New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-16
BLJND TOMS LAST DAYS.
From Pennsylvania Gri

From Pennsylvania Grit. ,
OF late years Blind Tom the once famous sin% Emt
he Is not dead. many suppose WIZ ,'1 No.. ~
ana guardian he Ives IN ON the jersey SIDE Of
the Nsw-York Bay. Blind Tom, is nov grh hH
haired; I'M Ten years ago 10y Justice Andrews
OF the Supreme Court, as committee OF the SSe
m ns hon the widow of John G.. Bethune, VINO la1
charge OF Blind Tom for many years anu lone
i""gaI struggle with her father-in-law. James ~
Rethune He has been handed over 10 MIS- pc or
thnns with o mo of the hundreds thousands of
dolIars which he had earned during the previous
n,nrt.r ~ "A century SO IL was necessary 10 Keep
Him al work awhile songer to proyde ior ms iuouIe re
in case he became 10 take o care Of
his mothcr who was still alive IN the oou,i hen
states and SokIa 4 to ae rH 'S %ho Mas then
Lerche having married Albrech j. Le re cor r.e
lawyer who had fought her les1l the
Withdrawal OF Blind Tom from the amusefne men
at the SANE time. famarze himself with modern
musical compositions. ...u ., ,,a,,, ,.oars NJ,
,rn no. travel and work He does very little
Visiting among his neighbors. and receives lie"
He passes hours at time at the piano playing
his old pieces and practising new ones yben the
initiative faculty predomnates as the notes , ne
picks usually The G ,Se piano ia Tom
amises himsel. by initiating the SINAI. ta,h ~ d
ladies and other visitor TO the lie boS. imaginary
rm.nsn,ions at which the weather. new styles In
dresses nd like topics are discussed by me mag
mary visitors AZ Initiated by Tom In "a way mat Is
varv con- cal but he will not do IL II he KNOWS
there Is any one listening TO him. . -
= In spte or his advanced years ana MS reserved
formal d.meanor In company, Tom Is merely an
ny.rerown child and has to be carefully watched
he N. male nurse especially hired Tor mat pur,
Dos. He has all the selhshness OF spoiled
child and is Jealous OF any attention PAID
~ any one else I'm his presence. He has little
natural affection and cares only for those around
him who minister directly to his wants. lie ~
uiIling that his mother should be taken care OF OUT
~ the money he has earned. but he does not wish
20 have her or his brothers ana sisters near MN
for fear that they may annoy MIN. or prevent MS
heinp The sole object OF the attention OF those
around him With the exception or this chldiike
seldshness "Bnd Tom Is extremely moral and
religious in his habits and disposition. lie never
eats without first offering prayer. and on sun
davs viii, play only church music on his piano.
ii was only after the conclusion OF Mrs. Lerche's
long legal contest that mother and son were to-
ret6er again for the first time since Toms In
fancy but after the novelty OF their reunion had
worn away IL was evident that their tastes ana
temperaments were so utterly at variance that
there was little likelihood OF their living happily
together.
shore enjoys life In his serenely selfish way with
his piano and his imaginary visitors. and with
every reasonable wish gratihed since the courts
released him from the tenacious grip or hs old
master, who few years since passed over the
great divide into that other world where there are
hanpily. no Blind TOMS to tempt mems souls.