Year: 1873

Public interests in Blind Tom as a


musical prodigy has been, and still


is, kept up by what may, after all, be


an artifice, or trick. Ia all his con-


certs his idiocy is put prominently


forward. Every effort is made to i'm


press the audience with the idea that


he is idiotic, and that his musical per-


formances are the wonderful results


of single extraordinary gift, or tall


ent. To make this impression Blind


Tom is caused to indulge in senseless


gestures, foolish speeches, and, in


short, to act like a natural fool. The


truth is that he is very intelligent


negro, that he has other wonderful


powers of mind besides his gift for


music. This is very evident from
several things, which thinking
person can easily observe in the
course of one of his entertainments.
For example, his spelling of words
by means of certain notes made on
the piano, shows clearly he has not
onlyapowerful memory ofsounds, but
also has the reasoning faculty suffici-
emily strong to connect the note
struck on the instrument with the
letter indicated. Then the full, clear,
distinct pronunciation of each word
that hespells, howeverunusualit it may
be, indicates more than mere talent
for music, or extraordinary sense of
sound.


But there is the strongest evidence
that trick is played upon the public,
in presenting him as an idiot, in song
which he is said to have composed.
This song is first sung by Blind Tom,
and afterward repeated, or recited as
peice of poetry. 1t its sung in
very sentimental style, and one
would think, was really very affect
ing song; but when recited by Blind |
Tom, it is found to be mere string
of nonsense. However, it has a fine
point, taken in the way that the !
truly sensible author intended it to |
be received. 1t is perfect burlesque
of sentimental songs. AS burlesque
it evinces in the composer an intel
lect of very high order.


But public interest in Blind Tom |
would be diminished, if the popular
notion about his idiocy were correct
ed. 1t is far more profitable to his
manager to present him to the public
as an idiot, than to set him forth in
the true light. He would not draw
such immense houses, if people gen.
orally believed that he was simply a
negro, who had remarkable talent
for music, and who was first rate
performer on the piano. He draws
better houses, by making the i'm
preston that on every other subject
than music he knows nothing. This,
we believe, is a mere trick. Blind
Tom is not only an excellent music
ian, but he is a sensible, well-inform-
ed negro. More than that, a great |
deal of pains have been taken to
thoroughly instruct him in music, as
well as in the arts by which he is
made to appear an idiot. No doubt,
at first he showed great natural ca
pacity to learn and practice music on
the piano. Just as Ole Bull learned
to play on the violin without teach
er. Indeed, Ole Bull, played well on
the violin from the very beginning.
And there is no more idiocy in Blind
Toms case than in Ole Bulls. Blind
Tom is negro, and has negro man.
ners. He comes before the audience
just as We might expect any other
negro to do. And, if his manager
would not insist upon the farce of his
acting the part of an idiot, by max
ing disgusting gestures and foolish
speeches, he would impress the public
as plain, sensible negro with great
talent for music.