New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-07-27
Africans" "Bue-blooded Darkies on the
Stage in PHILADELPHIA" It begins:

the actors are naturally white, nor camp
| meeting nor owe feast, wherein the char
acters are really African, but real. hugh
toned and legitimate tragedy, done entirely
| in black. 1t almost useless for me to
| pause for your reply. Unless at some
period of you. life you have been resi-
dent Of Philadelphia it is perfectly safe to
| presume that YOU never have.
| This commissioner says:
gave m;sef up for gentle renovation
and repaired t, witty little negro whom
had known il former days, and who, for
| some reason or other, seems to have taken
| quite fancy tome.
| This acquaintance proposes TO the COM
missioner that be shall go 20 the theatre.
The dialogue and description of this ad-
venture is susjoined. The only noticeable
feature is the exclusion Of all whites from
the boxes aad parquette with the same
rigor which Duld be practiced toward the
colored peope in New Orleans. Here is
the dialogue md the adventure:
an de gals ply the'sre wild de Romeo and
Juliet. Eli:
What boy. and girls" | Intercepted.
slightly perpAxed because could not fully
| grasp his meaning.
"!Nhy, us; al US boys an gals: ebbery
one of US blaci ones. Got the'tre. scenes.
actin trag'dy. He, he, he! Golly!"
| "Oh, l see, was my reply; and could
not help Laughing at the enthusiasm which
burned upon lis grotesIue little iace. You
boys and girlshave theatre and you are
| going to play Romeo and Juliet Well,
| really, that God and I'm sure l wish you
| all success. Nppose you'll do it UP brown,
won't you"
ooh, yes, Ds.; We'll do it up in .ebera'
| colors-browr, black an yaller. No dis
count on dem boys an gals, now, tel! you.
! No discount 8 all on dem. Oey hab prac-
! ticed long. Ion, time, boss. Amt 'shamed
| On. diS amino casiOnal niger theatre.
J Big, fust classtrag'd y an no foOlil. Want
| to co.
Remembered that had once heard Mr..
| Edwin FOrres tell of his experience il a
| darby theatreard of the immense amount
| of humOr his visit afforded, so informed
my colored friend that nothing would please
| me more thanio accompany him.
How'll we fix it, tho'!' cried the little
his face.
"Any way t. suit yourself" said I. at
can not make he slightest difference to me"
"Yes, boss; iut dar am one accident in
de way
IAN acciden; 2" ! asked.
"Yes: you warn't horned black" bliss
full accident
Why" said |, surprised. xvii; the: not
let white MAJ II ~
"Nebber. sir. neber nobber since da: dar
one night. Gacious, boss. but dat war a
night De nigers was gibben de chow, an
de white he cum along ar he say, Open de
door. want 10 cum in Don't know We !;
nebber seed w. say the man'ger. Oh. let
me in " say &c man; Use white Can't
help da:,' say De man'ger. white man no
cum in we're. White man nebber hab cum
in. Tain't down on de annals Den de
white man sa- he don't care d-n for de
man ger. excited all de show, broke ali de
orchester. an nebber since dat we don't
low any white man present. Use sorry,
boss: really, really is"
l said l was sorry too, and for the next
five minutes the coppercOlored man en-
gagged in deep meditation. Suddenly he
sprang to his feet and cried:
Il hab it. Iaab it. boss:'
"Well!" saidl, Ego on"
"You be Niger for jist dis yece one
night. En-
readily sa. that he mean. that should
stain my skin and go to his theatre as
darby. All a! once many recOllections OK
the past came to mind; | remembered how
often had taken part in negro minstrels:
! remembered how my school days had
echoed with the sharp rattle OF the bones.
and how many wild college night had
sped or 20 thedU,l beat Of the tambOrine.
Certainly. WV could / not cork my face
as I had DOM hundreds of times before.
And il "a town SO full of second hand cloth.
IN, stores why could I not easily select %
dress that would be consistent in point OF
taste wit. the costumes Of those whom l
would meet: Ali these things passed
through my mud like flash. and said:
'tAll right I'll do it :"
'uurrah:" G;ed the negro.
u will :"
inc somerset which fully believed would
ruin him for liz and wreck my prospects
for the shoT fWever.
''Ieet III isl right yere. a. seven. .-oily,
',css ! mus go Goodbye. Don't :ou for
.,:5:" and then ne vanished IN q wh!ri Of
legs and arms.
me. him at the appointed time: carry.
'ng n: costume in q sreat roll un.er :0y
arm. and together we set out to ina place
to aress. The rear OF large saloon in
Sixth street aiDrded us all the necessary
facilities 0. which we stood in need. and
at once corked my hands, face, arms and
neck. every extremity which the least
oa1elessnesS u,,n my part would be likely
to expose rendered as dingy and sombre
as ight.
The pantaloons wore ! had bought Of
John Wanamazer in the afternoon, and
they we're of thai brilliant orange tint so
popular with me African race tnau our
dealers lind it almost impossible to supply
the demand. By accident had brought
velvet coat with me, AID this, along with
magic ruttile talked down ny shirt front.
gaudy Roman scarf gathered IN . huge
knot under my chin, and Little brown hat
set away back On my head, produced per-
feet and complete Transformation.
flows that. l asked of the negro.
'Oh, bully! bully! bully" he shouted,