is an idiot. Out with the idea! Who ever heard of an
idiot possessing such power of memory, such fineness of musical
sensibility, such order, such method, as he displays? Let us call him
the embodiment, the soul, of music, and there rest our investigations;
for all else is futility, all else is vain speculation.

Thus have I alluded in a general way to the characteristics of this
most wonderful pianist. A more particular but brief sketch of his life
from infancy to manhood cannot but be interesting, not only to the
student in music, but to all classes of readers.

"Thomas Greene Bethune" (I am quoting from his biography),
"better known to the public as 'Blind Tom,' was born within
a few miles of the city of Columbus, Ga., on the
twenty-fifth day of May, 1849. He is of pure negro blood,
and was born blind. His first manifestation of interest in
any thing was his fondness for sounds; the first indication
of capacity, his power for imitating them. Musical sounds
exerted a controlling interest over him; but all sounds,
from the soft breathings of the flute to the harsh grating
of the corn-sheller, appeared to afford him exquisite
enjoyment. His power of judging of the lapse of time was as
remarkable as his power of remembering and imitating sounds.
Those who are familiar with clocks that strike the hours,
have observed, that, a few minutes before the clock
strikes, there is a sharp sound different from and louder
than the regular ticking. There was a clock in the house;
and every hour in the day, just precisely when that sound
was produced, Tom was certain to be there, and remain until
the hour was struck.

"He exhibited his wonderful musical powers before he was two
years old. When the young misses of the family sat on the
steps of an evening, and sang, Tom would come around and
sing with them. One of them one evening said to her
father,--

"'Pa, Tom sings beautifully; and he don't have to learn any
tunes: he knows them all; for, as soon as we begin to sing,
he sings right along with us.'

"Very soon she said,--

"'He sings fine seconds to any thing we sing.'

"His voice was then strong, soft, and melodious. Just before
he had completed his second year he had the whooping-cough,
from the effects of which his voice underwent an entire
change; it beca