Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-01
BLIND TOMS MOTHER DEAD
AFTER LIVING 105 YEARS

Charity Virgins a colored woman, said
to be 105 years Old who died in Birming-
ham last week in a little tumbledown
shanty, was the mother OF Blind Tom one
Of the greatest prodigies the musical
world has ever known. She was born in
slavery and belonged to the family of
General James n. Bethune. wealthy Geor
gians. who lived near Columbus. She
was the mother OF twenty children, of
whom the noted pianist was originally
regarded as the least worthy.
When Tom was born his mother be-
longed to Colonel Whey Jones, Of Geor-
gia, and not long after his birth she and
her children were sold to General Be
thune Tom being blind and considered
worthless was thrown in that is to
say, IN the transaction no valuation was
set upon him.
When the child was three years old, ac-
cording TO the story of his mother told
just before she died, he developed great
fondness for music. General Bethunes
daughters were accomplished musicians
and the chief delight of the blind boy.
who was allowed to crawl about the yard.
wearing a single garment-a shirt-was to
get under the window and listen to the
young women playing the piano.
No one paid much attention to him in
those days and 1t was his custom to lie
on the ground for hours listening to the
WHICH nOdACQ Jul lAAlOu6A AAAC
windows OF the Bethune mansion.
One day, when he knew the occupants
were all upstairs. Tom crept into the
house and cropping to the piano climbed
up on the stool and began TO press the
keys cautiously with his baby fingers.
Becoming holder, because no one came to
take him away, he began to play the Sc
lection he had last heard. The members
Of the family en- the second floor heard
| NM NJ and 4nnnnged if
was one of the neighbors who had dropped
in to call. But at length Tom, the little
negro. was discovered and his remark
able musical talent was Immediately rec
ognized.
lie was asked 10 play over the various
familiar airs he had been accustomed to
hear around the house. The establishment
Of those present was great when he re-
produced them note for note, and showed
his ability to play the most complicated
selections once he had heard them. Thus
was his musical genius made known, and
while stiIl child he was introduced to
the musical world. 1t was said of him
in those days that nature had music for
him. and that even the patter OF the rain
drops on the roof were to him sweeter
than the greatest man-made music.
Blind Toms birth raises an interesting
question in psychology, and has been the
subject Of comment in the lectures of
OF some of the most eminent men of sci
ence in the country. Just before his birth
there We're several young women at the
home of his mothers owner, all musicians.
They played on the piano in the evenings,
and frequently had Toms mother to dance
for them, duty which fell lightly on the
shoulders of the negress, who violently
loved not only the dancing but the music.
She took advantage of every opportunity
TO hear the piano, and seemed enchanted
with its melodies. She had good memory,
and learned many of the selections,
though not able to play herself. This is
believed by many scientific men to account
| largely II not wholly for the wonderful
talent Of her son.
In her declining years the old woman de-
lighted to tell stories illustrating the pc
culiar and remarkable accomplishments of
| her blind offspring. She always denied
that he had only intelligence in music,
and she resented the idea that his gift of
music was purely mechanical.
When Blind Tom was at the height of
HIS fame some years ago, having won re-
nown in this country and Europe, he
! invited his mother to go to New York and
be his companion. She went and for five
years had every comfort of life, but she
was supremely unhappy because she was
removed from her old surroundings and
associates.
Accordingly she returned to the little
two-room cabin which General Bethune
before his death had built for her on his
old Georgia plantation There she and two
OF her daughters remained until last April,
when her daughters removed to Birming-
ham. The old woman came with them, and
the trio, on account of illness and natural
infirmities, became poverty stricken. The
mother OF the musician took her bed in
July and never arose again.