public, being convinced that in so doing he would afford delight to
all lovers of good music, and add much to his already fine reputation.

Many complimentary notices touching the musical abilities of Mr. Lewis
have from time to time appeared in the public journals. A few of the
briefest are given below.

One of these journals, a good while ago, said,--

"Mr. Lewis is an amateur performer of marked ability."

"The Boston Journal," June 11, 1874, said,--

"Mr. Lewis gained much applause for his violin solos; and a
duet and also a sonata by Mozart, for violin and piano, were
well received."

"The Boston Globe," April 16, 1874, said,--

"Mr. F.E. Lewis, violin soloist, appeared once on the list,
and was so demonstratively applauded, that he was a second
time forced to come upon the platform. His first solo and
the response were very artistically given."

In these driving days, when competition is so rife in all the trades
and professions, and when, even among our best musicians, what begins
as a spirit of honest rivalry often degenerates into that of
detraction, it is pleasant to record instances in which it is shown
that there are those who in their culture so strikingly unite the
qualities of the skilful artist and the true gentleman, that their
warmest admirers and friends are found among those of the same
calling. Of Mr. Lewis, Mr. Alonzo Bond, director of Bond's Military
Band, and a veteran musician of note, once said, "He is the finest
accompanist (piano) in the United States." The writer has also in
possession letters, highly commendatory of Mr. Lewis as a musician,
from Mr. L.R. Goering, a skilful orchestra leader, member of that fine
body of musicians, the Germania Band, and a teacher of great merit;
from T.M. Carter, director of Carter's Band; from J.O. Freeman, and
J.H. Richardson,--all musicians of high rank, and gentlemen of
excellent general culture. From the letter of one of these (Mr. J.O.
Freeman) I quote the following reference to the subject of this
sketch:--

"I look upon him as a person of remarkable musical ability.
His performance on the violin, viola, violoncello,
double-bass, clarinet, and also brass instruments, is really
surprising. But where we see his real talent is in his
conception and rendering of classical music on the
piano-forte. Even in his own compositions he has shown much
real talent. I regret tha