What a busy, what a useful, honorable life, have we been following! It is hoped that the reader has been entertained and instructed by even this far from perfect unfolding of the same. As for the writer, he leaves its present consideration with feelings of affectionate regret; while he would fain remain to study again and again the valuable lessons that it teaches, and to watch with unabated interest the fortunes of its future. May the latter bring to our noble friend and artist as little of disappointment as may be! and when the end shall finally come, as come it must some day to all, may he have, as a crowning and sweet reward for the manly, the heroic past, a sleep like that of him who "lies down to pleasant dreams"! IX. THOMAS J. BOWERS, TENOR-VOCALIST; OFTEN STYLED THE "AMERICAN MARIO." "Sweet is every sound; Sweeter thy voice." TENNYSON. Thomas J. Bowers, who, owing to his resembling in the magnificent quality of his voice that celebrated Italian singer, has been styled by the press the "American Mario," was born in Philadelphia in the year 1836. [Illustration: THOMAS J. BOWERS.] When quite a lad he evinced a decided fondness for music, and much musical talent. His father, a man of considerable intelligence, and for twenty years the warden of St. Thomas's P.E. Church in Philadelphia, being desirous that his children should learn music, first procured a piano and an instructor for his eldest son, John C. Bowers; intending, after he became competent so to do, that he should teach the other children. This purpose was accomplished; and our subject was instructed by his brother to perform upon the piano-forte and organ. At eighteen he had become somewhat proficient in the playing of these instruments, and succeeded his brother as organist of St. Thomas's Church. I must not fail to mention here, that the younger of his two sisters, Sarah Sedgwick [Transcriber's Note: spelled 'Sedgewick' elsewhere] Bowers, became a fine singer. In the rendering of classical and all operatic music she exhibited much talent, was of handsome appearance, and elicited very complimentary notices from the press. I shall have occasion to speak of this lady more at length hereafter. The parents of the subject of this sketch, although highly pleased with the natural musical qualities and with the accomplishments displayed by their children, were such strict church people as not to wish them to become public performers. Recognizing the pleasing, refining influence of music, they desired its practice by their children in the home-circle, for the most part; but were not averse, however, to hearing its sweet and sacred strains issue from choir and organ in church-services, nor to having their children take part in the same.