Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1883-12-12
THE STORY OF "BLIND TOM"
EARLY life or the Musical Prodigy.
Ecceatric, hut Not an Idiot ~ Cur.
rentiy Reported.


rentiy Reported.
Cor. Milwaukee Sentinel
A few days ago l accidentally learned
That lady, whose home is in New DR.
leans, bat who Is temporarily visiting
in this city, could tell me something
about Blind Toms early lie, and ac-
cor,lingly Went 20 see her. 10 the first
question thai wOIll naturally he asked,
she replied:
Yes; can tell Won all about him.
Ny fltn1r owned him. Blind Toms
father was foreman on nv fathers plan
tation in Georgia. A foreman. YOU viii
understand, IS one who is placed over
the other slaves on plantations where
they do not have white overseerS. Toms
mother was or cook, and as such her
room aGioined the kitchen. The slaves,
az you know. have separate quarters,
and live q short distance from the
house. The kitchen was close by, and
Tom mother, the cook, was frequently
in the rear rooms of the house, and sew
erli OF her children, oil whom she had
al extraordinary large number, would
follow her around. Alter Tom had famil-
iarlzed himself with his new surround
ircs, lac became bold enough to creep
from the kitchen ont into the halls
towards the parlor, where his acute ears
would catch the sound OF the piano.
His mother in the kitchen would then
miss him. and rru to drag him back,
each time administering severe beat
ing. But the chill went back, all the
same, aud listened. After while
fathers attention WAS attracted to the
child, and told the mother TO let lin
stay where he was. When We let him
come into the parior, the little imp
went wild with delight. Before he
could stand alone. he would draw hlm-
self up and commenced striking the
keys"
"Eow old was Tom when he began
to show his musical skill?'
"Tom could play any ordinary music
and few more di,,icult compositions
before he was years old. He would
creep TO the piano and play before he
was able towalk, aud could sing Scotch
ballads before lie could talk enough to
ask for bread. All he needed vas for
some one to play so that he could hear
and he would Immediately play the
piece without varying particle. j re-
member well, few years after, when
Tom became more proficient and lad
learned to talk, seeing Tom grope
his way into the parlor, and, approach
ing the piano, say 20 the lady who was
then playing, i can play that better
than you can. Use genus, / is And
sure enough, he did, although he had
never heard the music before
Has he ever tried instruments other
than the pianor'
"Oh. yes. He can play on anything.
The flute is his special favorite. lie
has beautiful silver flute with silver
keys, of which he is very proud. When
lie gets started he will sometimes play
all night-mtil the chickens crow in
the morning. Next to the flute the
piano is his favorite. but he can execute
music ON any species of instrument he
can get
HAS Blind Tom hal or needed any
assistance in his musical achievements Y
"IIe has the very best kind of in
structors, although it has been at times
difficult to obtain teacher who would
not be less proficient than the pupil.
All that Tom wants is some
one to play new music for him,
and he only needs to hear il played
once. Some years ago father took
him to Paris to see if lie could not he
made to see, and 10 effort has been
spared to give him a good education
The story that Blind Tom is an idiot in
everything but music is apopular error
His eccentricities when on the stage are
mistaken for iliocy, when in fact Ton
is frantically delighted or bewitehed, il
YOU pie ase, over the music he is making
or hearing. Blind Tom is not only
well educated, but refined. He does
not use the negro dialect, and can carry
Oh an intelligent conversation with any
body. lie is aiiectionate in disposition
and is devoted toail the family, who are
equally Us fond of him. When my hoy
was born Ton was much afraid that ms
place in the family would be taken
L., onatbn, an.l L. y.lt ,.,e,y Ia