Morning journal and courier., 1885-09-09
MI USlCAL NEGROES.
A Family of Blind Children Possess
 Rare Sffr4

Family of Blind Children Possess ing Rare Gifts.
 From the Atlanta Constitution
 For several days past there has been re-
 markable family of negroes in Atlanta. Their
 name is Williamson, and they came from Williamson county, North Carolina. There are three brothers and four sisters, all of whom have been totally blind from their
 birth. They are the children of black
 parents who were slaves and ordinary field hands. Unto them were born fourteen chil-
 dren, seven of whom had sight while seven were blind. The blind children were not only hardier and healthier, but their mental endowments are superior to those of their brothers and sisters who could see. They went to Raleigh to the State Blind asylum and were there well educated. Every one of them developed a remarkable talent for music, and on leaving the a-ylum they or ganlzed themselves into concert co onpany and began to travel through the South. The oldest brother married smart negro woman who acts as guide and business manager of the party. They have been all over the South giving entertainments, which have paid them handso nely. They sing and play on various instruments with remarkable skill. All of them have good voices, which have been well trained.
 Their most remarkable performances are the exhibitions of their power of nlimicry. ] They initiate brass band so perfectly that | person outside the hall in which they are humming would almost invariably be de- 1 eeived. Their imitation of the organ is equally perfect. Each of the singers makes 6 peculiar noise and carries his or her own l part of the performance, and the combined ! result is deep music, very like to the peal ! m 0f a t1uo # heir many tricks. They are constantly adding to their repertoire and perfecting themselves more and more in their curious arts. They nave educated the sense of touch to a very remarkable degree. By feeling of persons face and head they can give an accurate de scription of his or her appearance; and one of the sisters claims that she tell the color of the hair by touching it.
 The seven stard with joined hands and any object can be placed in the hands Of the old est brother at the end of the line; while he holds it he claims that the magnetic current which passes through the entire line will en able any one of his brothers and sisters to | tell what he has in his hand. At any rate, some remarkable guesses of this kind are made.
 The blind negroes have given series ot entertain ments in various negro churches in the city aud have created a great sensation 1 among the colored population. It is said l that they take good care of their aged parents, 1 who still reside on the old homestead in North Carolina, in the same cabin where l they lived as slaves, and where their four 1 teen children were born. The blind singers | have bought the place and presented it to | their parents. The brothers and the wife of ! the eldest manage the, financial affairs of the combination so successfully that they have I accumulated a snug property. The oldest i brother is about twentyeight and the young est sister sixteen years old. Various efforts
 have been made by professional managers to | secure the control of this remarkable family l but they prefer to take of their OWL 1 affairs They are all intelligent and rem ark ably well posted on matters in general.