The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1919-09-27
NINE-YEAR-oLD NEPHEW or
BLIND TOM is PRODIGY.
Bourbon County Lad Plays Any Piano
Selection Perfectly After Hear
ing II Once.

Paris, Ky, Sept. 1O.-Many of the
older residents of Paris, as well as
those throughout the State, will re-
member Blind Tom" the musical
phenomenon of half a century ago.
Born blind and a slave of the Bedinger
family Of Bourbon county, at an early
age he developed most wonderful mus.
ical accomplishments and before he
had reached his majority had made a
| tour of practically every State in the
Union and had appeared Lefore a num-
| Der Of the crowned heads of Europe
On account of his blindness and
from the fact that he was half-witted,
he was made pet by the members of
his masters household, and spent
most of his time playing about the
spacious lawn of the old-fashioned
homestead. A young daughter of the
Bedinger family was especially at
feeling OF sympathy, and being an ac-
! complished musician herself she would
allow him to curl at her feet on the
| floor and listen with rapt attention to
her performances on the piano.
One cay while the family we're at
dinner they heard strains from the
piano emanating from the parlor, and
upon investigating were surprised to
find young Tom seated on the stool
and skillfully playing a number OF
difficult compositions, which his young
mistress had previously been practic.
ing.
1t soon developed that they had dis.
covered a most wonderful prodigy and
the fame of the young Negro spread
about the county and state, and nu-
melous prominent musicians called at
the home to investigate and went
away dumbfounded.
Not long afterward he was taken
in charge by a company organized in
Cincinnati, and during the next few
years or until his death, thousands
of persons in this country and foreign
lands were electrified by his wonder
full performances.
Traits Inherited.
1t developed recently that a young
grandnephew OF Blind Tom" has in
herited all his grand uncle's marvel
GUS talents, and if anything is more
proficient. The young boy is a son of
woman employed as a cook by a
wealthy farmer OF this county. He is
nine years of age and his duties have
been that of a chore boy about the
house and farm. Hearing the lady of
the house playing upon the piano re
Gently, he went into the parlor and
asked if she would allow him to play
| In a spirit of fun she told him he
might try his hand, and to her i'm
mense surprise he sat down and play
ed almost perfectly every piece that
she had previously played.
Other members of the family were
called in and many difficult compost
| tons of the old masters were played
by them, to be in turn played by the
little fellow. He knows not one note
from another, and while playing closes
his eyes and raises his head as though
searching from inspiration from on
high. Following each piece he plays
he applauds himself by a vigorous
clapping of his hands.
The family recently gave a recep-
tion, at which a number of the most
prominent musicians of the county
were present. Every conceivable
piece of music that could be thought
OF were played by them, both on the
piano and violin, only to be repeated
by the young prodigy on the piano in
more finished manner.
| AS a crucial test a young composer
of Paris rendered a piece Of his own
composition which had never been
played in public before, which the
young fellow repeated without flaw.
1t is planned to have him give per,
formance in public in the near future,
as prelude to a tour of the principal
cities.