The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-22
Dan Bryant.

Bryant was passionately fond Of chil-
dren, and during the time he was at the
Wes minister Hotel he showed many
striking instances of such an affection.
He brought into that house once street
band of Germans, and, despite the re-
monstrances of some of the aristocratic
guests, he compelled the ragged Teu-
tons to play in the corridor. He then
got together all the children in the hotel
and neighborhood, and, forming them
into quadrille parties, constituted him
self very efficient stage manager.
When the first great billiard match
took place in Irving Hall, and lasted
until two o'clock in the morning, the
manager, l.. F. Harrison, was at a guam
Diary how to get rid OF his undesirable
visitors. Dan solved the difficulty by
carrying up to the head OF the stairs lead
ing to the gallery halt dozen empty
larger beer kegs and starting them one
after another, down the steps. Every
player at once dropped his cue and ev-
cry one made an instantaneous rush
for the door.
Harrison, on another occasion, en-
gagged one Of those blatant street bands
10 serenade his family in Irving place.
Before they had time to begin, however,
Dan came along and persuaded the
leader, with a brlbe, to defer the sere-
made until five O'Clock the next morn
ing. The performance took place at that
hour, and there was almost a riot in that
throughlare. A remarkable instance Of
u child's idea Of death is the remark
made by little flaxen-haired lady yes
terday who had seen the genial minstrel
in one of .his best and most popular
sketches. She said, mamma, what do
you thinkl Dan Bryant is dead. won-
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tie angles above"
The origin of Bryants Minstrels was
peculiar. In 1857 the celebrated Marsh
troupe of Juvenile comedians went to
California and Australia, and old Me-
chanics' Hall was taken for brief sea-
son by the troupe now 50 well known in
London as Christy's Minstrels, and they
enjoyed profitable run of business,
which was abandoned for the European
venture. Jerry and Dan Bryant hap
pened to be in town when the hail be-
came vacant, so they hastily organized
a troupe, which included Prendegast,
Carroll, Tommy Pell, Griffin, Fox, old
Dan Emmett and others at that time
we'll known in the profession. The
troupe opened in very modest way,
their posters being in size nothing like
the style now used by managers, yet
their success was fixed from the start
for the simple reason that the Bryant
Brothers made every act tell, the tea
ture being Dams ''Essence Of Old Vir-
ginny," mondescrIpt dance by q de-
crepit darkey. This and the old time
plantation melodies given by the excel
lent quartet, rnished the public with
an entertainment that hit the popular
TASTE. Even George Christy's troupe
and Pelps Serenaders could not COM
pete with them, for the reason that one
had a weakness for negro farces and the
other was too fond Of brass instrument
talic music. AS soon as Jerry and Dan
found that they had. struck the right
vein they strengthened their company in
every department, and so kept on the
topmost wave Of popularity. When the
late war broke out and the tricOl0r rO-
sette appearedin every Unionist's but
tOnhole, Dan placed one on the breast
Of each member OF his troupe, and by
that simple act raise o fnrore.