Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-03-13
HE OWNED BLIND TOM.
The Late General Bethune and the Won
derful Pickaninuy,

HE OWNED BLIND TOM.
The Late General Bethune and the Won
derful Pickaninny.
The death of General James n. Be-
thune, which occurred in this city
yesterday, removes q man who was
leading figure in Southern affairs for
many years. A sketch of his remark
able career appeared in The Post, of
January 90, and mention was inciden-
tally made that he had been the owner
of "Blind Tom"
Public interest will now naturally
recur to this phenomenon, and the
question will arise rs to his where
abouts. For years he was one Of the
most familiar figures before the public,
and the source of continual amaze
ment to the thousands who went to
see and hear him. About two years
or more ago the telegraphic dispatches
announced that he had been killed in
q railroad accident near Pittsburg.
There was an apparently authoritative
deniel of this intelligence, and nothing
more was heard of the matter. But at
any rate about the time Blind Tom
disappeared to all purposes as if the
earth had swallowed him up and has
never been seen since. He was perhaps
the most remarkable human contradic-
tion that ever existed. He was the
child Of Charity and Tom, slaves be-
longing to General Bethune, in Mus
cogee county, Ga, and his brothers
and sisters numbered no less than
nineteen. AS soon as he began to be
able to take notice it became evident
that he was an imbecile, Charity, his
mother, was a type of the old-time
Southern Negress, tender-hearted and
sympathetic, and when she discovered
that her child was mentally useless
her grief was touching. Tom was
nearly two years old when Charity
made known her trouble TO her master.
"He kin tawk, Mass Tom," she
moaned, "but he don't say muffin cept
whut you say fust. Den he say it arter
YOU"
"Bring him to me-" said the general.
"If l can teach my pointer dog to
bring my gloves and whip and fetch
dead bird, can teach Niger to do
as much"
Charity brought Tom up to the big
house from the quarters.
"Tom, sit down." ordered the gen.
eral.
"Tom, sit down." repeated the child,
still standing erect.
His master repeated the words, at
the same time taking him by the
shoulders and seating him. The next
time he said, "Tom, sit down !" the
boy did so, repeating, however, the
words, habit he kept up until he
passed out of contemporary sight.
This object lesson of General Bethune's
was followed implicitly by Charity,
and Tom was taught TO make his
wants known and to follow instructions
given him, solely by the direction of
his instincts; trained, in q word, like
dog.
But hidden in the seemingly shape
less mass Of brain matter was a jewel IF
genius that was to be uncovered to
dazzle and astonish the world. Nature
had been in her most fantastic mood
when she fashioned him, and with an
uncouth figure and an intellect only
one degree removed from imbecility,
she had joined her divine gift of music.
He was still baby, when he roamed
away from his parents cabin one day,
and strayed up 10 the forbidden pre-
cincts of the big houseyard.
One of General Bethune's daughters
was playing upon piano, which her
father had just given her. The child,
scarcely out of infancy, listened fas-
cinated and thrilled. The sleeping
chords within him were touched.
Trembling and writhing, he crawled
up the steps and into the parlor and
crept to the side of the player. 1t was
not exactly proper, according to the
high Southern ideas, for a half-nakcd
pickaninny to come unlimited into the
mansion, and the event naturally
caused talk. General Bethune was
of the occurrence.f
"The child is music crazy, poor lit
tie thing" he said. "Let it enjoy
itself. Perhaps it may learn to play
one day and make its life bearable."
Naturally, his daughters objected to
such an object as slave baby in the
house; but Genera! Bethunc prevailed
upon them to let Tom touch the pi-
ano keys. Charity dressed him up
and he was taker up to the house.
His little fingers could hardly bear
down the keys, yei his touch brought
forth harmony-a 'aint echo of the air
that was being played when he first
heard the piano. General Bethune
was a man Of strong impulse and de-
termination. He made up his mind
at once TO cultirat. the germs he had
seen, and TO ascertain what they
would bring forth. He was practising
law at the time ant editing paper in
Columbus, Ga, anl went into town
from his plantationeyery morning.
He had ample mans to carry out
any fancy that migt seize him, so, as
it was entirely out If the question for
Toms talents to benurtured upon the |
piano at home, he purchased another !
instrument for the boy, and had it |
placed in one Of hisoflice rooms in Col !
umbus. Every moning Charity would |
dress Tom up and bundle him in his /!
masters carryall, nd everyday the !
little fellow would FAY the piano. OF |!
course, he really h not know one |
key from another, ad sheet music to !
him was like Sanskit to a Choctaw, !
but the child was abb to play any tune !
that was played in is hearing. Gen
eral Bethune woul hire wandering |!
musicians to come al play for Tom, !
and the prodigy wold almost 60 into
spasms of delight. hen he would be |
placed on the piano stool and would !
repeat everything that he heard. !
When Alexander HStephens, Robert |
Toombs, Lamars, an the other great ]
legal giants of Gcoria would come to
Columbus court twas common to /
hear one of them say
"Come on, let's gdlown TO Jim Be- |