The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-26
BRIGHT AS A DOLLAR.
~ 0RACIEJOyEs, THE IoUSG MUyI-
CIL PRODIGY,
First Prize mt the Worlds Fair for
an Original Composition.

For six years little Oracle Jones had
been attending the school Of the Benedict
Inc Convent. at the corner Of Market and
Hin streets, and though generally acknow-
ed to be an unusually bright and intelligent
little maiden, nobody had ever suspected
her to be a genius. She had first been
sent to this school when tiny fodder
Of five. and she had made her way, tri-
fie more quickly and readily, perhaps,
than other little girls Of her age, through
the mysteries of the alphabet and. subse-
quently. through the labyrinths of SPELL
ing and arithmetic. reading and writing.
sewing and embroidery. knitting and
other feminine accomplishments, Lot for
getting religious instruction. And in this
way she had accumulated within these
six years quite a bit Of useful knowledge.
Her mother, though. had been unable TO
provide for music lessons, aud hence no
body had any idea, so far as the good
sisters about the convent We're concerned,
that Ii was exactly in music that this
young pupil of theirs was unusually gifted.
The middle of last April had arrived, and
the authorities of the Benedictine Convent
had, at the last hour, concluded TO COM
pete with the other educational lnstitu-
lions of this State and other States at the
Worlds Fair. To that end they announced
their intention of Joining In the Catholic
school exhibit TO be made there. one or
the competitive showings TO be made was
one in original composing-not of words,
but of notes. The song to which the
music was TO be written was one by
Father Ryan, a universally esteemed
priest Of poetical gifts, and its title was
Mothers Way"
With a printed copy of this beautiful,
touching song in her hards, the mother
superior of the Benedictine Convent,
benignant-looking lady, approached little
Oracle Jones, as she had the other pupils,
and said: We'll, Oracle, do you think you
could compose the music to those Words
And the little girl, for minute care
fully scanning the text, made answer:
"IIl try" She retired to corner and
after brief while she approached the
piano and began picking notes. Two
hours had thus elapsed and little Oracle
went up 20 Mother Superior Theresa and
quietly said: 81 think this VIII do with
which she softly hummed a charming,
tender melody, one which Immediately
delighted the good nun. Then they both
sat down and the mother superior wrote
down the notes as the little girl sang
them 20 her, for Oracle was at that time
absolutely devoid Of all theoretical know
ledge in music, and quite unable to write
down what her musical little soul had
conceived The words. though, of
Mothers Way" were these
Oft within our little cottage,
AS the shadows gently fail.
While the sunlight touches softly
One sweet face upon the wall
Do we gather close together,
And in hushed and tender tone
Ask each other full forgiveness
. For the wrong that each has done.
Do you wonder why this custom
At the ending Of the day
Eye and voice would quickly answer:
il was once our mothers way.
If our home be bright and CHEEKY,
If il hold a welcome true,
Opening wide its door of greeting
To the many, not the few;
If we share our fathers bounty
With the needy day by day
"Tis because our hearts remember
This was our mothers way"
Sometimes when our hearts grow weary
or our tasks seem very long,
When our burdens look too heavy.
And we deem the right all wrong,
Then we gain a new fresh courage
AS we rise and brightly say:
Let us do our duty bravely
This was our mothers way"
Thus we keep her meaning precious,
While we never cease TO pray
That at last when lengthening shadows
Mark the evening of the day
They may find MS waiting calmly,
To so home our mothers way.
The music little Graci- had found i'm her
soul to accompany those beautiful words
was thus correctly written down by the
mother superior, including the chords OF
introduction and the bass, and in due
course of time it was thus sent In to the
educational authorities at the fair. who
were i'm charge OF the Catholic school eX-
hiblt there. Months had elapsed. and
little Oracle had almost forgotten her own
composition. when one day the judges OF
award sat down and calmly considered
which Of the compositions sent In from all
pupils in the Catholic parochiai schools
of Illinois were the finest. They came 70
the conclusion that the one submitted by
Oracle Jones was deserving Of the first
prize, and 50 their verdict was recorded.
The first prize, a beautiful ornament
consisting Of a Tyre Of solid gold, about
three inches high and bearing the In
scription, awarded 10 Grace Jones as
the first prize for musical composition by
the Catholic diocesan school board OF the
State of Illinois," thus went TO this youth
full musical genius. The second prize was
given to Noreen Manning, a young girl
OF seventeen and one Of the most advanced
IL, afb cd
ton OF Joliet. Unfortunately, though,
Miss Manning did not live TO enjoy this
pleasure, for ten minutes before the news
reached her she had died. In all there
were compositions sent In from thirty
seven different schools. the great majority
OF the competing pupils being young la
dies OF seventeen and over. and the eldest
OF them having attained the age OF TWEEN
ty-one II goes without saying that
Oracle Jones and her friends felt very
elated at her triumph.
Oracle Jones mother, at present resld-
ing at 50 Pearce street, was Miss fltZ-
simmons before her marriage. and there
Is a good deal OF natural musical talent
In her whole family. A sister or Mrs.
Ella NJ. Jones (Gracies mother) Is Mrs.
Jessie DAILY who, UP 10 about year ago.
was we'll known in local musical circles
as the owner Of fine and well-tralned
contralto voice that has been heard fire.
quently in public. younger brother OF
Mrs. Jones, Leonard Fitzsimmons.
youth of twenty, has remarkable talents
as a musical amateur, performing with
more or less proficiency on half dozen
different instruments. Mrs. Jones, though
the mother OF the youthful prodigy never
had musical instruction or any kind,
except a couple OF months at the age OF
thirteen.
Cr,ci. herself-a beautiful child OF