Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-05

a p-assageway and listen TO the rain pat
terinE on the roof and from this he made
his Rain Storm. He was not far dis
tant from the battle Of Manassas and this
he made the subject of another piece.
Tom was born blind. but when 3 or 4
Years old IL was noticed that he spent
much OF his time with his face turned
toward the sun In time he developed a
little sight. He could zee luminous
bodies. and persons whom he knew well
he could recognize when a few feet away.
Always a Child.
when in public Tom would play what
he was told to. When he had finished
and vas applauded he would turn toward
the audience and applaud himself Oy clap
ping his hands. He seemed to take as
much enjoyment out Of his performance
as his listeners. lie was always happy
when he was with a piano. and when he
and his managers arrived in a town he
was often locked in the hall in which he
was to play during the evening. He was
perfectly safe while he could play the
piano. In many ways he was just like a
child. but was even more trouble than a
child. His meals were always served to
him In his own room, and when the food
was brought to him he would always in
sist that the sugar bowl should be as full
as It was possible TO make 1t. Unless 1T
was full Tom would storm and refuse to
eat anything. Then when he had fin
ished his meal he would steal the sugar
left and hide It. He was so helpless that
he had to be dressed and even to have his
face washed. II was not every one that
he would allow to attend to his toilet.
On one occasion his manager had to
! 1--.. ~ - A.. lA4 - 49,, IaaN f
him explained how he could regulate tho
heat In the room. Now" said ne, IF
this room gets too hot turn this radiator
this way, and If too cold turn it the other
way and he illustrated what he said by
guiding Toms hand. Then to find out If
Tom understood he asked what he would
do II the room was hot. Tom mad his
finger on the radiator and with ease
pulled IL out from the wall.
When very young Tom used to like to
hurt other children 50 that he m ght hear
them cry. 1t was thought that he did not
do this out Of cruelty, but because of his
fondness for all sounds. Once he choke1
a younger brother nearly to death and at
another time burned an infant sister. This
m mia lasted all his life and any exclama-
ton Indicative OF pain always gave him
great pleasure, although he always ex-
pressed sympathy for the sufferer. Once
when in a small town his manager locked
him in the hall as usual and Tom amused
himself with the piano. When his manage err
returned he was surprised to lind Tom
holding a man down on the floor and al
most choking him. The man was yelling
and Tom was delighted.
Another peculiar farcy Of Toms was to
stand on his head. Almost the first thing
he would do on entering his bedroom was
10 jump over the foot of the bedhead rst
and stand on his head on the bed. This
he would do over ana over again and then
would rub his hands and chuckle with de.
lisht.
Test BY n SkeDtIc.
When Tom first made his appearance
many musicians were skeptical as to hi.
abilities and many visited him. One o.
the fiIst was Prof. George A. Kelly Of
Pittsburs. Tom was 4 years old at the
time and in order to test him Prof
Kelly played a piece of his own compo
st.on which had not been published. Ton
played it at once as accurately and wit
as much expression as the professor. Thir
teen years afterward Prof. Kelly saw Ton
again. Tom remembered the incident o
many years previous and played the pro
fessor's piece again.
Tom could name any note played on
plano and musicians would try to catcI
him by striking keys at random, and how
ever discordant the chords might be. Ton
would name every note with extraordinar
quickness. He did this for Charles Halle
, for Moscheles and for other noted mu
sicians.
The Albany Argus of January, 1876, dc
c scr!bed Tom as "a wild, uncouth figure
I angular at all points, which should b
, curved and curved at points that shout
! present acute ~lines-loose Jointed, clos
! woclled, thick Tipped, sprawl footed, wi,
: forehead almost covered with kinky locks
! oyeballs prominent and distended and a
= dot c, staring expression Of countenance.
= in short, a regular specimen Of the Africa
IN his unadulterated and barbarous cor
dit'on." 1t then described what Tom coul
a do, how he would name any note strucl
; how he would call off correctly twent
notes that had been sounded rapidly, no
X he played Beethoven's Sonata PathetiGue
d without a false note or slur or d'scord
Il omission.
Toms wonderful memory lasted throue
: his life. When last performing in Brookly
{ he was visited by the daughter Of his o
" mcnager and asked II he ell OF
who had gone twenty-five years befor
"Why, yes" said Tom. she used to was
nah face" and then he talked Of his o
friends and seemed happier than he hs
been for a long time.