The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-04
CHARLES BACKUS, MINSTREL,
JUST NOW DOING THE TNVALTD AND
NOT THE TIMBOURINE

Tho Man who has not Enemy In the P-o- |
fcs.ion, but who Insists he wns Horn n
Tragedinn- Ills Coiio1uics with Mr.. Birch.
Mr. Charles Backus was lntclv reported
very i'll in the Sturtcyant House. For two weeks
he has tossed upon Il bed oi pain and fever. un-
able TO SOC anv Of his friends. His sickness fol-
lowed rath,r bathing complication OF DIS
eases. beginning with rheumatic govt when
developed into liver and kidney troubles. HIS
physician says that the complaints are now
yielding to treatment. and that Mr.. Backus will
he able before long to pack his tambourino
md wardrobe and take his place opposite Mr.
Birch on the end with that aesthetic company.
which ordinarily plays high comedy on broad
way but IL now on its summer tour About
thrcc weeks ago Mr. Backus folt. rs he ex-
pressed it to n friend. sccdy. but he went
on the stage with the company that evening
Bundry twingcs in his arm made his tambourinc
,pccaltcs extremely unpleasant. although the
devices that he WINS obliged to adopt to respect
those twinges and at the Same time accompany
his songs on the instrument. were regarded by
Tho audience irrcsistby funny They
didn't realize" an at;achd said. yesterday. that
pvcry time that Charley struck the tambo II was
like tying his muscles into a knot" Although
suffering greatly. he went through his special
lies and evenings work without quailing but
tho next morning lie gave up After two days
II was painful to the rest OF the company TO SEQ
him Obliged to fight his approaching disease
Then he took to his bed.
1t Is especially unfortunate for the company
that Backus should be i'll now, as he is one OF
lhe two great attractions. Birch being the other
when the company is on the road. The friend
thip between Mr.. Backus and his partners
Hirch and Wamnol@ & ycry warm b.. h5h hos 81
ms much ms the physicians would permit and
when they started for stamford ON Wednesday
evening. whcrc the company was TO perform,
thoy were feeling very anxious.
Charley Ia 'hus is a born comedian n
Tor him 10 do low comedy IA for u baby 90 cry.
i was ia his feet. his arms, and. above all. hi;
iacc. His wink would make man laugh. and
ms grin would convuse a pa'krd house.
Charley !, tea hoy, and he could dance II
double s4ullr on 10 barrel head, down 10y the
canal. before he could -pell his name. Like
Isaac Watts. who composed hymns lccause he
roud not help II. and WAS whipped therefor hy
danced and mimi"l;cd heraus, be- had 90 II he
died for II. and WIS trouneol iroGu. atty in
consequence. Charley was king pin among the
There were only two tIings that he couldn't DO.
He wasn't made n gymnast. But. by putting
I i' he yur o l1 Dy uriSc,y oi ho1
the same early business trimming that many
other noiod m,nh"n rr ~, NH rniiway
papers. and he would Sol ten pniWr~ 10 ~"
other boys one hy the wa, he'd tw - hi- mouth.
One day there came along MINSTREL troupe.
Charley took hi- profits ami savings and went
That settled his .atn. Fe neyor Lad a. learn 10
dance. and ono sight oi Johnny Poll thrnsh.ng
The tamhourine was enough iQr him. His face
smeared with CORK vas enough To- secure MN
used in thos, dny- H. doa snorialty ,all,d The
Jnfsnt Tom. The work was don" with his
fducak, and when The audience laughed he
began to smile. Then they laughed more.
tept as Sn ' srnn hg 6 a m SGHP"e rcthng
like india rubber until II looked ike nm IRON
ryc. roll the whit, around, and back of the
stage. That specially gave him wide rcuuiu-
ioTnn and viii P by S With aIbyETa aHd Fol
Bernard. as every ON" called him, organi1"it the
SAN Francisco Mnstrels some nltocn years ago,
tharioy used 10 say to Bcrnard. IT, worth he
price OF admission T. SCI You -trusgle To- sgt
across Your stomach SO as to reach the violin On
Mr. Bnckus bubbles over with fun but he
never Intentionally hurts any ones feelings.
Those who know him best say that his yiyacity
aud fun on the stage are only epuallcd by his
humor on Ii Is great sport TO have Backus and
Birch together With some friends those who
fer wittly 70 Mr.. Birchs badness. or perhaps
gently tickle the shining place w;h feather.
TO Mr. Backls's facial peculiarities and his
modiumistlc mouth But i is alw"ys in pure
fun. and the wit il never exhausted. Nambold
sits by. smiling gently, and stroking his lon,;
l,card. Mr.. Ba .kus 10 suggestive, and many of
tho lokcs hurlrsques. and alsurditics that
ainusr the audience are original with him. Mr..
Birch Is receptive and needs only hint from
Mr. Bnrlus AMI t1is n fnp reason why mo two
men have lHyoI together SO perfectly. sup
pl"inenting unc another 80 long
Mr. BarSus ! one Of the few IL ihe theatrical
profession nt whom no enc is I"a,our. o. They
I'LL liz" Charley and there have been lots II tho
fraternity t. -" hini SIM" ne mas been sick
The special o.ir"r IN the Siirtrvant House -uid.
CWrcl never allows, IN appeal Tor aid Tor q
destitute Motor L. rass him rs. and lac s ono 81
the first To- respond when benefit is proIos"d
II Charley Barkus Should not set well iher.
would be genuine crcf t"lt 10y every actor in
approach. Charley THINKS he might have made
ngreat traGcdan, and lie can roll his RS and
90 More grave. Charley Mr.. Birch will re-
mark when Charley breaks into tragedy during
80 But I'm in earnest. Billy now couldn't
do thus well: Ere the bat hath flown his clois
The, sharl-borno beetle with his drowsy hum,
haih rqng night yayning peal there shall D. D.
mat out "a voice that you could almost hear a
the Guy Hall
prch M% 1"u E9yS and tqpeTe" c4gEoy BIZ,
go ana tut on tights and 4 black wiz. buy
wnxod mousiache, and play Ron,o
Thus the-r two men, genuine comedians
but full Of the llumor they love to mimic. cnIol
themselves. " It. revelation q what fun am
spfu inhy h,, II WAS said 70 get Cnarel
Ba"kus and Ned Sothern around II board aitc
dinner The, characteristics have maae III
the famous minstrel So many friends arnohl
lrrson- whose friendship is worth having tina
ihr many u.Ssn$'s oi synpaiy that are sen
for, As Tor himself. he takes It all chccriul
aud ~ II tning tu hr groanrd at hut borne.
Mr. Baoku- was feeling much better las, 'vcn
INK II hopes 10 loin the company in u fey
uuys
Yos" h. said 20 the reporter. as he sat Dol
81 red up IN an easy rhRir " I've had Il painful
but. mind YOU. an aristOcratlr dseasc-gpu
Birch had II "A year ago. and I've born l"Hlou
of him eyer sin"", Toll my friends, please, tina
II | have no ST backs. trouble Will begin n
Usual at O'Clock Tor me with the rest Of tn
company IN Hartford Monday"
The Tniiorr strike In ~. Lonis.
I'ns ne hirq0o Tnes
ST. LOUIS. April ~. - The iOurncymo