National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-04
THE POTTSVILLE PRODIGY.
An Evening With Lula Yelling, the Child
Pianist.


Pianist.
Miss Lula Yelling, the child pianist, of Potts
vile, Pa, is in town as the guest of
DR.. Boyee, ON T street, and will make her
debut in concert on the 2lst instant. The
musical critic being absent, practical police
reporter sent to DR.. BoveeS house to "look her
over, it being THE REPU policy to keep its
readers posted on all prodigies and wonders. The
reporter found Miss Yelling young lady rather tall
for her age, but whose girlish face gave evidence
of her extreme YOUTH entertaining a number of
ladies and gentlemen in DR.. Borec's parlor.
When she had thumped out the last note of the
composition she was playing, her father Prof
Yelling, asked the reporter what he thought of it,
Bully y said the reporter, affecting the careless
air ola connoseur.
" How old is she?" -
Twelve years old" replied the father, "she was
born in 1865. You she plays these pieces with
out notes She has very large repertoire ofpieces
go get your books.
The young lady, after pouting a little
obeyed the paternal command, and leaving the
books, which she deposited rather spitefully the
edge Of the piano.
play the Andalusian dances for the gentle
The young lady complied, and at the conclusion
of the performances the father said Look at
looked at it and thought SO too. N p'-'N'
Now, Lula, play that Fuge in seven sharps by
Bach, said the father, and opening book he
she was playing. THAT is one of the most DIM
cult of musical compositions and Bach was the
great master of this kind of composition" con-
inued Professor Yelling.
The young lady picked her way through the
seven Sharps and finished the piece without run
ming against any of the snagS which the reporter
could see sticking out all through the bars in the
book.
is this natural gift, such as is claimed for
Blind Tom :" inquired the reporter.
ntriff but 10
Tom," replied the father, with some dignity.
" Newspapers have made Blind Tom. They say
that he can sit down and play any piece that he
tcuit piece he fails
'Do you believe that Blind Tom played tunes on
the piano the first time he propped up In front
Of one! oRe?"
when did your daughter begin to play?"
:. began to teach her when She was five years
old. Lula, play the Pompadi VISTA" continued
the Professor, addressing his daughter who had
been amusing herself in the interval in untyiDg
the knot of ribbon at the end of the long braid OF
hair which dangled down her back Inexecuting
this piece the young lady did some high ar"
playing. To use more common expression, she
that commences with considerable lingering
around the high treble keys in the right-hand
corner, and gradually works over to the leeward,
till it ends i'll grand uproar of sound from the
bass end of the piano.
She tackled the first part kind of keerless Ike"
letting the music slip out between her fingers APP
feTently at different objects about the room. As
she proceeded, however, she braccd herself up for
business and began TO hammer away at the ivory
with muscular energy that would have done
credit TO Camille Urso, Madame Rive-King, or any
other fullgrown and able-bodied pianist. AS she
neared the home-base there was revelation of
power. She bent her SWaying form over the
keyboard and banged away with indie
scribablc fury. The piano fairly quivered
with excitement. Then came the inal grand
rush. 1t seemed to the reporter that her hands
would not be enough to handle the job, and that
she would have to get her feet up on the key
board but she got through all right finishing with
piano enough music 10 have lasted whole even
ing, if spread out in a thin layer
Grand !" CALCULATED Il gentleman listener
"Its the boss" remarked the reporter
Now, Lula" said the proud parent "play
Home, Sweet Home"
That's where I'm at home" whispered the re-
porter to himself.
" With variations" added the father
The young lady having recovered from the ex-
element OF her last vigorous performance played
were more variations than Home, Sweet Home"
though occasionally snatch of the air, made
familiar to the reporter by a colored band quar-
tered near his house would rise out of the piano
and float around the room
Now said the father, when Miss Lula had
gavotte,' by Bach. This piece" he remarked,
turning TO the reporter, was arranged by Josefy
to be played by the left hand alone. When we
were in New York Mr.. c. A. Shaw took Lula to
hear Josefy, and ne played this piece Mr.. Shaw
said: All, Lula if you could only play such q
piece Lula said nothing but the next day she
sent me for 1t. In two hours she had learned 1t,
and in six hours she could play il by heart"
Miss Lula then played the piece, picking her
way through all its intricacies with one banda
very difficult performance, sshe had to make very
rapid trips at times from one end of the instrument
to the other. Wonderful" observed O gentleman
when she had finished. at takes the cake" added
the reporter; and, thanking Miss Lula and her
father for the pleasure he had experienced he
withdrew, and returning to the Office, he spent an
hour in futile search for dictionary of musical
terms