The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-25
SHELTON, THE BOY ORGANISE.
GENIUS THAT WAS ACKNOTLEDGED ny
THE World or MUSIC
BROKEN Down ny Excessive Applicntion-The
Early Death ora Youth for Whom Great
Future wns Predicted In Two III init phcres.

BROKEN Down ny Excessive AppIicntion-The
Early Death ora Youth for whom n Great
Future wns Predicted In Two II e mi spheres.
Willis Clarke Shelton, the boy-organist,
died in the Grand Union HOTEL Of consumrtion.
on Sunday. He was the son OF Charles T. Shell
ton, a lawyer. now Of this city. and was horn In
New Haven on tho LIST Of June. 1855. His
mother WIS daughter OF Nathaniel +.
Clarke. an influential shipping merchant OF
New Haven. From her young Shelton probably
inhibited his taste for music for she played the
panoforte with taste AMI skill. She died in
August. 1906 and her son. who was then
about 10 years OF age. was deeply affected. He
seemed to fnd consolation in music OH Bull
hoard him play. and strongly recommended
that he should he put under the charge Of n
competent teacher. Consequently, Mr.. Shelton
gave up his practice. came 10 this city. and put
his son under the instruction OF Samuel T.
warren. the urganist.
few months later Mr. shelton gave his SON
IL" advantages Of n cuurS" of training undnr
Eugene rhHv"r. the organist of Boston. In
November. 1870. having then hccn under in
struction for only seventeen month"; tho youth
played the chief works Of Louis Thialo. Mr..
Thuycr declared TINT whatever WIS lnossiblc in
music was possible to- him. In 1871 Mr.. Shelton
took his son to Europe. and the critics Of the
O,d World were enthusiastic in praise oil his
organ ry'ritals.
Alter returning from Europe in 1873. Mr.
Shelton erected nj Chapel ana York streets in
New Haven. AN rdinrr for his sons organ re
cituls md prohnhlv tho largest private organ
in the United Stnt"s. II was enclosed in richly
carved black walnut 1t Ind SO stops and three
mnnunis. with u compass OF 81 notes, and q
pedn compaas OF 80 notes. IT. harmon con
stop by which the action Of the keys WIS
brought to bear upon graduated steel paics.
produced bcll-like eff ct. The bellows w"rc
Inflated by hydraulic pressure. Connected
with III" organ was IN electric apparatus. prob
ably the frat Of IT, kind. that r'cor led unon
paper IN" music TINT was Mayed. The edice
WIS dedicated as shelton Hall by Young Shel.
toms former teachers. Msssrs Warren and
Thaycr on the i4th nt May. 1873 Thereafter
IL wac opened every Wednesday evening for an
organ recital. free TO MI. 10y YOUNG Shelton.
In the summer Of 1874 younE shelton moved
| his orgnn to tho opera house in the Grand
! Union Hotel in Saratoga There he gave organ
reritals. 20 much admired that Mrs. A. I. Stew
art and one hundred other Indies gave him q
| grand musical reception. He visited many
| cities returning TO Saratoga In the summer Tor
several years. dryoting the proceeds OF his re-
cinis to charitahle purposes.
Tr,lrss devotion. might and day. TO study or
practlt" UNDERMINED young Shelton's constitu-
ton. In June, 1876 after n recital in Trinity
Church. Buffalo. he was seized with nlammu-
ton Of the lungs and nervous prostrution. and
thsnreiorWnrd he grew steadily weaker.
Tho remains were taken 10 New Haven yes
terday Tor interment.