, 1876-08-27
Alexandra Dumas Work at
1IcVicker's Theatre.
Green-Room Notes from Eu-
rope and America.
The Musica! Season in Chicago
...Hans Balatka's Reception
in st, Louis.
Tie Gewandhaus Concerts at Leipsic--.
European and American Mu-
slcians.


GA%A&A4A3A
TIE DRAMA.
CHICAGO.
SEGRo-MlNsTEELs RAMPANT
The history Of negro-u1instre1sy has yet to be
written. The subject ought long ago to have
encarcd the attention of the great minds in the
cr;tieal departments of the monthly magazines,
and to have obtained from some one of them
the treatment it deserves. Ncgro-minstrelsy
illustrates peculiar phase in the development
of our national life It's historical Importance
Is as great IS that Of bear-baiting, which figures
50 extensively in philosophical inquiries into the
causes Of the English revolution. The coming
Historian, who will be as far in advance Of the
philosophers Of the present day as they are su-
pc1ior to the chroniclcrs Of the eighth century,
NAV ascribo the War OF the Rebellion
to the insidious influences Of the present
nopular form Of AMUSEMENT What will
BE- easier than to show that public
ridicule Of negro pcculiarities iudared the pas
sous Of the slaves, melting them to insurrcction
and their masters to the making Of unjust de-
mands upon the General Government, whence
arose q cdsus beA, bloody rebellion, the etnan-
cpation Of the slaves, and the subjugation of
the naughty Southern spirit The historian will
proceed to show, We fancy, how in the hour OF
victory the knc1l Of ne3ro-minstrclsy was
sounded. Slavery abolished, what remains for
the once-dominant race to mock ata Already
the plantation darkey is becoming antiquated,-
IN object Of historical rather than of i1u1nedi-
ate interest, Plantation-regrocs are now, or
soon will be, responsible citizens, heads
Of families, frugal til1ers Of. the soil,
In their lowest condition correspond
lng to the farm 1aborers of the North.
Their humdrum existence will offer no better
theme for the satirist than does at present tho
n,onotouous virtue OF country preacher. One
result Of the enfranchfsemcnt OF the negroes is
cu1iousy exhibited In the pictures Of sjaye-lifc
occasionally shown on the minstrel-stage: the
4lappr nisger'' of thestage has disappcarcdfo for
ever from real life. Responsibility i,as been
consequence OF freedom. Care has written deep
lines in the negro heart Instead of finding in
the white people Of the South all-powerful
providers, ,-inexolable dispensers at once OF the
joys and miserics Of life,-thc negro has now to
confront some Of them as adyersarics in politics
and trade, others as open enemies in the field,
and all as indifferent spectators Of his struggle
Tor existence, in the sense that every man looks
with comparative Indifference upon the i'll
success OF every other man in whom he mas no
immediate personal or property interest. The
Southern negroes, oppressed BY their RESPONSE
bilities. have to great extent lost their outward
show OF mirth, and the plantatfondarkey Of
the minstrel stage Is no longer faithful repre-
etntation Of any living type OF character. We
find confession Of the change which has been
wrought in the business Of minstrelsy in the
general departure Of the managers, in one di-
rec1ion or another, from the traditions Of the
Profession. Since the passage Of the Fifteenth
Amendment, the aye7.:55e patron OF minstrel
has not been ablc to take SO
much delight as formerly in the presentation Of
negro oddities. The spectator cannot occupy
the position Of superiority with reference to
the thing ridiculed that is so necessary
10 the complete enjoyment Of satire or
b1r}esque. For, however. staunch Bourbon
GERS he canuot help remembering that they
are tc1low-citizens, Possessed Of the rights and
privileges of the IS Whitest " men of the country
The managers have respected this feeling 5y
disersifying tho entertainments. Kelly .S Leon
nave have gene way qycr q into the region Of comic
bsaced the higher walks OF the variety business
In their fields Of Tabor There is not remaining
n tile country one pure and undehled negro
minstrel company. The consequence OF the
combination of negro-minstreis and variety per
formers in one company will inevitably be the
debasement OF the former or the improve
ment Of the latter. The two elements in COM
bination arc not komogcncous.a and should never
hare been united. Now that they are placed iu
such relations. they must assimilate in form, al
tnough te they may produce no chemical union.
We fear the variety business will prove too
strong Tor negro-minstrels, and that, before
MANY rears, the familiar impersonators OF ne
gfo-u1e will occupy only such field in the
profession as is now held BY the oc-
tasional performers ut the principal variety
theatres Of the country.
:, lhe subject would not be worth the attention
nat has been given it here but for the fact that
chicago now contains two Of the best so-callcd
la1,strcl = companies IN America: Either the
california Minstrcls or Hooley's Minstrels would
slaaly submit to comparison, man for man,
these companies furnish text and commentary
.of Inc foregoing remarks The two most con
splenous features Of Mr.. Hoolcy's entertainment !
excellent features they arc, too-arc done in |
Whife. AIR. John Hart's sketch: !" 4. M.,'' one |
oi TIE funniest things in its way that has been
seen on The Chicago stage for long time, might,
". WIN some slight changes, be performed on the |
= Stagc OF Mclicllcr's Theatre US an afterpecc. |
sif. george Knights drill Of sixteen white chill
aleh, dressed as patriots Of it, does not pertain |
~ ~ negFeminstrelsy in any respect the same is
true OF Mr.. Knights very comical acts in Dutch |
nelest~ Iulest~ We rccoenize the tart that the per |
~ OF Mr.. Hoolcy's company is chock full
VI innocent entertainment, and as such deserving |
" " lcommendation and support; but we also notice
Laat u Is the transformation OF ncgrominstrcl
-. WAC VI tAIlCtt U1uEIs NAiCL3 AOH~
eser delightful and successful in his case,
promises " thr ultimate destruction Of one branch
" t1e dramatic profession What is true OF |
Mt. dooiey.s stage has il, the past been true in |
~. ~ equal degree of Mr.. Haycrly's. Irish, |
outei, l., and other character actors were first
sssocaatcd by him with the minstrel business,
.ou, although his show is at present all black,
1e 40 not understand that be has experienced
NY change OF heart As to the course the
are pursuing there can hc no contro-
~. -. lhcy arc consulting the popular taste,
Its demands with all the lberality and
y nntehlSencc that could be expected. Neither Mr..
n,asetly n, nor Mr.. Hoo!eyi Is wrong in providing
'ndt Ine people ask for, SO long as they cater to
~ uepraved taste THE TRIBUNE only desires
y notice that they are not providing what they
ol,nneriy 'o, did, and that the adoption Of j new
oliey 'ea by them Indicates q vital change in the
economy OF ne;ssro-minstrelsy.
1.-THE THREE GUARDsMES."
Aic1andre Dumas was coarse workman,
'iazng way for himself through life, instead
Il carving it. Who that read his intcrminable
e11es oi novels-his "Bragelonne,' "Twcnty
ears After,' "Andre de Taycrny,' etc-in
'osnood did not find in them charm
'nuar, If superior, to that which was
urn'shed by the thrilling romances Of
IL. syiyanus Cobb. If n. Dumas
'ao been white an, and had lived in Ameri-
= ne would have written for tho Ledger. AS it
hN--m