Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-07
| Mr.. schramm) to be most extraordinary

Mr.. Schramm) to be most extraordinary
achievement in years by child.
The writer spent several hours at the
Schramm home the other afternoon. One
could not easily imagine a more pic
turesque and agreeable spot than where
the genius Of this phenomenal child Is
being developed. The sprawling trees, the
flowers. the long. wide side porch, the
rustic seats in the shade. and splasnins
water from tiny fountains in the yarn
all combine to make the scene charming
and restful. Paioma and Karla. bare
footed and dressed In boomers, were
playing at making mud pies and with
dolls under the trees. The parents were
In the house. With the naivete OF uncon-
scious childhood, Paloma came running
TO the gate TO meet the visitor Paioma
was all enthusiasm about improvements
that she had Just made in her miniature
park at the rear OF the house. The visi-
tor was shown the rabbits and the doves.
He was led by Paloma to see the opera
house that she and smaller Karla have
built in the yard, and the childish vir-
tuoso clapped her hands in ecstacy at
the proposition OF being photographed
there with her animal pets.
That's my acting bar" said Paloma,
pointing to an iron horizontal bar at one
side of the door yard. Perhaps you'd
like to see me perform"
The words were no sooner uttered than
the little girl had swung herself over the
bar with the ease OF an acrobat. She
hung by her knees, whirled about like
spokes in a wheel. performed a dozen
muscular feats. and then by a quick turn
she did a trick known by boys the world
over as "skinning the cat" and dropped
to the ground.
Very naturally. Paloma was asked 70
play. Certainly" she replied. with a
pretty smile. TN go and wash my hands
first"
A minute later she climbed upon the
piano stool. and. putting her feet upon
the attachment by which she can use the
pedals she began from memory LISTS
masterful arrangement OF Schubert's
serenade. Her father and mother busted
themselves about their household duties
as If their daughter was merely rendering
commonplace air of the street. Then
followed several selections from Wagner
and Rubinstein. The little child perform
er's face was study. She fairly thrilled
with the succession of harmonies. Her
eyes looked up and a peculiar far-away
expression came upon all her features.
Imagine a child in pretty white dresses
above her knees, a clear olive complexion.
a square, broad forehead, light brown
hair that hangs in clusters Of curls. large
brown eyes very thoughtful for child,
a gracefully arched and sensitive mouth.
thin lips. irregular, tiny. baby teeth, mus
cular brown arms and hands. and engag-
ing. quiet manners-and that is Paloma
She would be noticed in any assemblage
of children for her pretty, reposeful face
and her graceful ways. In Los Angeles.
where her photographs are publicly
shown in dozen places. she is daily re-
marked as being uncommonly beautiful
She has all the tastes and pleasures Of
any healthy child. The doll houses that
she and her 7-year-old sister Karla
have constructed in tho back yard at
home occupy hours of the children's care
and labor every day. Then there are the
pet rabbits. the lame dove. the community
of toads and the cat that play their parts
In the life OF this natural and lovable
child born with the divine spark. How
ever it does seem strange to see little
Paloma leap from the piano stool after
an exquisite rendering of a Beethoven
sonata or a soulful expression of an In
tricate symphony OF Rubinstein, and all
unconscious that she has done anything
uncommon. run out in the yard TO her
sister and their playground.