"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 that he could not have had the chances abroad that so many of our less-talented Americans have had. Besides the numerous instruments I have mentioned, there is still another (which, perhaps, in character ranks higher than any of the others): I mean the church-organ, upon which he also plays."
This writer, like all the others mentioned, could not refrain from closing his letter by a very handsome reference to Mr. Lewis's gentlemanly traits of character.
Slightly below the medium size, of graceful form, with regular, expressive features, and thoughtful cast of countenance; always neat in appearance; of gentlemanly, Christian deportment; genial in manners,—so amiable, as to be almost without an enemy; of very industrious habits; fully impressed with the beauty, the grandeur, and the great usefulness, of the divine art, as a potent means, when properly employed, for elevating the mind, adding to innocent enjoyment, and as an aid to polite culture; and with a soul absorbed in music,—all this can be truly said of Frederick E. Lewis. Not much more can or need be said to mark him, as he is, the Christian gentleman and the wonderfully talented musician,—one whose charming qualities fill the measure of our highest conception of the true, the ideal artist.