The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-07-23
ANOTHER MARVEL.
Blind Toms I.aurels Liable to be Taken by
Blind John.

Missouri Republican.
| A concert was given last evening at St
Pau's chapel, Eleventh street and Christy
avenue, by Blind John, who is certainly what
is claimed for him, a great musical prodigy.
Although but seventeen years OF age, he gives
evidence Of a musical talent which certainly
entities him to rank as peer OF the famous
Blind Tom, and at no distant day to excel the
latter Blind John is a native MlssOurian,
but Just where he was born is not definitely
known, though q citizen of Warrensburg has
known him since he was three years old. This
is his first tour, and in the state of Iowa and
the portions of Missouri and Nebraska in
which he has given public concerts, he has
met with fair success financially, and every
where has astunshcd his audiences 10y re-
markahle exhibitions he has given.
He played last evening at the opening seY-
eral difficult selections, and the lingering was
most adroit.
His manager and travelling companion,
John LANCE of Columbia, Mo-, then invited
anyone present to come forward and play a
piece, and Blind John, he added, would lmi
tate it. First the organlst of the church played
a piece. AS soon as she had finished Blind
John took his seat at the piano and ratified OIL
the piece with but few mistakes. lie does not
claim to be absolutely accurate, but merely to
lullldlt anu play llc pitSC tliOuSli, 81 tiht bo
one can fail to recognize it as the same. In
this he succeeded admirably well and was
loudly applauded Prof Wilson, of the Sum-
mer High School, also played piece and John
initiated HIM in a remarkable manner.
After that Blind John took a mouth harp
and said he would play Sweet Home" "the
way the ladies of st. Louis sing It," He
brought IN variations and made some delight
full music on that little instrument. Then he
showed show the Carondelct girls sing the
same piece "when they are prartlcing tor u
country exhibition" The latter rendition
was most ludlcrous. He next initiated on the
harp an expert playing violin, followed by
the imitation of an old fashioned country dar-
key in a log cabin. This was very amusing.
He then stationed himself some distance
one to hold up an article. He touched the
notes on the piano and by tins means Blind
John told what he held up. His spelling was
quite odd. A fan was held up. Fame, FAM"
cried the blind boy. "W-h.ac.h, watch han
ker-cherfer, handkerchief" He spelled glove,
"glouv." A girl stood up, and John yelled
out with laugh, "Whos holding her?" This
brought down the house.
Willie he is playing Blind John appears
quite nervous, swaying rapidly backwards and
forward, and seems TO throw his whole soul
into his work. ne is a natural born must.
clan, and is most passlonately fond of the art.
He can perform on almost any instrument ex-
cept the violin. The first indication given of
his fondness for instrumental music was at
the age of five years. He would then place q
TIN cup over his ear and drum on it with the
tips of his fingers. He would eagerly seize
hold of anything, such as horn ora common
harp and even on these instruments soon
learned to make all kinds of limitations. He
has always had preference for the piano, and
fairly bois over with joy when seated at this
instrument