The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-13
D AN BR Y A n T.
"Reminiscences Of the Career Of
the Dead Minstrel.
Humcr, Manliness, Charity and
Good Fellowship Combined.
DAMS ESSAY AS AN IRISH COMEDIAN

The death OF one or the most popular meu that
ever trod the American boards, one that always
commanded the love aud respect Of every one
VINO knew HIM. Unseash, geniai, humorous
manly, charitable and KIND, the memory OF Dan
Bryant VIII last long and pre-eminent among
those OF the many honored names that have
crossed the dark river. The fatal disease TO
which ne ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS nad a holo-
caust OF victims during the past winter. Dan
Bryant's family have been severely visited by
sickness during the last few months, and his
ieah was more sad elimination OF Ills than
many households have ever been subjected TO-
The career OF the deceased has been an eventiul
one, iul OF inc.dents OF the most interesting kind
In 1869, l.. /. Harrison, then manager OF STEIN
way ana Irving halls, formed an ASSOCIATION III
living place called the Westminster Club. This
society was TO continue in existence only during
Christmas week, ana Dan was one OF It's prominent
members a grand supper was announced to take
place Bryant's Ministries, next door 10 the
Academy OF Music, and promptly at eleven O'Clock
tables were set Tor the banquet. About forty gen.
tlemen were present. IL happened that the clos.
Ing piece that evening was the burlesque
"Lncrezia Borgta," and the scene was set as
usual Tor the banquet After the wine had passed
around the scene at the back was drawn up, and,
on sable background, the omlnous words, "You
are all posoned,n appeared, with the usual lurid
and shouted for the Coroner, an Jim unsw
told his friends to be sure and give him good
wake. After the scare was over Dan explained TO
the Treasurer OF the clup that the supper was
given ny him and that the funds subscribed Tor IL
should be devoted TO the purpose OF O surprise TOR
Nese's mother In the shape or the latest styles or
toilets RON stewards.
Dan was passionately fond OF children, and dur
ing the time he was at the Westminster Hotel he
showed many striking instances oil SUCH an alfec-
ton. He brought into that house once a street
band OF Germans, and. despite the remonstrances
OF some OF the arlstocratic guests he compelled
she ragged Teutons to play IN the corridor He
then got together all the children in the hotel and
neighoorhood. and, forming them into quaorille
parties, constituted himself very enlcient stage
manager.
When the first great billiard match took place
IN Irving Hall, ana lasted until two O'Clock IN the
morning, the manager, l.. F. Harrison, was at q
quandafy how 10 get rid OF his undesirable visit
Drs. Dan solved the difficulty by ca rymg up TO
the head or tie stairs leading to the gallery half
dozen empty lager beer kegs and starting them
one after another, down the steps. Every player
NJ once dropped nls cue ana every one made
instantaneous rush Tor the door.
Harrlson on another occasion. engaged one OF
those blatant street bands TO serenaue HIS family
In irving place. Beore they had time TO begin,
however, Dan came along aud persuaded the
Ave cock the next morning. The performance
took place at that hour and there was almost
riot la that tnorougniare. remarkable instance
OF q chluis idea oil death Is the remark mace BY 4
naxen-hared little lady yesterday VINO hau seen
the genial minstrel III one oil his best and most
popular sketches. she said, Mamma, what DO
you think Dan Bryant DEAD 1 wonder II lie
will sing .Shoo Fly Tor the little angels aoovc.n
Ine origin OF Bryants Ministries was peculiar.
In 1857 the celebrated Marsh troupe OF juvenile
comedians Went to California aud Australia. auo
old Mecuanlcs' Haul was taken lor briei season
by The troupe low so well known IN London as
Lnrlsry's Ministries. and they enjoyed profitable
run or business, which was abandoned Tor the
European veQl ure. Jerry ana Dan Bryant hap
pensd 10 be IN town when the nail became Va
cant, so they hastily organized troupe,
winch incluaed Prendegast carroll, Tommy Pe,
Grimm, FoN, ola Dan Emmett and others at
mat time well KNOWN IN the procession. Toe
troupe opened IN a very modest way. their
posters being Ia size nothing ike the style now
used by managers, yet their success was nxed
from the start Tor lie simple reason that the
bryant Brothers made even acc TELL the feature
beng Dams ''Essence OF OLA NIrginny," monde
script dance by oecreplt Old darkey. THIS aod
the old time plantation melodies gwen ny tine ex-
eeleDt quartet, furnished the pubic with an en-
tertainnIeut inaL hit the popular raste even
George Cnristyis troupe and PeAis SerenadeTs
could not compete WITH Them, Or the reason that
one had 4 weakness for negro larces and tue other
was too iona OF brass lnstrumentalic music.
