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

trained musician viii detect it. He has
good ear, his time is excellent. and his
taste that of natures refinement. In
conversation he impreSSeS one as a lad
thoroughly conscious of his gift, and as
fretting against the restraint and hmita-
ton OF youth and inexperience. If he
lives and pursueS music as he has en-
tered upon il, he will certainly become
one of the most notable musical prodi-
gies of the age.
With the violin his bowling is defect
i've, and his handling of the instrument
awkward, but his stopping is excellent,
and the effect he produces is charming.
Many professional violinist might be
proud to play as effectively as this blind
| lad OF II now does. 1t is claimed for him
that he is as successful upon the clari-
onette as on the violin, and that he plays
a number of reed and wind instruments.
lie lmprovises with ease, and such crea-
| tons as he gave last night are sufficient
to stamp him genius.
OF course there are many defects in his
methods, and he needs the patient and
cultivated master to bring him TO full de-
velopment, and free him from errors
rather to guide his struggling genius.
Very often when nature deprives a
human being of one of the senses, an
other is abnormaily developed as COM
pensation, and this appears to be the case
with Master Foster, since his sense of
hearing is so delicate, and so attuned to
harmony that his music memory has de-
VelOped marvelously, and what he hears
IN music he says never leaves hlE. lie
can, after once hearing a piece, go to the
instrument and play it, but that method
he says he now rarely adopts, because it
is less mental effort probably to retain
the music and to imprint it upon
memory as it is read to him, as his father
does. An effort is to be made to have
Master Foster appear here again very
soon and if he does mere curiosity
should be enough to insure him q
crowded house. Last nights was his
first concert, away from the small
circle OF his home. Asa financial venture
1t must be sad Christmas event to the
lad, who is poor as well as blind.
The RECORD UNION is in receipt of
letter from the old-time manager wash"
Norton, in which he states that he has
just concluded contract with T. J.
Clunie, by which Mr. Norton takes sole
management of the Clunie Opera-house
on the LIST of January, 1892, 1t is not pos
sible, however, for him to open the house
Immediately, as, he adds, it is to be
thoroughly renovated, a heater put in
with registers sufficient to warm it
thoroughly. The house is to be recar-
peted, decorated and generally over
hauled and improved and put in first
class order. Mr.. Norton's nephew, just
out from Australia. is an accomplished
scene painter, and will arrive in the city
in few days with assistants to retOuch the
old scenery and paint new scenes, supply
ing all needed sets for all calls that will
be ordinarily made. In the meantime
Manager Norton, himself a character
actor of experience as well as manager
no has 4TTnH md bo
with success, will organize a company of
players and write engagements as far
ahead as possible for attractions. His
purpose is to put on good, reliable stock
and variety people, to give chaSte, light
and thoroughly entertaining perform
anceS. In his letter Mr.. Norton states
that he will leave nothing undone to de-
serve success, and that he intends to
make the Opera-hOuse "a peoples theater
with admission rates at popular prices"
Mr.. Norton has had more than TWENTY
| five years experience in theatrical bust
ness. lie IS a plain, unaSSuning straight
forward man, as we have known him.
and unless we mistake the man and are
misinformed as to his capacity, he is ca
pablo of carrying out the plan he has
mapped out. lie proposes to come to
Sacramento with his family, take UP his
residence here and what he makes to in
vest it here. If he loses, he has means
SuIilCI6ut, ne DeilGNeS, TO carry
him through his contract of lease.
The Opera-house has been practically
closed for year, and the public
Will be gratifed at the announcement
! that it is TO be opened once more and
managed as place OF clean amusement
OF a light and entertaining order, at such
prices as to invite good attendance. TIE
belief is entertained by the people gen
orally that it VIII be better for both the
| aters that both shall be opened and con-
Quoted under different arrangements.
A very enjoyable and largely attended
entertainment was given by the pupils of
the Sixth-street NJ. E. Church Sunday
school last evening, at which the follow
ing programme was rendered: Chorus,
school, with orchestra accompaniment;
recitation, Ruth Stevenson; solo, Ethel
| Elworthy; recitation, Blanche Van Heu-
sen; dialogue, "a Christmas Anniver-
sary;" chorus, school; recitation, selected;
duet, Miss Dunster and Miss Mccormick;
recitation, Edith Renwick; solo, w. II.
Dunster; dialogue, Santa Claus Out
Witted:p chorus. school