The New York herald., 1873-07-20
Midnight Scenes in the, City of PiOus
Regard and Brotherly Love.
SHAKESPEARE AND POMpEY JONES.
Sketch Of q Colored Theatre on Quaker
Gty Saturday Night.
"WHlTE Oh BLACK, BLACK THE PLAYER"
Experience Of Herald Correspondent Play.
ing Reconstructed African.

PHILADELPHIA, July 19 1873
Have you even seen a negro shOwY do not
mean minstrel performance in which the actors
are naturally white, nor camp meeting nor
dove feast wherein the characters are really Afri-
ran but real, high toned and legitimate tragedy,
done entirely In black. 1t Is almost useless for
. me to pause for your reply. Unless at some period
OF your life you have been resident OF Philadelphia
it is perfectly safe to presume that you never have.
In every other city OF the Union colOred theatri-
Gals. along with the election OF General
Ben Butler to the Governorshp of Massachusetts,,
and the success of the contemplated voyage to
London by balloon, may very properly be con-
Sidered as things of the future. In the City OF
Brothery Love, however, they are precisely, in one
respect, like the marriage ceremonies OF the
Siamese-they occur so often that their enactment
is attended with but very little interest, save to
those who like myself detected in them charac-
teristcs which are original, unique and peculiar
After several hours OF dusty travel through
country whose flatness is the only real rival that
the pancake mas, gave myself up for gentle
renovation and repair to a witty little negro,
whom had known in former days, and who, for
some reason OF other, seems to have taken quite
fancy to me. He was member OF the brilliant
and communicative school, with limbs hung
AS LOOSELY AS A JUMPING JACKS
and with jaws that were as chattering as a mon-
keys. His Impulse to make a noise was irresisti-
BILE, and we fail to recall single moment while he
was with us in which this impulse did not get the
- est OF him. 1t not double shunie or q
pigeons wing now and then, but pigeons wings
and double shufrles all the time. Were the
pinions to be carried from all the pigeons
in the world believe that he
could furnish new ones at the very
shortest notice, while, for shufles, feel sure
that he could supply them for all the coil upon the
face OF the earth He danced a breakdown while
he brushed my coat, he whstled u jig while he
blacked my shoes, and he went after my vaise in q
series OF somersets. in which, so rapid
his evolutons he appeared to be made up OF innu.
merabe arms and legs.
"Got 'gagement tonight, bossr he asked
pausing In his gymnastics just long enough to put
the question.
''well, suppose l have not, what then?n re-
Piled.
.'ThO't mebbe you'd like to see de boys an de
gals play the'tre wild de Romeo and Juliet EhY"
''wAat boys and girls'" interrogated, slightly
perplexed because could not fully grasp his mean.
ing.
Why us; all us boys an gals; ebbery one OF us
black ones. Got the'tre, scenes, actin trag dy.
He, he, hel Golyi"
40, see,n was my reply; and could not help
laughing at the enthusiasm which burned upon his
grOtesque little face. "You boys and girls have
theatre and you are going to play Romeo and
Juliet Well really that's good and Pm sure
wish you all success suppose you'n
DO 1T UP BROWN WON'T YOUR
'Oh, yes, boss; well do it up in seberal coors-
brown, black an yaler. No discount on dem boys
an gals, now Itel you. No discount. at all, on
dem. Dey hab practiced long, long time, boss.
Amt 'shamed dis show dis time. Big Romeo little
Juliet. Oh, dis amt casional nigger theatre.
Remembered that had once heard Mr.. Edwin
Forrest tell OF his experience in a darky theatre
and OF the immense amount OF humor his visit
afforded, so l informed nv colored friend that
nothing would please me more than to accompany
.'How ~ we nx it, tho'Yn cried the little negro.
"a a troubled shadow flashed across his face.
ANY way TO suit yourself" said l. at cannot
make the slightest difference to me.n
ayes. boss; but dsr am one accident in de way"
'An accident r' asked
''Yes: you warnt Oorned black (Blissful acci-
why" said surprised, "will they not let
"Nebber, sir; nebberl nebber since dat dar one
night Gracious, boss. but dat war a night! DE
niggers was giben de show, an de white he cum
,oh let me inp say de man; Use whiter Can't
.yere. White man nebber hab in.
Tant down on de annals Den de white man says
ne don't care damn or de annals an he bursted
tn knocked down de man'ger, excited all de show.
broke all de orchester, an nebber since dat we
don't low any white man present. Use sorry,
said that was sorry TOO, and for the next Eve
minutes the copper,coores man engaged In deep
T. sried:-'
~ hab IT. Ihab 1t, bossln
"Wel!" said l. ''go on.r
"You be nigger for jist dis yere night
GOING TO THE THEATRE As DARBY.
readily saw that he meant that should stain
my SKIN and go TO bis theatre as q darky. All at
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 on to the
dull beat Of the tamborine. Certainly. Why could
not cork my face as had done hundreds OF times
bef0reY And IN a town so full OF second hand
clothing stores why could | not easily select
dress that would be consistent in point OF taste
with the costumes of those whom would meetP
All these things passed through my mind like
dash, and said,
.All right III do il ~
..hurran !" cried the negro.
"He he hei Builyi, be shouted, turning a
somerset which fully believed would ruin aim for
life and wreck my prospects for the show forever.
Meet me iist rignt yere at seven a, G;o,y, boss
he vanished In whirl of legs and arms.
met him at the appointed time, CARVING my
costume In great roll under my arm and to-
gether we set cut TO find place 20 dress. The rear
or large saloon in sixth street afforded us all the
at once corked my hands, face, arms and neck.
Every extremity which the least carelessness upon
lny part would be likely TO expose rendered ~
fingy and
soMBRE AS NIGHT.
The pantaoons wore I had bought OF John
sWanamaker In theaftern0On, and they were OF that
brilliant orange tint so popular with the African
race that our dealers find IL almost impossible TO
supply the demand BY accident had broaght
velvet coat with me, and this, along with magic
. rufie tackled down my shirt front. gaudy Roman
scarf, gathered In a huge knot under my chin. and
little brown hat set away back on my head, pro-
= huced perfect and complete transformation.
"Hovis that :" asked Of the negro.
"Oh, bully bully bully % he shouted catching
my hands and jumping wildly up and down. ''Go
long, noe, told youi Dis amt no white man;
1is an nlgger. He he he dis ano my brudderl
hol no no DIS am de special commish'ner oh de
press. Yah yah YAH"
We started OF together down sixth street, and
presenuy came 70 The basement in which the enter.