The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-03-23
A MUSICAL PHENOMENON.
Sketch of Blind Tom-Early Exhibitions
of his Wonderful Powers-Learning
to Play the Piano.
The Sound of Running Water Enchanting
"A Ram Storm Compositions STANCE
Stage Gymnastics.

ii.'' a'S o'"oi tninS'' 'ho hiihS VI
artillery ana the tramplng OF an army so well
that if one had not known il was imitation
tho s;gbt of s,uns and OoIdiorS ,,i,bt bo,,o ho.p
. S - i''7 ~ nc w w.
expected. Tom. of course, plays by ear, and
there is no instance recorded of any one ever
bo,;no on,rooobo5 hin, 8, bis ,,o,,,or oe ,o.or
HAVING app'oaonou nm III MS power Vi re'en-
ton ana reproduction OF sound. He appears
again this evening and tomorrow afternoon
Erom q sl,o+oh Of Tor,,S Iifo IN, his onto no,
h'o'" ohoUou VI I'm me- NY nis ''h'o-oei-
lum master, Major Bethune, the following ex-
tracts are taken:
Tho,,os c,roo,,o ;,o,b,,ro f,is ,o,o,,., h,,;,,o.
no' 00i''io >"' p~,0h'' nav
taken Tor MIN ana themselves the name of
their former owner, better known TO the pub
lie as blind Tom, was born within few
miles of the city of Columbus, in the county of
Muscogee and State OF Georgia, on the 18th of
May, 1873. His parents are common field hands
OF the pure negro Dlood, Win morning TO DIS
tinguish them from the mass OF their race,
except that ms mother-a small woman OF fine
formulas remarkably small feet and hands, is
OF an active, merry temperament, and quick
movements
Tom was born DInd, ana. learning nothing
from sight, manifested IN his early infancy so
entire want OF intellect as 10 induce the be-
lief that he was idiotic as well as blind. Musi-
him; but all sounds, from the soft breathings
OF the mute 10 tne haISn gratlngs oil the corn
sheller, appeared 10 AFFORD MIN exquisite en-
JOyment.
lie talke0 carrier IMAM 0ther chlldren; ana ne
talked no baby talk" He uttered his words
clearly ana dlstlnctiy, attaching no meaning to
them, but seeming 10 consider them merely
sounds, which he initiated, as he did all others
that ne heard.
The first effort TO teach him was made one
evening when the FAMILY was at supper, CTom,
as usual at metl tlmes, DeIng present. When
ms owner, approaching rom sald 10 MN,
Tom, sit down.: Tom, of course, as was eX-
pected, stood stu ana repeated the words. He
repeated the order ana sat him down upon the
floor. lie then SAID, rom, get up. Tom sat
still ana repeated the ORDER he then repeated
the order and lllted Tom TO his feet; He then
ordered IQm 10 sit Gown, which ne dld
prOmpIyLIo get up, anu ne sprang 10 MS Rect
from that tlme tnere was matter OF new inter-
est ABOUT rom. III was soon discovered That he
forgot mourning.
III was astonishing ana interesting 10 test and
TO witness the exercise OF TINS power, and, in
consequence, Ioln speedliy learned TO dlstln-
gulsh many Things ana eau Cnem Dy name.
He was perfectly deighted by cries OF pain.
When ms mothGT WhlPpeu any OF the 0lGer
chldreh ne Woulu lauSu ana caper, ana ruD MS
hands In an ecstasy OF enjoyment, and soon
would De Iouna Whlpplng himself ana repeat
ing the words Oh tne mother ana the cries OF
tne chlld: lie enJoye9 so diIghly the crying OF
chlldren tnat ne Wouid lhilicC pam upon them,
iof uhe pressure Oh hetrlng Che'n cry; ana
constant Watcn ilad 10 De kepC upon nm when
ne was ABOUT younger chlldren. lie once
cnOkeu younger DroIher nearly 10 deatn, ana
AT announcer tinle Durne an lnlant sister SO badly
us 10 produce iears vi u lall result.
before ne was Two years ola; When the young
misses OF inc fanny SAT on tle steps OF an even
ing, ana sang, Iohl Wouiu come around ana
sing wlth them. one Oh tnem one evening
Ssld 10 ner lather ...c.,,-- ,,
PA, Tom sings beautifully, and he don't have
10 learn any Iulles' nc Elbows tnenl al; Tor as
soon as we oegll 10 sing nc sings flght along
WIN us.
very soon sue stId
HE sings me SECONDS TO anything we sing
His voice was then strong, SOIL and melO-
dlons. JUST Deiore ne had completed his sec
ond year ne had the whooplng cough, from the
effects OF whlch MS voice underwent an entire
change; IL became ana continued Tor years eX-
ceedlngly rOugh ana hafSh, thOugh 1t did not
AFFECT the taSte or correctness OF ms singing.
lie was Il niue less IMAM TOUR years OF age
when piano was Drought 10 the mouse. The
nrsL hote tnaI was sounueu,sot course, Drought
MN up. lie was pefmltted 10 indulge his
curiosity py running MS nhgers over and
shel ing Inc keys anu was Ihen TAKEN out OF
the paflor. AS long US any one was playing ne
was cohtehIed 10 stay III thG yard ana dance
ana caper 10 the music; out the moment 1t
ceased having discovered whence the SOUNDS
proceeueu, anu now Iney were produced, ne
was ANXIOUS 10 get 10 Ghe Instrument 10 con-
tnue tnem' one nghJ the parlor ana the
piano had been lett open, MS mother had neg
lected 10 tasten the door, ana ne mad escaped
WITHOUT heT khOWledge' BEFORE uay, the young
ladies awokel ana, 10 their astOnlShment,
heard Tom playing one OF their pieces. He
continued TO play untlI the family ut the usual
time arose, ana gathered around MN to Wit
ness the wonder at ms performance, which,
though necessarily very imperfect, was mar
yelOusly strange; for, Notwithstanding this was
his llrst known eHOrt AT tune, he played with
both hands, ana used the black as well as the
white keys.
After Wnlle ne was allowed free access TO
the piano, ana commenced playing everything