The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-03-26
MUSICAL PRIc0gITY.
eli
4 Child, six years old, and
his Memory.
He reads Notes and can Iden-
tify any Piece.
From the New York rimas. l

from the New York Times
A rather remarkable phenomenon in the
way OF youthful precocity is developed in
the person of Frank Morris Witmark, the
| little son of Marcus Witmark. of No. 4os
West Fortieth street. Frank will be 6
years of age on the 30th of July next. He
is bright little fellow, with large, twink
ling eyes, rather dark complexion, and
| black hair. Heis fond of asking questions,
and seems possessed OF wonderful power
of comprehension and most remarkable
memory. He has been to school only
three days of his life, and has not even
mastered the alphabet. He comes of a
| musical family, but no attempt has ever
been made to teach him a note of music.
Notwithstanding this fact, the little fellow
will give the names of upward of 800
pieces of music. after having once seen
them, upon being shown a part of the
notes. He stands by the side OF his IL
year old brother as the brother plays the
piano. aud turns the music for him when
the bottom of the page is reached as cor
rectly as professor of music. as
A Times reporter visited the residence
OF Mr.. Witmark last evening and witnessed
the child's performance. Taking piece
of music from the middle of large pile
centre. turning the pages back so that the
child could not possibly see the illustrated
cover aud thus gain ciew to the title by
this means. A page of the music was
then shown to Frank, who, after simply
glancipg at the notes. piped out in bis boy
ish voice, "Boecaccio March His an i.
swer was correct. and he was equally COR
rect in telling the names of about fifty
other pieces which were presented to him
10 the same manner. They included Ill
kinds of music, from operate selections to
sentimental ballads and comic songs. Tie
rapidity with which he made bis answers
was astonishing. Now turn some of the
music upside down" said the father: you
will find that he will recognize it as quick
ly as he has these Selecting the blue
Danube Walk" the reporter presented q
page of the notes In an inverted position to
the boy, and his eve scarcely rested on
them before he told the title Of the piece.
This experiment was repeated with
about twenty selections. and in every case
the answer was rapid and correct. 1t is
very doubtful if many professors of music
could recognize selection without running
over few bars of the music, bat this s.,
year old boy. who knows nothing of the ar,
and cannot tell one note from another,
recognizes the notes belonging to any
piece that be has once seen or heard played
instantaneously. Although many persons
have visited him since his power became
known, nobody has as yet attempted salts
tactorily to explain the intuitive know
ledge which he seems to possess.
When these experim ents were concluded
Franks brother, 1sidore, himself only ii
years of age, but q very good musician.
took his seat at the piano and played a sell
ection from" Trovatore." Frank stood
behind him and turned the music when
ever the end of page was reached, or
rather he indicated the time to turn, tor
his little hand could only just reach the
bottom Of the sheet when on tip-toe. He
did not fail cnce TO INDICATE the proper
time for turning the psge, and this exper-
im eut was successfully repeated with half
dozen selections. In some of the pieces
isidore played false notes occasionally. aDd
Franks acute ear Invariably detected them
fact which he made known BY twisting
uervously around to his tath-
er and mutiered the word False"
After having shown what his san could do.
Mr. Whitmark turned his attention to
giving the reporter a short history of
Frank, of whom be is naturally proud, and
whom be looks upon as destined TO prove
While his father was taking about him
the little fellow sat in high arm chair
kicking his feet, but listening intentIy to
every word aud wearing a pleasant ex
preston on his tiny face. 1t was about
six months ago." said Mr.. Whitmark.
that we discovered this singular faculty
in Frankly. Isidore was arranging some OF
the music In his book. and Frank was
watching him from high chair On which
he stood, AS Isidore turned the pages
Frank would point 10 them and name the
pieces Isidore told me Of this, and de
termiBed TO test my little boy. L took
some Of the music, and, showing him oDly
the notes, he told me the name of piece
after piece in the twinkIiug of an eye |
was astonished, and when told some of
my friends they would not believe ne. |
invited them to GENE and see for them
selves, aud since then we have bad com
parry every night TO see Frank and wonder
at his powers @
It is only few days ago that We dis
covered that he could turn the music fer
his brother A week ago Monday | sent
hi0 to school for the FIRST tine, and on
that day [ took the advice OF my many
friends and went to see s. &. Wells & Co.
phrenologists. about him. They asked
me to bring him to the store, and on tie
following Thursday / did so Mr. Sizer
the phrepologist of the establish N ent.
examined the boys head, and told me be
bad wonderful faculty for music In
him. he said. you have combined, the
genius of Auber, List, Mozart and
Meyerbeer' Mr.. Sizer gave NE sever al
directions about bis diet and | came
home determined DOT 10 let him 90 TO
school again for few years at least.
Yesterday we had hisphotograph taken
for Mr.. Seer. IF the boy lives and
there rauer was healthier child than he