The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-22
R0BT. a. NEWLAND DEAD
A WELL-KNOWN ORGANISE, MUCH
BELOVED IN THIS CITY.
Had an ApopIectic Stroke a week Ago
connected with Institute for
Blind Thirty Years.


| Robert A. Newland, a Hoosier musician
! and teacher, one of the most widely known
| and best beloved men in Indianapolis, died
| shortly before o'clock last evening at his
home, No. % East Michigan street. He had
been i'll more or less all summer and suf-
| fered a severe stroke, supposed to have
| been apoplectic, week ago. yet his death
was entirely unexpected and came as
| great shock to his family and friends He
was seized with a fainting spell one even
ing and another the next morning last
week but he seemed to recover fairly well
| though he was unable to leave the house
Friday evening he suffered anothr and
much lighter attack, but yesterday he
seemed to be recovering nicely until toward
| evening when he began to breathe with
difficulty and sank rapidly until the end
| came His five children, Harry, Anna, Net
| tie, John and Max, ranging in age from
twelve to twenty-three years, were at his
bedside.
Mr.. Newland was almost blind, being able
to see from eye just enough to read
music. For twenty-one years he was organ
list at the Second Presbyterian Church.
leaving his post only when his sight began
to fail him almost utterly in 1891 After
an interval of three years he again under
took church work at the Tabernacle, but
had to desist during the last holidays on
account of his eyes. He was connected
with the Institute for the Blind for nearly
thirty years, first as pupil and then as
head of the musical department, to which
he gave a reputation as broad as the land.
Aside from his great local acquaintance,
he was widely known in musical circles
throughout the country as an improvisation
of remarkable talent and the author of
some excellent music, among his compost
lions being the well-known "Waltz
Caprice" the Dew Drop 1.-The Willo-
way lullaby and others. He was only
in his fiftieth year and all thought he had
still many years before him. His affliction
was of a very painful nature particular in
summer, when the bright sunlight upon
the hot pavements made his eyes ache,
yet he never complained. His was that
sweet, lovable temperament that bore all
things with noble patience and sought only
to make the world he could not see bright
er and happier. In his church work he i'm
displaying exquisite taste and wonderful
execution. Born in Union county, this
State he early displayed a taste for music
from much of the farm work that falls
to the lot of country lads. The music that
was so great a part of his nature dubbed
to the surface despite all restraint.
His first attempt at musical expression
ratified from sunrise to sunset much to the
annoyance of the family, especially his
mother who, when forbearance ceased to
be a virtue, would eXclaim: Robert when
we want music, we will ask for it,
One day the bones disappeared myster-
lousy. 1t was not until long years after,
upon visit to his boyhood home that he
found them where they had remained
hidden. They are now among his most
cherished possessions.
A PRODIGY IN HIS YOUTH.
Before he eight years old he was
something of a prodigy as a fife-player.
His first public performance occurred in
this city before he was ten years old. The
occasion was a grand rally. Stephen A.
Douglas made the speech. A large dele
cation came up from Union county, and
with them was young Newland with his
fife. After marching for some time it was
seen that the little fife performer was lag
ging and could not keep up with the pro-
| cession. The inspiring sound of his fife
could not be parted with, so Mr.. William
Lynch, of Cumberland, took him on his
broad shoulders, where he carried him for
over three hours.
Another memorable occasion when young
| Newland played the fife was at a grand
rally at Cumberland at the beginning of
| the war, when Benjamin Harrison raised
| a whole company in a single evening.
Later. when the country fife-player had
become the distinguished organist, he
| played the wedding march at the mar
| riage of General Harrisons daughter, Mrs
| Mckee.
Professor Newland often said he owed
| all that he was in musical way to W. H.
! Churchman, former superintendent and the
| founder of the Institution for the Blind in
! this city where Newland was placed. Mr.
| Churchman saw the wonderful musical
| gift of the boy. and encouraged him to
| Through his influence 1Ir Newland was
admitted to the Institution for the Blind
| at Boston, then in charge of DIR. Howe,
! who brought out the talents of Laura
| the organ and piano. as well as band in
Returning from Boston, Mr.. Newland
| was given the direction of the musical de-
partment at the institute for the Blind. a
| position he has held ever since. No one
| better understood the sympathetic nature
| of blind pupils than he and he was wonder
! fully successful in teaching them. Twenty
| five years ago he married Miss Hattie G..
| Carpenter, q native of New York, who was
! a teacher at the institute at the time,
| and they lived a happy life until she died
| a year ago His first church work was
| with Roberts Park, and then began his
Church. He gave organ recitalS in many
| cities and always scored a triumph. His
| music came from the heart and when lie
was seated at the organ or piano it seemed
to aow from his fingers without effort.
His popularity was shown last March,
whom q few of his friends persuaded him
! with difficulty to let them give him tcs-
timonial concert at Plymouth Church
/ They were emba rrassed with the great
number of tenders of services by musicians
and the church was crowded to its ca
pacity