morning
after, and fearing she might feel the ef-
fects Of the late hours the previous eve.
ming, asked her, ''Cherry, how do you
feel this morning!" She was running a
race with puppy; and pausing she
glanced up archly, gave little gurgle of
laughter and answered: ''Oh, l-feel so
so,' and was then off in the race again.
Cherry Simson is an only child. Her
mother is fine musician and her father
has musical taste. Though Cherry is
retted and praised and idolized by all
who know her, she seems utterly uncon-
sclous and unassuming in her manner,
taking compliments sweetly, but tripping
away to play as soon as politeness will
permit. "Play for me- she says to call.
ers sometimes. "Do-it is real easy
And so she seems to regard her genius.
1t is ''real easy and therefore nothing
to feel proud about. She has a happy,
joyous disposition. but sometimes weeps
wildly, after listening to fine music. If
Cherry Simpson lives, and there is every
evidence now that she has long life be-
fore her, there is no doubt she will vet
have the world at her feet. Her genius
is remarkable, and Milwaukee NAV we'll
be proud Of it's child-artist, and challenge
the world to show another that will com.
pare favorably with her.
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