The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1899-07-01
A MUSICAL MARVEL.
THAT WILL SOME DAY ASTON
ISH MUSIC LOVERS.
Eight Year Old Girl Plays Many Instru-
ments--John Philip sousa Believes In
Her Future. Saying That Her Musio
Is Really Wonderful, "

Lima Marsh, a frail little creature, 8
years of age, with great, half-fright-
ened eyes, Is the musical phenomenon
that st. Louis will some day contrib
ute to the artistic world. If she lives
her parents, Mr.. and Mrs. l. M. Marsh
Of 2806 North Broadway, think Lima
will some day astonish all lovers OF
music. John Philip Sousa will prob
ably claim that he discovered the child
prodigy, for he spent nearly two hours
with her n day during his last visit
here, and. placing his hand Upon her
head, declared hat the child was a
genius. Her music Is wonderful and
her ear perfect. She has an intelli-
gent recognition Of harmony that Is
very musical and far beyond her years.
She should not be allowed to practice
until she is II years old, but should
romp like other children" After Civ
ing this advice the famous musician
presented Lima with autograph score
of his operas, "The Charlatan,"
"Bride-Elect," and of his STARS and
Stripes March, AS a token of good
lCllOWSLlp uG duutu LIS DlOlOSl dDl.
Lima expresses her remarkable powers
upon the piano in the lighter work OF
Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, and Bach,
but she can play upon either a man
dolin, piccolo, c%ornet, clarinet or au-
toharp. Upon none of these latter in
struments has she received in%struc-
ton. Her intuitive genius seems to
be the instinct of sound recognition
and the power of extraordinary mem
DRY. Her reading of music is done as
glibly as many of the most proficient
musicians could do. She can run
scales as rapidly as a lightning cal
culator foots up figures. Given a mel
ody with which the child is familiar,
she dictates every note from memory
for the performer to follow upon the
instrument. Listening in a room ad-
joining the one in which any instru-
ment is being played, she can reduce
the notes to the proper score. Trans
posing and arranging music is her
pastime. Without any hesitation she
r%earranges an entire theme to suit the
various instruments of an orchestra
She can indicate the movements Of
the instruments over each note. Any
sound she r%eproduces in the proper
key Upon the piano keyboard. Not the
least astonishing are her powers il
~improvising. She has composed {
number of pieces of music which have
been played by local orchestras. Prof
Waldemar Malmene, Lina's instructor
Is very modest when talking about hi
pupil. He believes that, if she lives
the world will profit by her being o
it. He has recently composed for he
"Pairies Frolic,' a caprice mazurka, il
the key of A major, bright, sparkling
in tone, and full of intricate arpeggi
passage. Lima played the compost
ton off readily. So acute is the ca
of this child that she had reduced sue
noises as steamboat whistles, stree
car bells, the voices of her acquain
tances, to the proper pitch upon tn
piano. At school she stands in tn
= first ranks and in all other ways
a girl who likes to frolic. AS a pieC
! of fun she plays on the piano "Yanke
Doodle" with the right hand, Blu
: Bells of Scotland" with the left, viii
: she sings a Mother Goose melody. M
Marsh, who is music teacher, will r.
: press Lina's talent until she has b,
come more mature, when his daught'
: will be placed under the direction
the best musical instruction he can a
ford. Lima was born at Delavan, II
Feb II. 1890.