The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-12-24
ADJUSTMENTS.

Duncan 3. Harrison, a well-known
and competent actor, Will present at the
Metropolitan Theater tomorrow after
noon for matinee and tomorrow night
the drama Of Honest Hearts and Will
ing Hands, On Saturday evening he
viii present the latest success in Irish
cOmedy-dram&, "BrOdericll Agra" The
com pany which has been here before, is
very well-balanced one and the people
are competent actors, with one exception,
John l.. Sullivan, the boxer and prize
ring pugiliSt. Sullivan has not the
faintest shadow Of ability in drama He
cannot "acG' even 81 little bit,'' as the
phrase of the street runs. In all three of
the performances Sullivan viii appear
and give a three-round glove boxing ex-
hlbitiOn with Jack Ashton under the di-
rection Of Jack Barnitt. The sale of
seats, without extra charge for reserving,
viii begin for all performances ut $50
this morning. Probably the house Will
be filed on each occasion to see the
champion bruiser of the age With the
company alone il is worthy good
plays, the first, Is but ordinary. As to
the other, it received more favorable
notice in san Francisco and is said to
possess some very happy humorous
features.
Twenty eight people were treated to a
genuine surprise at the Congregational
Church last night. That little band came
together to hear Master Henry w Foster
OF Oakland give a concert. Beyond the
tact that the boy was born blind, and was
announced as a musical phenomenon
nothing was here known of the lad.
He was poorly advertised; no names
were given as guarantees for the character
of the entertainment, and no certificates
nh fLla I no In Of !, Sc
marvellous ability. In fact, a meager,
cold and unSkillful announcement was
all the pnblic had to base judgment upon.
cot even the press was given opportunity
TO inform itself concerning him. The
music-loving public, wary OF deceits, and
having been not infrequently cheated,
was not satisfied with the manner in
which Master Foster was announced and
it consequently took the safe course and
remained away.
The few people present were those who
had heard privately Of the genius of the
blind boy. He is the son of Swedish
parents, who reside IN Oakland, and who
are unable to give him thorough musical
training. lie was born blind; was sent
IN time to the State Institution for the
Blind near Berkeley, and there developed
as a musical genius. His musical powers
began to be manifest at the age Of 7; he
is now between Il and 10, and is simply q
marvel.
His programme of music last night was
from Walleuhaupt, Thalberg, Wallace
Mallenhauer, List, Weber, Mason
pouchat Sidney Smith, and his own COM
positions. The numbers included for the
piano "RhapSOuie HongroiSe, - Les HUI
guenotS," the Wedding March, (by
iiszt), selections from Norma, !"
movement Perpetual" and other
classical cuttings. For the violin
he gave Ia Iolie Coquette,"
and Douchats "Air Varie.' In
addition he gave a beautiful example of
his own COM position, Il schOttiSche move
ment, Blind Toms Battle Of Manassas"
and variations upon the minstrel song,
"Old Folks at H0lne.' He was accom-
panied ia the violin solos by George Hol
brook. Master Fosters execution upon
the piano is wonderfully brilliant and
astonishing. Had he his sight and had
he been trained for years by a great mas
ter, such playing in one SO young would
he remarkable.
He had musical instruction at the insti-
tute named. but his genius ran far in adj
vance Of 1t, and he says that the method
there used for teaching the blind TO read
music is not suited TO HINT is too slow
for him, and as he considers il, defective.
He has method OF his own, and after the
concert to d few friends he, by request,
exemplified it. His father, by number
system the two have devised, reads to
him = score, all the parts, righI ana lett
hand. gives all dynamic signs in like
manner, and all that appears upon the
score. Young Foster then goes to the
piano and plays what has been read 10
him from the imprint upon his memory.
In very brief time he grasps all the
thought of the composer; and begins TO
interpret it as it is impressed upon him.
He plays with remarkable vigor, and
while he may not be exact. only the