"'Blind Tom' is not, however, the senseless being that most imagine him, but rather like one completely guided and governed by this one sense alone. As a lad, the song of a bird would lead him to wander off into the woods; and then the sound of the flute would bring him to those who went in search of him.... "Perhaps a proper study of the case of this lad might show to what extent all (though in less degree) might be educated through music. It is certainly this alone that can be most easily developed. Probably the highest and best emotions might be thus permanently excited within him; while the desire for those pleasures leads him to put forth intellectual efforts that nothing else can.... But his performances in music show how the highest results of art and study are most easily reached by this lad in his one-sided culture and development,--that of the ear alone. It is with him a sort of inspiration. The science of music he will probably never be able to master; but we must remember that the art of it preceded the science in Egypt, in Palestine, in Greece, and in Rome, by long ages. Indeed, it was the music of the Hebrews, and then of the Christian Church, that gave birth to scientific music, and alone developed it, until that of the opera gave rise to a distinct branch of the culture. This re-acted powerfully on sacred music itself. 'Blind Tom' at present likes operatic music best." "The Albany (N.Y.) Argus" of January, 1866, said,--