The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-01

bending eagerly over the piano. He would
strike one and then another chord until he
had produced the exact harmony which
he sought, then, springing from the piano
STOOL would grope his way through an open
window on to .he veranda' and placing ms
along this side of the house. listen intently
for moment Having caught the tone de-
sired, he would hurry back to the piano,
and after few trials reproduce ii with
wonderful accuracy Thus he continued
going back and forth from piano to gutter
until at last was composed the entire selec-
ton which he afterward called 'Raindrop
Polka This, Blind Toms first compost
ton, was in after years embodied in his
"Rainstorm" the best known and most
meritorious of his productions.
while this little musical prodigy was
often exhibited for the wOndeTment OF
friends and neighbors it was not until about
seven years OF age that he first appeared
in a public concert. | recall quite wildly
one of these early performances which was
THE concert hall, a large barnlike room,
gaudy with gay frescoeS and glass chande-
Tiers. more or less dimmed with SCOT and
dust had at one end board stage, upon
which was placed chair and piano.
HIS FIRST CONCERT.
after waiting what seemed an unrea-
sonably long time the manager appeared
upon the stage, half coaxing. half leading,
a little black pickannny. dressed in white
linen. He was of a rather chubby build,
with a large head. which rested in a pecu-
liar way upon the back of his shoulders.
His mouth, as usual, was wide open. and
his great blubber lips and white glistening
teeth were about all that you could see as
he faced you. Tom was not in a good hu-
NOR that night, and il required a deal OF
coaxing and promises of candy and cakes
to induce him to open the concert. At last
seating himself at the piano, almost half
a yard distant, he stretched out his arms
full length as though to claw from the
keyboard those wondrous melodies which so
bewildered and delighted his audiences.
Now, Tom, my boy, said his master. in
kindly tone suppose you give EN- us some some
back, his fingers began 70 glide smoothly
over the keys. and those harmonies of Verdi
which you would have chosen as the purest
opponents OF passion hoated through the
room. Selections from other composers
equally renowned followed. After each
piece he applauGed himself Justify. then
turned appealingy to his master for the
approving pat upon the head.
"A musician then came upon the stage
to put the child's powers TO a more severe
test Songs and intricate symphonies were
rendered. Tom stood motionless while they
were being given, and for few, moments
thereafter: then, seating himself at the
piano. played each selection without the
loss of a note or break of tone. Seated
with his back to the piano, he gave sew
eral selections with accuracy and express
sion.
sramme the little blind performer be-
ginning to show signs of WEAKNESS, where
upon his master announced the perform
ance at an end. Just then there appeared
upon the stage musician with thick roll
of music some of his own composition,
which had never been given in public, and
this he insisted upon the child trying. The
manuscript was fourteen pages long, with
variations upon an animated theme The
master refused to subject the boys already
tired energies to so cruel test, but the
m cd of aGf
under protest, seated himself at the piano.
FULFILLED THE TEST.
During the colloquy Tom had stood by
with dull. heavy look upon his face, but
when the first note was sounded he scram-
bled eagerly to the musicians side his
head rolling nervously and his fingers
twitching impatienly. He struck the OPEN
ing cadence. and then, from the first note
to the last, gave the secundo triumphantly,
Jumping up. he fairly showed the composer
from the stool. and, taking his place, pro-
ceeded to play the treble with such bril-
liancy and power as fairly to dazzle both
the audience and the composer When he
struck the last octave he sprang from the
piano. yelling with delight us got m,
masSa! Us got M The enthusiastic ap-
| plause of the audience excited him still
more, and it was an hour or more before
his master could quiet the child's hyster-
| ical agita ton.
Zone remarkable feature of Blind Toms
| playing is the scientific precision of his
= touch. From the beginning of his per-
| formances ii has been noticed that his
| touch was always scientifically accurate.
| Yet. though SURPRISING all others in the
| comprehension and retention of sound, the
| science of music he has never been able TO
| master. He produces\ verbat tim ct lteratim
| whatever he hears, not forgetting the APP
| plause at the end. In the Library of Con-
| gress are seventeen compositions which are
i
| "Rainstorm" alluded to and the Battle of
! Manassas" are the only ones which reflect
any credit upon him as composer.
| This weak-witted negro. whose phenom-
| email musical gift and marvellous powers of
memory made him the star attraction at
| the leading theaters in days gone by, is
now living a quiet contented life in a pic
| turesque little cottage on the banks of the
| Shrewsbury river. notwithstanding the fact
| that there is an inscription on a tombstone
| which records the fact that he was among
| the number who persisted in the Johnstown
| flood. After the courts declared him free
| and gave him the privilege of selecting his
! own guardian his mother came to live with
| him.
He did not know her, however and had
| not intelligence enough to appreciate their
relationship, while she was terrified at his
outlandish gibberish and strange behavior,
| believing him possessed She remained
| for time with him, however then de-
| clared that she would die IL forced to stay
any longer. So Aunt Charity returned to
heI peioVeu HoMe III GeOrgld Wnere her
| last days were made comfortable and free
from care through the unconscious instru-
mentality of her gifted son. And this son.
| though possessing such a marvellous facil-
| ity for inspiring in others the deepest and
most exquisite emotions, is himself incapa-
| Die of feeling the slightest pang of regret
or sorrow at the passing away of the faith
full old nanny, whom they have laid to
| rest in the old plantation amidst the sough-
ing pines and singing birds that first awak-
ened the melody of music in the benighted
| soul of her offspring.