As soon AS Jerry and Dan found mat they
had struck tue hight vein they strengthened
their company Ia every department ana 50 Kept
OH the tODmost wave VI popularity. When the late
war broke out aud the uIcolor rosette appeared
ia every Unlonlsps buttodnole, Dan placed one on
the breast OF each member OF his troupe, aud by
that simple act raised Curore.
In those ante belum days sporting men we're
fond OF the Ministries, and thus the Bryant brosn-
trs became acquainted with the 'lancy,n ana hav-
M abundance or leisure lime grew fond OF attend.
Ing prize nights and trottlng matches. In COM
panT Vita Pat Hearn, Ton Hyer, Matt Goedersvn
and men OF that ciass both Dan aud Jerry saw
many ilstlc encounter In tue neiphpornood OF toe
CITY. wnen Heenan went 10 England ana fought
Savers Dan went over IA company with Harry
celebrated struggle ana bis portrait appears IN
toe old tmo print depicting tue scene, winch was
~ the Chrlstys and became prominent Ia London
% the irieDd ana psueco hacker Of toe Ameri-
eeIyed : srsnd welcome. and bis reappear.
ance with nIs troupe was q memorable oc-
ana Neil continued tue business aud made COZ.
sIcerable money: thoag! tnsy spent most q Z az
iasL Us tney mace u. IL was at Old Mechanics
Hall, aIerward nat store, tnaL Dan formed MS
friendship Tor NeIse Seymour. and thsy produced
the traysstie on robert Macairsp called ~ tnsm
me Macalre and Dan as ms haifstargea compan.
lon earned tue town by storm, wnile Dams soll-
AIRY line In his part, I'm so hungry became
9ne OF the slang phrases OF the day.
~ WHITE FACE.
Dan Bryants nTst appear ance in Irish comedy
was at the suggestion Of Nh. NJ. Ii. FLOYD. then u
Waliack's company, and IL occurred on the "a OF
July, 1855, at the Winter Garden theatre, on the
occasion Of the benefit ~ that gentleman. The
character seiected lor Dams deDuI a white face
was tnat OF dandy Andy. IN a dramatic version or
Lovers novel prepared ~ Mr.. tloyu. The MT was
POSITIVE ana instantaneous. ana within twenty
Jour hours all America was made aware, through
khe medium OF tne Associated Press deSpdrCue9.
that Dan Bryant was an IIIsn comedian OF unusual
merit, fndorsed by tue verdict or q great New
YORK auulence. This performances repeatea
In the following priug at the Academy Of Muslc.
the occasion beng a testimonial TO Bryant
himsel, under the management AR W. II. Floyd,
ana at winch appeared, DcsIuc, Mr. Daa SetcDel
aud Mr.. marx smith, win MISS Henrlques Mr.
klnggold anu Oiner members or WallacKis COM
PAM. Sir. Bryant's success Ia the deltueatio or
irish character was assured that lie was offered
an engagement 70 appear at WallAck's Ia a series
oil represent atoms az the summer season, ana ne
"a s4 UDk IA IN
toe Gtn o. July, 1854. appearing as Tim O'Brien
IN the ''Irsh kmlarant,h and as Handy Anuy.
these plays were followed by tue production or
Inc "COlleen BawD,v win Dan as MIles-na-Cop-
paleen, IN which ne achieved another great sue
cess. TINS. his llrst regular engagement was OF
lou. weeks duration, durlng winch the business
was as great as the best In the regular season
hud iuuuced the Ofer OF an engagement
Tor the IoIiOwlDg summer vt the same tueatre and
Tor longer period. Dau, alter a visit 10 Europe
reappeafed VI W ulacKis on the l7th OF July. 1870
ana performed most prosperous engagement OF
SIX WpnKn Ernm rnla- nifara nrnHInClal