San Andreas independent., 1858-04-03

DAN FRANCISCO MINsTRELs.-On Wednesday
evening last, these popular delineators of Ne
gro minstrelsy, performed at the Knicker-
booker Hall, San Andreas, and never was there
a larger assemblage of ladies, and more gene
raj attendance of gentlemen, than on this oc-
cason. The audience were delighted; the
Mlnstrels were well pleased with their recep-
ton, and the whole performance passed off
with due decorum, aud in a satisfactory man
ner. The prevailing characteristics of the
performance were such that the most fastdi-
Gus could not but enjoy its perfect and con-
tinual flow of wit and good humor. Mr.
Campbell, who is the best ballad singer in the
State, sung some of the most approved songs
of the day, which are always greeted with
open doors and warm hearts. Mr. Backus
" did" the serio-comic ballad" Ny Love he
am Saleure Boy only Nineteen Years DID,
with wonderful effect on love-sick swains and
whimpering maidens Mr.. Coes-who has
better idiom of the tenseness and terseness of
the negro character and music, than any other
performer ON the Coast-made his old banjo
ring again with melody. Mike Mitchell, whose
good qualities of head, heels and heart. has
made him a universal favorite, did more to
amuse and prolong the pleasure than all the
rest Mr.. Kelly, on his violin, was perfection,
and all who have heard his inimitable efforts
on that instrument, will endorse us in saying
that he has no superior in the Union. Messrs
Wells and Henry sung in soft cadence the
plantation songs of '' down South" with per-
/ feet distinctness now gentle as the surge
whispers to the shore, and anon shrill-voiced
as the swelling tide upon the evening gale =
such were the Shells of the Ocean," and the
Boatman's Song" In its vivacity and beau
ty Fashion and Folly could only be COM
pared to "Root Hog or Die" as sung by Mr..
Goes. The following song was sung by Mr.
Henry, Willie we have miss'd you"
Oh Willie is it you, dear, safe safe at home;
They did not tell me true DEAR they said you would not
come;
heard you at the gate and it made my heart rejoice
For knew your welcome footstep and that dear familiar
voice;
Making music mine ear the lonely midnight gloom
Oh! Willie We have miss you, welcome, welcome home.
The fire was blazing brightly and the lights in the
The little up, til twas ten O'clock and past
Then their eyes began to trembe, and they've an to
sleep at last;
For they listened for your voice, till they thought you'd
never come.
Oh. Willie we have mssd you, welcome, welcome home
The days were sad without you the nights dark and ea
! My dreams have been about you; Oh welcome, Willie
dear;
Last night weptd and watchd by the midnights cheer
Till thought heard your footsteps, then wiped my
tears away,
But my heart sad again, when found you did not
come
OH Willie we have missd you, welcome, welcome home
The performance generally, being far supe-
rior to anything heretofore given in this Camp
we shall make few remarks on Negro Min
strelsy generally. 1t is now about twenty
years since the popular songs of "Jim Grow"
and Dandy Jim," followed by cold Dan
Tucker" "Zip Coon,' " Ole Virginia Nebber
Tire" Long tailed Blue" " Settin on Rail"
and a host of others appeared in swift rota-
ton; all of superior merit, though unequal
alike in their intrinsic value, and their partici-
patton of public approval; as they flew from
mouth to mouth, and from village to village
with rapidity which seemed almost miracu-
lous. These songs, if only but stave or two
were sung by stage driver, during change
of the mails at some out-of- :he-way tavern in
the Allegheny mountains, were treasured up
and remembered, and added to from day to
day, till the whole became familiar as house
hold words. Popularity like this laughs at
anathemas from the pulpit, or sneers from the
press. The song which is sung in the parlor,
hummed in the kitchen and whistled in the
stable may defy oblivion. A great poet once
said, I" Let me write nations songs, and
will command her armies" We would rather
be the author of i" Anna Laurie or Home
Sweet Home," than of the Declaration of In
dependence they will live when the speeches
of every statesman now remembered are lost
in oblivion and at last mingle in the music of
the spheres, as they join in the final requium
of the "Old Suwanee river, far, far away" on
the I" Other side of Jordan, when time shall
be no more and all the weary are at rest.
But to return to our subject. These fne
old Negro Ballads of 1925 and 80 before men,
toned, are now laid on the shelf, and with
them African Minstrelsy may be said to have
eliminated. From that period its decline and
fall was rapid and saddening. Hardly a song
has appeared since that day which does not
present some defects in music or rythm-
Even the pleasing sharps and flats of Over
Jordan" Uncle Gabriel "Oh Susannah,"
Lilly Dale" and others, bear marks of mil
dew, or patched-up sickenng love parodies
But the humorous sayings and witty con-
ceits Of the Darkey, which were introduced in
the interludes, gave much zest to the perform
ance, not the least of which wee some conun-
drums. Here is the best: Why is an old
maid like an old mule turned out to die? Be-
cause she is not worth corralling" Another
witticsm, in defining gender" places old
Bachelors very significantly in the ''neuter,"
which was most appropriately received by the
Calico Flat quilting party boys.
We are fond of these "soirees" and would
prefer to see them to all other itinerant exhi-
bitions which so frequently visit or "cam-
paign" through the mines. This company is