The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-15
POOR BLIND TOM.
HOW TIE ONCE NOTED MUSICIAN
oASSeS THE SUMMER.

IN oil fashioned S. Marks place. just
east Of The bcs'ling Bowcry. stands an
Old fashioned. marble stopped dwelling
that is A marked pot Ia that noisy quar-
ter of the town 80 varying intervals
..tt..s -....e o. . ..,.c. -Ore4 piano
floats softly from the interior OF thc old
houso and rmgic, delightful harmony
with the dull hum Of traffic a. tho popu-
lons tnorouphlarc ,icn and Nca.. hur-
ryinr O. and fr) n tAc erect stop oiton
and listen 10 tic strains. In fingers
that so dcftly touch tho kc'a aad draw
| such woudr3us ,ymphories ,ro" M" ~
| strument are those Of sirpp..- zig
negro who sits NJ tho pianoig TIE DIS
| back parlOr and for hours Hts
| those residents who IRE fort ulir ,h
to have living quarters I'm ta' hou-r W
| Ninth street whose ha.,, window .DHk
upon the rear porch II che old lrs....i
| dwelling have n rare and delightful f.eat
Every once in a while the stalnai' i.gi-
can will start up from his seat and r,ei
out upon the porch. and pace upnad Gown
like an imprisoned animal. bo-,mg lis
chest and moaning pteously railing
that reaches above his waist completely
| cuts of cgress ~ the little garden patch
that blooms in the back yard and b. runs
his hand along Il rs If he were trying 20
| find n stairway tO tho garden.
How are you. Tom What q the mat
| teri" some one who has been listening is
suro % say when the musician makes
such sudden appearances on tho porch.
| Their greeting Is always CHEEKY for all
the listeners know well that Che big
chested negro is none other than Blind
Tom the famous Ethiopian pianist. Tom
never appears in public. lie is suffering
from some nervous complaint that rem
| ders repetition If his stage perform
ancc5 impossible.
Tor hours daily he trainps mp and down
! tho rorrh i1 his sli"~ ~od faot. clad ma
! blue trousers aud dark flannel Yachting
/ shirt blrshoaled md uneasy Hobehaves
| like 9n impr oanl bear az times crouch
ing on an fours or dancing mp and down
in mysterious delirum 10 has worn
ri ire in the a10ring Of the porch near
| tho hand rail by his RESTLESS promenade
! to ard r-l Music pr ha~mouious sounds
Seem % poo t.I' only influences TINT ever
diver. him from o. ho-e capc- ou tao
| porch
One Sunday raeantly the chimes IN
| Gac, church stceple on Broadway began
/ 20 rilr. lud tha och0o-. sol-elcI U.s. no
distance they had tmvorscd fruo. Toms
elr "ith D sweet tntnnabulfi0n that
Reproduced u1o by motto tlo beautiful
hymn Nearer my Goi to Thee
ln I'D instant the blinded gar. ceased
DIS tramp oG ie poi 10. ana. resting his
syes ID tnc sa,. AMI turning l. ..ld IN
the direction ID tlc chimes stood i.e
statue. listening with npt attoa.ian 20
tho melody Tho echoes died away
finally. and waiting some moments %
hear If they would continue Dc gmpcd
his way through tho open window INTO
the parlor and eating himself q tho
piano. ran his finger oyer the !.Hr5 On
sudden inspiration What ho played was
an imitation. AS perfect as tho piano
would allow. IF the music OF the chimes.
Tom repeated the -lmo stirring imitation.
when little later the chimes again rag
ont upon The June brecze.
Then he ro.e from the piano. went ont
ON the porch and listened m a curiously
,ntonf way, % fhe noise made By the flap
ping wiugs of flock of pigeons whose
cote is built against tho wall ~ an .i-
Ih. m nctrfme rose SD that its hrt
PAY broke past Dee shade If % tree iu .ho
garden and beat against tie side partition
ol ttn porch Ihn big negro leaned on
DIS hand against the partition. llo with
i.D. 3. -.. r.u.lt Doe lo.t tLc heat The
.ra.... l seemc. 4, puzzlc lin. for ho
place.. lis hand ln Tire I'-t.i.n again,