The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-20
FIELD, SCHLICK & co.
BLIND FRANKIE RICHTER
Going for a Course Of Study in
Europe

This town Of st. Paul has proved its
further right to the title of the center
of culture Of the West by producing
a real musical prodigy in the shape Of
a blind boy Of less than eight years,
whose marvellous performances on the
piano has already brought him fame
and promises to bring him something
more substantial as a compensation
for the deprivation Of nature in bring
ing him into the world sightless. Nearly
all the members Of the local musical
colony have been acquainted with Mas
ter frankie Richter, and his remarkable
intuitive knowledge Of music and ca
paCity as pianist have been sources
Of wonder to them for some time. But
1t required the appreciation Of actual
genius to give the boy the start in life
that has been given him within a few
weeks. For eight years young Richter
has been the wonder Of private circles
but within a couple Of weeks he will
be given a start in public life that will
give him wider fame. It took the fell
low genius of Herr Halir, the great
violinist, to discover that young Rich
ter was more than a boy phenomenon,
but when he had pronounced the child
a wonder and offered to take him to
Europe and educate him in music
other friends were raised up for the
little fellow, and he is at once to be-
GIN d COIlcSTI COuT OIL the country, Wn1ch
will close in the spring, and he will
then go to Berlin and be given five
years training in music.
Frank is the son Of F. w. Richter, q
well known local musician, who lives
on Banf1l street. The child was born
in Minneapolis, but his parents have
resided in st. Paul for about seven
years. Blind from his birth and cut
off from the ordinary pursuits Of child
hood and at the same time living in a
musical atmosphere, he turned his
thoughts to sweet sounds, the one thing
that appealed to his outer senses. and
by the time he was three years old
he was climbing on the piano stool
and picking out chords. He had no
teacher, but his fathers practice gave,
him plenty of opportunity to enlarge
his knowledge Of tunes, and long be-
fore his little hands could span an oc-
taVe, he had an absolutely correct idea
Of harmony. This was observed by the
father, who then taught him. the sci
ence OF harmnoy, and now, when he is
no longer handicapped by his physical
and muscular limitation he is an ac-
complished player. Living the dreary
life Of the blind and having but the
one source Of amusement, the piano
became a passion with him Musicians
began to talk of the boy two or three
years ago, and several attempts were
AAAoOC " D1LI15 HIIIl Out out
his natural timidity stood in the way
until lately, when he became con-
WINGED that music was the only possible
vocation for him in life
When Hair, the viOlinist, was here
lately, some one who was interested
In the boy, told the master Of Frankie's
absolutely correct ear and capacity
Tor composition. Most musicians are
shy of infant or blind prodigies, for
they are generally mere machines. The
famous Blind Tom was nothing more.
and he was man in years when he
came before the public But a blind
prodigy, who could give the pitch in
music Of any sort Of sound and who
could eXtempOriZe music that needed
no revision, was worth listening to.
Hair sent for him. The child gave
the note and the pitch in music Of sew
eraI delicate sounds and Halir then
asked him to play something frankie
went through brilliant concert piece
and Hair was astounded Then he
accompanied the great violinist through
an elaborate number and finally he
played number of things from his
repertoire. An effort at original com
position resulted in a march that Ha-
Ilr scored and pronounced perfect mu-
sic, and then the violinist told Mr..
Richter that, If he would send his son
to him in Germany, he would educate
him
The prodigy is small and slight for
his age, with the weu-developed hands
OF the pianist. His face is very fair and
delicate, and his head is covered by a
thick growth Of crisp yellow curls One
Of his sightless eyes is opened and
covered by cataracts. The other is
closed. He would be a handsome child
under any circumstances, but the pa
thetic, almost beseeching look that is
always characteristic Of the face or
one who is blind makes his beauty
touching.