, 1877-01-20
HIS OLD NIGGER

HIS OLD NIGGER
Was the root from whence sprang all
the since famous performances of Billy
Emerson. Charley Howard end Dan
Bryant. Such a makeup as it was.
Who ever saw him in the Power of
Music" and forgot the wonderfully
master-like way in which the aged in
dividual from way down Souf" evinced
his love for the banjo? The ricKety
walk, the half-vacant stare, the quaint
Wink with both eyes overhung with
gray, beetling brows, the glbberish
laugh of second childhood. the sneeze-
all showed the great artist. Then his
lecture on "Woman's Rights. what a
world of wit and sarcasm there was in
that clever imitation Of
MRS. HARRIET sCaEECHER BLoWE,
As he styled her. The old black poke
bonnet, the white handkerchief in Quak-
er style, the reticule with bottled lab
elled Gin" in it, all bespoke the pains
taking performer who had made him
self the high priest of absurdity. And
his proposition-''if a young man goes
to see young woman and dat young
woman gifts married to de young man,
and de man AIM got muffin and de wo
man amt got muffin needer, Dh0 does
de tings belong to ? Was there ever such
u piece OF satire ? He was the great
original old darkey; the rest are only
clever imitators. He was an ignorant
man, but full of respect for those who
kept HIM at distance Full of vulgar
wit that one couldn't help LAUGHING at,
he always treated those politely who
kept their places.
HIS BENEvoLENCE
Was put to practical use some years
ago. He originated society eligible
only to showmen, minstrels and actors,
called the benevolent Order of Ameri-
can Elks." by which money is given to
the performer himself during sickness
and an annuity secured to his widow
after the members death. Old as be
was when this order was founded, he
had lived to bury nearly all the other
charter members of his lodge. For
years prior to his death, he had suffer
ed frt N nasal catarrh which finally
reached lis brain. but if Horn died with
softenipg of the brain, there was GER
tainly material for the disease to work
upon. He
SURVIVED THE CENTENNIAL
Just two days, having outllved nearly
all the great performers Of his era. For
the past FIVE years he had been sup
ported by the charity of his brother
professionals. He survived Sam Wells,
the polished gentleman and sparkling
wit; Sherwood Campbell, the graceful
and elegant vocalist. who was fitly
named the "Santiey of America" Nelse
Seymour, who was Horn neal est rival
in eccentric delineations; George Chris
ty, whose ertormances in black farce.
equaled those of Burton in white; Mat
Peel. the greatest sassy Niger" ever
on any stage; and last and best of all,
dear genial Dan Bryant, the kindest and
gentlest of men. We should like to
have been at
THE LITTLE CHURCH
Around the corner" on the day that
poor old Horn was laid under the snow.
What an array of wit and talent must
have gathered about tine bier, to take a
last look at the departed clay whose face
will never be blackened again. Life is
at best but mask. Some of us get
Ion the end," while others plod along
and are content to carry stuffed
club" till the curtain rings down. The
strange being who passed away. aged
SO wears, was born of nothing. He
alone was entitled to the credit of what
ever good he achieved. for education
and parental influences were to him as
vague traditions of departed era.
THE GREAT PRoMpTER's BELL
Must ring for us all, ere long. Let us
see that if we are not dead letter per-
feet, we are at least free from imper-
fections that result FROM vicious asso.
Citations. 1t cost probably $4,000 to
telegraph this poor idiotic creatures
death from one end of the Union to the
other; and as much more to publish it
in the thousands of papers that take
press kilograms. He bad received TWEEN.
ty times that sum during his lifetime,
but had squandered it all. He had
made score eff managers rich, but
died in abject poverty. Let it be a
lesson to us then. that we take care of
the profits on our labor and do not
''sow for others to reap"