The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-12-06
BLIND TOMS OLD MOTHER. y

cent,y III a tumble-down shanty OF
the the outskirts of Birmingham, Ala.
was the mother of "Blind Tom" on,
of the greatest prodigies the musica
world has ever known. She wa.
born IN slavery and belonged to the
family of Gen. James N. Bethune
wealthy Georgians, who lived neal
Columbus. She was the mother oi
20 children, of whom the noted plan
istwas originally regarded as the least
worthy.
When "Tom" was born his moth
er belonged to Col. Wiley Jones of
Georgia, and not long after his birth
she and her children were sold to
General Bethune. "Tnm !" hAino
blind aud considered worthless, was
"throwu in" that is to say, in the
TRANSACTION no valuation was set upon
him.
When he child was 3 years old,
according o the story of his mother
told just b6ore she died, he develop
ed great hndness for music. Gen
eral Bethurh's daughters were ac-
complished musicians, and the chief
delight of the blind boy, who was al
lowed to craw. about the yard, wear
ing single @rment-a shirt-was
to get under tle window and listen
to the young women playing the
piano.
'"Tom's" birthraises an interesting
question in psychology, and has been
the subject of comment in the lectures
of some of the most eminent men of
science in the country. Just bofore
his birth there were several young
women at the home Of his mother S
owner, all musicians. They played
on the piano in the evenings, and fire.
quently had "Tom's s." mother to
dance for them, a duty which fell
lightly on the shoulders of the ne
gress, who violently loved not only
the dancing but the music. She took
advantage of every opportunity to
hear the piano, and seemed enchant-
ed with its melodies. She had a
good memory, and learned many of
the selections, though not able to play
herself. This is believed by many
scientific men to account, largely, if
not wholly, for the wonderful talent
of her son.
In her declining years the old wo-
man delighted to tell stories illustra-
ting the peculiar and remarkable ac-
complishments of her. blind offspring.
She always denied that he had only
intelligence in music, and she resent
ed 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 renown in this country
and Europe, he invited his mother to
go to New york ana De nlS compan-
ion. She went and for FIVE years had
every comfort of life, but she was su-
premely unhappy because she was re-
moved 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 Birmingham.
The old woman came with them, and
the trio, on account of illness and nat
ural infrmities, became poverty-stick-
en-. The mother of the musician took
to her bed in July and never arose, dy-
ing the other day. The oldest of her
20 children is more than IS.
Her body was taken back to the
scenes of her childhood, near Colum-
bus, Ca, for burial, benevolent white
people paying the funeral expenses.
BUSY PEOPLE SELDOM TROUBLED WITH
BLUES.
Work is the best possible antidote
to woe. When in trouble of any kind
90 to work with all your might.
Work when feeling "a little out of
sorts" is a surer cure than any med
icine the doctor can give you. A
busy person is not often troubled with
the ''blues." Busy persons seldom
become misanthropes, anarchists or
'fre-brands" in the community.
There is nothing better to keep mis-
chief out of the head than to keep
busy at something useful. The Sc
cret of success in life is to keep busy,
10 be persevering, patient and untir-
ing in the pursuit or calling you are
following. The busy ones may now
and then make mistake, but it is
better to risk these than to be idle
and inactive. Keep doing, whether
it be at work or seeking recreation.
Motion is life and the busiest are the
happiest. Cheerful, active labor is
blessing. Idleness, when long in
dulged in, promotes grief, and otter
sel6shness. Help such sufferers BY
encouraging them to be up and doing
IOuoO LLOhA W q SCAOO vi blA$ odtA(s
that await them, and the welfare ol
others that depend upon them, anc
you have done more to comfort then
permanently than you could by many
words. Yet such efforts, to be efec
tive, should have no touch of harsh
ness or roughness. An old philoso
pher says: "The FREELY only shines
when on the wing so it is with the
mind. When once we rest we dark
en-" ''What is your secret" asked
lady of Turner, the distinguished
artist. II have no secret" wasth'
reply, "but hard work. And tha
is the only secret that will make /;
really successful man out of boy
rich or poor. Work cures more i'll
than all the doctors in the world
Word and Wo,kS.
LITTLE ERED-"I don't see VIII,
they can't raise watermelons withou
Seeds"
Mamma-"Why, dear, it is impos
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