The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-11-22
AinusenentS.

The celebrated negro pianist Blind Tom" is
to give a concert at the Opera House on Monday
evening next. Blind. Tom ought to be kl sw
professionally to every one by this time; b, I'll,
Hcralds On. " notice of the New York coLte4
may not be uninteresting:
The engagement of this singular colored hi /
of genius is growing to close. IL will pr, ID
not be prolonged beyond this week. WI ey
has failed to attend the marvellous perform ne
of Blind Tom therefore ought not to peglc' the
present opportunity. OF mere music the puDlic
have an abundant supply; but when it emanates
from a condition of id0cy, when you might us
well expect one of the ourang outangs from Bar
NUNS cage to step on the stage and reproduce
the most exquisite creations of manners as to see
the thing really done by this poor demented ne
gro; when you see his sightless eyes wandering
in vacancy, and his tongue tapping his lips as II he
were turning some sweet morsel, while ii now OF
melody il pouring from beneath his fingers, II is
impossible not to wonder at the mysterious dis
pensation Of Providence that has bestowed upon
this nonentity-this being, SO little higher than
brute-one of the choicest Of its gifts and the
ability to illustrate that gift with all the art tina
attends the choicest culture. 1t is easy to explain
why Blind Tom for nearly twenty years has star
tied the musical and critical world by his per
formances on the piano. hut how he doee 1t is a
problem that is not likely to be solved this side
of eternity Last evening he was in fine humor
and played at his best, giving not on y repettions
of such works as the "RhapsOdie Hongrolse,
"Trovatore," PleyePs Hymn, with variations, and
national melodies of different countries, but in
Producing novel and startling effects of his own.
Two or three of his original songs were full OF
exquisite beauty, and his composition descriptive
of the Battle of Manassas lost none Of its fresh.
ness or quaintness from the fact that it has been
heard scores Of times before. As musical phe-
nCmenon, without other intelligence than that
which is conveyed from single organ in his
brain to his ten fingers, Blind Tom is undOubted.
ly the most remarkable prodigy in Christendom
ON THANKSGIVING DAY
We are to have Matte Vickars, the Queen Of
Soubrcttes," and Chas. S, Rogers, the popular
comedian and King Of Mimics," in Chas Gay
ler's serio- comic drama entitled "Sar; or, Paste
and Diamonds" Matte Vickars is Florence Vance
or Star" mlliners apprentice with aspira
tons for the stage" Rogers is Dick Vinton, " a
bill poster, property man, and Jack-ofall -work
at the Folly THEATRE" the other characters are
banker, club man, manager of theatre, beggar
OF Broadway, bankers wife and leading lady Of
theatre. Interspersed through the drama are
four or five songs by Matte Vckars and her imi-
tations of MOdjeska as Camille: and other imita-
tions by Miss Nickars and Rogers Of popular ac
tors and actresses. This is pronounced 10y those
who have seen it to be one Of the finest cOmps-
MES on the road, and the PLAY gives both Miss
Vickars and Mr.. Rogers good opportunity Of
introducing tneH songs, representations anu
mmicry, which has gwen them so high a name
among the professions. The Nus Times: They
give excellent entertainment" They will
give matinee at half past two, and repeat the
play at the usual hour in the evening. They
have put their matinee prices at the low figure
Of 50 cents to the first floor, % cents in the gal
lery; children under IL only 10 cents. The eve
ming prices will be the usual house prices-15c
first floor, SOC in the gallery. Reserved seats
will be for sale on Monday next.
What is called Wallack's New York -Four Star
Combination is booked at the Opera House for
Monday night December lst, in the Two Dro-
mics" The four stars IN this company are Miss
Genevieve Rogers, Frank K. Aiken, Owen Paw
cette and Harry RainfOrth, and with the company
supporting them make a strong combination.
The play called the Two Dromos," as all prob
ably know. is Shakespeare's Comedy Of Errors
in which the two DromiOs appear. The Nus
Times says: "Owen Fawcett as the Dromio of
Syracuse, and Harry Rainforth as the Dromio OF
Ephesus, have no equals outside of Robson and
Crane
1t is pretty certain that the celebrated violinst
Wilhelmj will give concert in this city about
December s.