Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-05
SOME STORIES OF BLIND TON
Negro Pianist Was Long a Great
Money Maker.
INCOME OF Ex.sIAvE PRINCELY
Yearly PROFITS Probably as HiRh as
100000 n YeRr-saId 20 Have
Made 100000 on a
Trip Abroad.

10y
Few public performers ever played TO
more money than Blind Tom. who died
recently. He was prominently before tho
public for twenty years and after that when
his trustees were changed he still continued
70 play, but not with as much success. His
new managers did rot know how to handle
him properly and handling Tom took lots
Of tact. Until only a few years ago he
played and his last appearance was prob
ably on the variety stage. For forty years
he had been an attraction and in the first
half OF that time he played In almost every
town OF airy size in this country and Canada
and made tours on the other side Of the
Atlsnt!c.
Even in small towns he did we'll and as
running this show was not an expensive
one the profits we're large. A statement
OF accounts made by his old maEager
showed that In one month in 1884, which
was spent in Virginia. the receipts were
more than 1900 and the expenses 5000. He
usually kept on the road for nine months
out Of the twelve, so that his yearly profits
may have averaged about $4,000. On his
trip on the other side 1t was said he real
tied about $4,000, so that Tom while in
good hands was a source Of steady income,
1t Is singular that his old manager.
Thomas warhurst. who for twenty years
took him all over this country and through
Canada, died six months ago, and It was
under his management that Tom was most
successful. He was then well cared for
and we'll coached in his work and he carried
many thousands of dollars for the Bethune
family, on whose estate he was born a
slave.
suit for HE Control.
About twenty years ago Blind Tom got
into the courts. He was born during slave
times and later General Bethune acted as
his trustee. 1t was said that up to 1870 he
had earned more than $25O,OOO. General
Bethune then turned the trusteeship over
to his son, John C. Bethune. John Bethune
ran a racing stable which was said to be
supported by Blind Toms earnings. He died
lU 1888 and after lis death his widow
brought suit against the Bcthune family,
alleging that as widow of John Bethune,
she was the rightful trustee of Blind Tom
and in this case she was supported by
Charity Virgins, the mother of Blind Tom.
Mrs. Bethune won her suit, and since 1886
Blind Tom has been in her care. but she
Only succeeded in making a success of him
Cor a few years. .
Blind Tom was born a fCw miles from
Columbus In the county of Muscogee, Ca
on May g., ls49. His parents were field
hands OF the pure negro blood, with moth
ing to distinguish them from the mass of
their race, except that his mother had small
feet and hands and was OF an active, merry
temperament. He was born on the estate
Of Thomas Greene Bethune, where his
parents were slaves.
Tom was born blind. and as he was un-
able 10 learn anything from sight it was
generally thought that he was idiotic. When
very young he showed a great fondness FOL
sounds. and musical sounds eXerted a con-
trolling interest over him. He learned to
talk when young and spoke clearly and dis
tinctly. but his words had no meaning and
were simply limitations OF what he heard
General Bethune, when he heard thai
Toms mother had said Tom had not sense
enough to learn. declared this was a mis-
take. He went TO Tom and said: Tom
sit down. Tom repeated the words. TIT
general. then repeated tie order and a
the same time sat Tom on the floor. Tom
get up" said the general. Tom sat still
and repeated. He then ordered Tom to ge
up, and lifted him TO his feet. Next TIM
Tom was told to sit down he did so a
once and promptly rose TO his feet wheI
ordered. From that time Tom learnc,
quickly Everyone tried to teach him.
HIS First Performance.
When Tom was about 4 years old
piano was brought TO the house and a
soon as he heard this Tom was entranced
One night his mother had neglected to loci
her door and Tom disappeared. lie foun
his way into the Bethune house through a
open window and early in the morning tn
piano was heard. Tom was seated befor
the instrument playing one OF the pieces h
had heard and playing it correctly wit
both hands and using the black as well a
the white keys. From that time he wa
allowed to use the piano and soon h
could repeat any piece he heard. Then ,
began 10 compose himself. He would sit
The plano for hours. When asked what /
was playing he would say, That was whs
the trees said to me-" or THAT is what II
wind says" One day a German mus
teacher Of Columbus heard Tom and d.
elared that he knew more music than
could teach or learn, Tom was lat'
coached by some pianists. They playe
for him and he learned what they playe
and afterward repeated Il In public.
this way Tom learned TO play thousands
pieces and in his repertoire were sonati
OF Beethoven. Mendelssohn. Bach. Mozar
all the best known marches. many OF Il
pianoforte solos we'll known, ~plantatiC
songs and a number OF original pieces d
scribtive OF what he had heard.
One OF these was The Rain storm
when very young Tom used to stand