The sun., 1908-07-05

words had no meaning and were simply
limitations of what he heard.
Gen. Bethune, when he heard that Toms
mother had said Tom had not sense enough
to learn, declared this was a mistake He
went to Tom and said: tom, sit down."
Tom repeated the words. The General then
repeated the order and at the same time
sat Tom on the floor. tom. get up said
the General Tom sat still and repeated.
He then ordered Tom to get up, and lifted
him to his feet. Next time Tom was told
to sit down he did 40 at once. and promptly
rose to his feet when ordered. From that
time Tom learned quickly Every one
tried to teach him.
When Tom was about years old piano
was brought to the house and as soon as
he heard this Tom was entranced. One
night his mother had neglected to lock
her door and Tom disappeared. He found
his way into the Bethune house through an
open window and early in the morning the
piano was heard. Tom was seated before
the instrument playing one Of the pieces he
had heard, and playing it correctly with
both hands and using the black as we'll as
the white keys. From that time he was
allowed to use the piano and soon he could
repeat any piece he heard. Then he be-
gan to compose himself. He would sit at
the piano for hours. When asked what he
was playing he would say. THAT was what
the trees said to me-" or THAT is what the
wind says" One day German music
teacher Of Columbus heard Tom and de-
clared that he knew more music than he
could teach or learn. Tom was later
coached by some pianists. They played
for him and he learned what they played
and afterward repeated 1t in public. In
this way Tom learned to play thousands Of
pieces and in his repertoire were sonatas
Of Beethoven. Mendelssohn. Bach, Mozart.
pianoforte solos we'll known. plantation
songs and a number OF original pieces de-
scriptive of what he had heard.
One of these was "The Rain Storm.
When very young Tom used to stand in a
passageway and listen to the rain pattering
on the roof, and from this he made his Rain
Storm" He was not far distant from the
battle of Manassas and this he made the
subject of another piece.
Tom was born blind, but when or 4
years old it was noticed that he spent much
of his time with his face turned toward the
sun. In time he developed little sight.
He could see luminous bodies, and persons
whom he knew well he could recognize
when few feet away.
When in public Tom would play what he
was told to. When he he'd fnished and was
appleuded he would turn toward the audi
ence and applaud himself by clapping his
hands. He seemed to take as much enjoy
ment out Of his performance as his lis
teners. He was always happy when he was
with piano. and when he and his managers
arrived In town he was often locked In the
, hall in which he was 20 play during the
evening. He wan perfectly safe while he
could play the piano. In many ways he
! was just like a. child, but was even more
trouble than child. His mealo were al.
ways served 10 him In his own room. and
., when the food was brought to him he would
always insist that the sugar bowl should
! be as full as 1t was poeeible to make IL. I'm
, less 1t was full Tom would storm and refuse
TO cat anything. Then when he had fin
ished his meal he would stenl tho sugar left
and hldeit. He was 30 helpless that no hat
l to be dresscd and even to have his fact