The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-12
MUSICAL NOTES.

OF late years Blind Tom" the once ia
nous colcred piano player, has dropped
out of sight. But he Is not dead, as
many suppose. With his mother and
guardian he lives in a comfortable cot
tage at the highlands of Navesing, on the
Jersey side of the New York bay. Blind
Tom" Is now gray haired His guardian
is Mrs. Eliza Lerche, who was appointed
ten years ago by Justice Andrews, of the
Supreme court. as a committee Of the
person and property of the mind-clouded
musician. She was then the widow OF
John G.. Bethune, who had charge of
Blind Tom" for many years, and the
latter was only given into her care after
a long legal struggle with her father
in-law, James N. Bethune. He has been
handed to Mrs. Bethune with no money
and no property, personal or otherwise.
out of the hundreds of thousands of dol
lars which he had earned during the pre-
Vious quarter of a century. So 1t was
necessary to keep him at work awhile
longer to provide for his future maInten-
ance in case he became disabled by age or
infirmities, and also to enable him to take
care of his mother, who was stiA alive
in the Southern states, and looked to Tom
for support About three years ago Mrs.
Bethune, who was then Mrs. Lerche,
having married Albrecht J. Lerche, the
lawyer who had fought her legal battles
in courts, had saved enough money to
warrant the temporary withdrawal OF
"Blind Tom from the amusement world
so that he might recuperate his health,
and at the same time, familiarize himself
with modern music al compositions. He
passes hours at a time at the piano,
playing his old pieces and practicing new
ones. Occasionally he attempts impro-
visation, but even then the initiative fac
ulty predominates, as the notes he picks
out are usually the reproductions of
sounds that he has heard. When not at
the piano Tom amrses himself by imitat-
ing the small talk of ladies and other
visitors to the Lerche cottage, to which
he is a silent listener. He holds imagin-
ary receptions, at which the weather,
new styles in dresses and like topics are
discussed by the imaginary visitors, as
initiated by Tom, in q way that Is very
comical, but he will not do it If he knows
there is any one listening to him. In
spite of his advanced years and his re-
served, formal demeanor in company,
Tom is merely an overgrown child, and
has to be carefully watched by the male
nurse especially hired for that purpose.
He has all the selfishness of a spoiled
child, and is jealous OF any attention paid
to any one else in his presence He has
little natural affection, and cares only
for those around him who minister to his
wants. He is willing that his mother
should be taken care Of out of the money
he has earned, but he does not wish to
have her or his brothers and sisters near
him, for fear that they may annoy him,
or prevent his being the sole object of the
attention of those around him. With the
exception of this chi.dlike selhshness,
"Blind Tom" is extremely moral and re-
lgious in his habits and disposition. lie
never eats without first offering prayer,
and on Sundays will play only church
music on his piano.
John r. Watkins. the well known bari
tone and musical director, who for the
past year has been studying music in Lon
don, Is now engaged at Her Majesty's
Theater," and was the best baritone out
of seventy-five applicants for a Catholic
church position at a recent competition.
Mr.. Watkins was recently asked to give
an exhibition of his histrionic talents be-
fore the menager of the Savoy" and the
results were so satisfactory that he has
been booked for the first vacancy that oc-
ours. Mr.. Watkins voice has improved
wonderfully under the instruction that
he has received at the Roya! Academy,
and his natural ability as an actor has
made his path comparatively smooth in
working his way into the good graces OF
the critical London audiences. Tho
friends of Mr.. Watkins in musical circles
Of Northeastern Pennsylvania, where ne
is so we'll known, will rejoice at his sue
cess.
The Scranton School of Music and Lam
guages, under the direction of Professor
Pennington, is now in its new quarters in
the Carter building, corner of Adams ave-
nue. and Linden street. A Tribune repre-
sentative called there yesterday and was
charmed with the splendid rooms which
the school is to occupy in future. The Yo-