Near the city of Los Angeles in California there is a quaint little house surrounded by a large and beautiful garden filled with flowers and shady trees. Here two little sisters live with their parents and here one of the two children is passing a childhood which later will be among the treasured records of genius.
This child is Paloma Schramm, nine years old, a musician from her birth and one of whom the great German professor, her teacher, says: "It was she who convinced me of the truth of reincarnation." How otherwise was to be explained the actions of a child who at the age of three improvised lovely melodies and baby songs and who, when she was but four, remembered and repeated correctly all the principal motifs from the opera of "Lohengrin."
She has now been studying the pianoforte for two years. Her musical sense is marvellously acute and her interpretation of the works of the great masters perfect. Her professor, with much wisdom, comprehends that his work lies in training and guiding a musical power which already exists in the child. She is therefore being carefully trained in composition as well as in technique. Her poetic fancies are well encouraged, but all her musical compositions are required to be flawless in form before they are pronounced good by her teacher. Paloma has played a few times before an audience and on each occasion has plunged all who heard her into a state of amazement that so childish a frame could contain so mighty a soul of music.
Every sound in nature reflects itself in her little compositions: the flight of butterflies, the murmur of doves, the sound of the breeze in the wood: the grief of a mother over the loss of her child; the melancholy sobbing of "Heimweh" all these she expresses with exquisite feeling.
More than one child who has given promise of genius has had what might have been a wonderful life for the uplifting of humanity spoiled in youth, by the undue indulgence and flattery of foolish friends and the artificial atmosphere of the concert hall and stage. From all these errors Paloma's parents are striving to shield her. It is true that she has appeared at a public concert in her native city, but this was necessary in order that means might be furnished for her to continue her musical training, and her parents hope that this may not have to be repeated.
For the most part Paloma lives a simple child life. She and her younger sister spend many hours in the lovely shady garden. Here they have a large playground and a mimic theatre, built for them by their father. Whenever the children are taken to hear any opera great excitement afterward goes on in the little theatre. For all the play is repeated for the benefit of a large audience of appreciative dolls, that calmly listen to Paloma and her sister and never are rude enough to look bored.
Each child has a miniature theatre laid out underneath the trees, with tiny lakes and rivers, waterfalls and bridges and diminutive houses peopled by a colony of dolls. Then there are the pigeons, the only other inhabitants of this child's paradise. Each pigeon has its own name and the children keep a daily journal in which is set down the history of their feathered friends. Dearest of all is a lame wood-pigeon, a "paloma," as the Spaniards call it. This bird has a strange-history, which, however, is vouched for by Paloma's father.
One evening Mr. Schranim was sitting with his children in the garden, reading to them the libretto of their favorite opera. "Lohengrin." It was in the sweet dusk and the children were listening with rapt attention. Just as the father reached the climax of the legend, where the swan changes to a dove, a bird fluttered from the trees overhead and fell on the open book. It was a lame wood-dove, quite tame, and part of one foot had been shot away. The parents of the children have never discovered from whence the bird came, but it immediately attached itself to Paloma and has since been her constant companion. It sleeps beside her pillow at night and follows her all the time she is in the garden. When she is at the piano it haunts her and remains there, showing every evidence of an appreciation of the music.
What shall be the future of Paloma cannot yet be told, but the promise is great. At present she is living the life of a simple and healthy child, and all her beautiful fancies and natural impulses are being wisely directed. Her parents have been asked as to her religious views but philosophically answer, "The child will develop her own religion." Would that every child might be educated with as much wisdom!
Her musical genius has been pronounced by competent critics to be unique in the world at this present time. Her parents are not very musical, the father being a machinist. "She must have lived before!" has exclaimed more than one person on listening to her playing.