The Globe-republican., 1899-05-18
/ MUSICAL MARVEL.
THAT WILL SOME DAY ASTON
MUSIC LOVERS.
0GA9 Year Old Girl Plays Many Iastfu-
0Dts-Joha Philip Souss Believes In
0R Future. Saying That Her Music
Il Really Wonderful. v

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. NJ. 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 one day during his last visit
here, and, placing his hand upon her
head, declared that 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
fellowship he added his photograph.
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, cornet, clarinet or au-
toharp Upon none of these latter in
struments has she received instruc-
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 lightning cal
culator foots up figures. Given mel
ody with which the child is familiar.
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
rearranges 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 reproduces in the proper
key upon the piano keyboard. Not the
least astonishing are her powers in
improvisiIg. She has composed a
number of pieces of music which have
been played by local orchestras. Prof.
Waldemar Malmene, Lina's instructor,
is very modest when talking about his
pupil. He believes that, if she lives,
the world will profit by her being Of
It. He has recently composed for her
"Pairies Frolic," caprice mazurka. in
the key of A major, bright, sparkling
in tone, and full Of intricate arpeggia
passage. Lima played the compost
ton OF readily. So acute is the ear
Of this child that she had reduced such
noises as steamboat whistles, street
car bells, the voices of her acQuain-
tances, to the proper pitch upon the
piano. At school she stands in the
first ranks and in all other ways is
q girl who likes to frolic. As piece
of fun she plays on the piano Yankee
Doodle" with the right hand, Blue
Bells of Scotland" with the left, while
she sings Mother Goose melody. Mr..
Marsh, who is music teacher. will re-
press Lina's talent until she has be-
come more mature. when his daughter
will be placed under the direction OF
the best musical instruction he can af-
ford. Lima was born at Delavan, H.,
Feb. IL. 1890