The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-03-12
TOLECO'S BLIND PRODIGY
Remarkable Five Year Old Boy and His
Performances on the Piano. Organ
. and yiclin.

Toledo has III iafart prodigy, accord
ing to the Cincinnati Enquirer, in the
person of a five-ycar-oid boy named
Linn O'EeiL When the littIe fellow was
six months old &c had severe attack of
cholera infantum. II is thought that
the strong remedies administered to him
at that time had the effect Of bursting
the pupils of lis eyes, for he has been
blind exc. since that ti-le ard of most
delicate and fragile constitution. Even
now, though five years old, mis- little legs
will not support his body, and he is as
helpless as bab.-.
1t was noticed some time ago that
music seemed to thrill every atom of the
child's body, and fearing that some ner-
yous effect might result, musical sounds
were taboced in the O'Neil household.
Lately, however, it has been discovered
that music of any kind gives
the child the most Intense pleasure, and,
more wonderful still. ne possesses the
faculty of reproducing on the piano and
organ any tune he has heard, whether 1t
is simple hymn or complicated score
of classical music. The childs hands
are those of true musician. They are
lung ami fine. ana lie possesses aa ex-
I:iisite dalicacy OF touch when at the in
stumen,. 1t gives the spectator an in
Cesciibable ta1rill 10 see the little fellow
efore th> Piano. He is so tiny that he
is forced to use babys high chair to
reach the keys. end the pedals are OF
course el .irely oat of his reach. When
he wishe: to add the expression OF his
playing Re Indicates to some member
'cf his fam ly the pedal he wishes to use
In the same manner he is assisted at
the organ. the pedals ard stops being
used aocc ding to his preferences.
one of tie remarkable IL ng5 about the
child's p.5 wing is his initiative effects.
He plays ne piano so as to closely imi-
tate the vi ,lin, guitar or mandolin The
singing quality of the violin is brought
out in a wonderful manner, and the
stacoato Tusic of a banjo or mandelIa
are given in a perfect imitation. He
fas shown If'9rllcd love for the violin,
but he his not yet made much hcBiway
with that instrun6 ut. lie is al eHjy at
nome WITH the guitar and play : simple
melodi:s. with iElproViscd Va, iatiohs, n
Wonderful manner. One Of his most
remarkable bits of initiative work is
when he plays Marching Through
Georgia" II the Chorus he brings
TIE octave coupler ard the flute stop into
play, producing al effect that seems like
the approach of brass band
The child Gas also a wonderful meln-
ory for songs, and lie has re,oertory OF
Gospel hymns, child sprgs and more am
j tious pieces that seem utterly ct var
lance with his years. 1t is in mis- instru-
mental work that MS wonderful work
is most co-spicuous. and Ee seems to
rave thoroughly assirlilated every scrap
OF music Of whatever ia ture that was
eyer played IL his hearing. At first he
fingered the keys irrcgliariy. but that
was while he W3s increasing their local
ity on his CHILDISH E2Glnory.
Nov his tirScric2 shows TO hesitancy
whatever. al he seems 70 delight in the
most complicated v3ria tons of familiar
Songs, giving them bursts Of melody that
are po culiar.v his own. lie also takes a
pleasure in duets. in which he plays g
second viii. i-l.-'ccsive naGris,2es among
the los'e- nc.aves. 4 selection OF which
he is particularly ford fG the Honey
Ynoan March In this pie,rH his sister
Sakes Ii" rrl er portion of thu keyboard,
syhile the li.Fle fellow Introduces strik-
jrg acco:npa.i in1erts on the bass 1t is
of course ii1possible to imagine what
Gnr fi;'. Of Linn win he. but he is un-
quest tone S'y a genuine musical prodigy
"a he pI.ser; time.