Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1891 — KENTUCKY’S MUSICAL WONDER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

KENTUCKY’S MUSICAL WONDER

Walter J. Simpson, a Five-Year-Old Pianist of Danville. One of the most remarkable cases of musical precocity ever known in Kentucky is that of little Walter J.

Simpson, the five-year-old son of W. C. Simpson, Superintendent of the Mechanical Department of the State Deaf and Dumb Asylvm, located at Danville, Ky. He is a musical prodigy in all

the word implies. He plays the most difficult compositions on the piano and organ with as much ease as a trained musician could. The first time he attracted attention to his great natural talent was when; he was about three years of age, and shortly after his parents had purchased an organ. His mother, upon entering the room one day, was surprised at seeing the youthful musician, standing at the organ, working the pedal with one foot and executing, as well as his baby fingers would permit, one of the familiar religious hymns which she herself had been playing. The little fellow was encouraged and made rapid progress. Shortly after the discovery a local pianist happened to be at Mr. Simpson’s house, and the child’s playing struck her as being so remarkable that she offered to instruct it in all the branches, but the parents would not consent, preferring to wait until Walter was more matured. At the teacher’s advice, however, they exchanged the organ for a piano, and the new instrument seems to suit the youngster much better than the other. Another remarkable thing about the boy is his memory for tunes. He goes to church with his parents, hears a hj mn entirely new to him, and With a few hours’ practice reproduces it upon hirpiano. He enjoys his talent very touch and is never happier than wHen perched upon a piano stool and playing some of the bright, .catchy ‘airs that he hears on the. stfeets. His surroundings also conduce to his spending much of; his time at the piano. His Borne is situated within the, inclosure,of the deaf and dumb institute, and Walter’s playmates are only the. Utsle victims of an uiikind nature.,, Walter says they “can’t talk wif their moufs,” and fchfit he prefers Paying bis piano to playing with his amicted neighbors. He is wonderfully bright intellectually, and is a very handsome child, having almost a classical face, surmounted by darkbrown locks. His sparkling blue eyes light up his striking face, and his robust frame and general healthy appearance indicate the making of a strong man, His only pet is a beautifully marked shepherd dog that he calls “Quiz. ” He and “Quiz” are almost inseparable, and when his master is playing the dog seems to enjoy the music as much if not more than does Walter.

r T' —["i"! '* —— : Will the African £lepliant Work? In modern times, we haTe only to look to India to be convinced of the great usefulness of the elephant. To the agriculturist, who uses him before his wagon or his plow, he is indispensable, and for the transportation of • heavy articles, he has no equal. We see him carrying immense tree-trunks out of the Indian forest, and by Ms indefatigable industry, in picking up and carrying off large stones, aiding the construction of roads and railways. For labor of this kind a coolie receives from four to eight annas, while five and six rupees are paid for the daily work of an elephant. From this fact, we conclude that one elephant performs the work of* from twelve to twenty-two coolies.

From the record of the British expedition against King Theodore of Abyssinia in 1868, we learn that forty-four elephants were shipped from Bombay to use in the campaign. Each animal was in charge of two men. Of this number five succumbed during the campaign. The remaining thirty-nine rendered valuable services, being intrusted with the transportation, through a mountainous country, of cannon, ammunition and supplies. It was frequently very difficult to procure proper food for them, and as it was often necessary to traverse great distances to reach the watering places, the death of the five animals is ascribed to these hardships. Although elephants move slowly through a mountainous country and soon become foot-sore, they performed theiT task with admirable faithfulness. Without them it would have been necessary to await the building of wagon roads. Goldthwaite’s Geographical Magazine.

WALTER J, SIMPSON.