The Morning herald., 1878-12-19

Led 10 ENJOY nave been found IN the ocs
,asional hours when cur thought, have
been diverted from the cares ano bpsine.,
of life, by the sweet ballads and side spli,>
ling jokes Of a reaily good minstrel troDpe.
1t is to us always regre tful dlsaproint.
ment, that now days, to much Of their
is taken up with broad
arcss and eItravagant buresques which
was formerly devoted to really charming
ballads, or amusing negro melodies, We
wish they would eoniue themselves to
minstrelsy.
delaware" is ore Of the most cultivated
and accomplished citizens of Wilmington
REMINIscEsCBs.-'The first organized
band of burnt cork minstrels was nm,
doubtedly that known ss the New Orlesn,
Ssrenaders, Of which the leading per-
formers Were Stsnwood, Harring' on, and
Pell, or Pelham ne was known bv both
sfthese names. Ginger-B'ue Rioe Brow,
er, and Sanford may have appeared earlier
az individual specialist. on the banjo, and
as dancers. The New Orleans Serenad4r,
were men Of strong individuality and f rec
Of character, and of immense ability in
their then original roles. Their peculisri.
ties were most pronounced snd un'qne,
and are the bases and source of all The
funniness (if I may be allowed the word)
Of our modern minstrels. They literally
covered the whole ground SO for as negro
minstrelsy is concerned. and all that Is
later is bat variation of this bands per-
formances. The members of the original
troupe were men Of education and
refinement, and their performances
were most fascinating and in,
structive. Harrington was the basso and
had remarkable organ, OF great power
and sweetness. Stanwood played the &C.
cordeon, and every evening performed
solo on thi, little>known instrument that
brought down the house with an encore. [
have often thought II strange that some Of
the celebrities of our day have not taken
up the almost-forgotten ACCORDION as
feature. By proficient it yields charm>
ing music-equsl to an organ. l do not
remember the date of the first appearance
of the New Orleans band, but it was at the
old Chestnut street Masonic Hall, and
about the time indicated by the playbll
mentioned by ]. H. NJ; and I have no
doubt that performance was by them"
SAMUEL S. SANFORD -"Your CORES,
pondent "reminiscences, in the SundIy
Dispatch of December 15t, in regard to
minstrelsy, is entirely wrong. There
never was any troupe by the name Of the
New Orleans Serenaders' until the Bnck>
ley Family returned from England. ! hat
was in September, 1840. We opened at
the Samson Street Hall. This took in the
Thanksgiving of that year. From there
we went to Masonic Hall and remained
there duriog the holidays of 1S49'5O This
is the only instance of any company cal'
ling themselves New Orleans Serenaders.
The party "reminiscences ha. reference to
was the Ethiopian Serenaders' Company
Stanwood, Harrington. PeIl, Germon
Winenore, and sixth party. When
they performed at the Arch Street
Theatre, in the spring of 1845, Charles
Porter was manager. The troupe appeared
in long-tailed coats, painted red, wIlt0
hats, and with accordeon, banjo tl1 msIte'
pair kitchentongs, and tamborine. Their
genteel appearance and oddity of dress
created quite sensation. As regards their
great gentlemanly qualities and nuscal
abilities, in speaking of them and calling
them great &c., he wrongs the Buckleiys'
ThArA will hp GiIpn
family. Every one of them was master +
musician. Who will remember Ole Bl,l
Buckley, George Swaine Buckley, H.
Bishop Buckley, the father. Joseph Bucks
ley, and the basso Rainer. as well az my'
lself, and say that their equals have ever
been heard of In this combination was y
an orchestra of soloists, quartet, as well
as brace of comedians. Who will forget
the burlesque opera as We played them n a;
) Masonic Hall-'Cinderell and that re,
Bohemian Girl Fra Diavalo,' La Bny
Deer La Som am Bull Oh! &c? why
don't we have similar Ministries! II %
easily answered. that peculiar talent Is ho'
available. All who were famous IN opera.
tic minstrelsy are either dead or retired !or III.
, want of engagements, while the ms)or
portion are associated with the various
English opera companies, or other n'lSlca.
) combinations. Suffice TO say, as wro!e
', you before, many think / am wrong N N
. dates; if so, let them come to the front anu
show either bill or performer who evt, ~.
saw a minstrel company in PLiladelpuhta ah
prior to my party performing at 9Ou'I, lnh
wark Hall John Donnelly and Josspu -,
t Mu ply might throw some light on i, ,bo 10
/ they are the only two whom | can call wv
boys of 1S44 who are now In this ciV'
u, DRLEwARE.-"' "reminiscences is paiv,,
ly right in bis recollection Of the trlglna'
! negro minstrel baud. He is mistaken
: however, as to the name Of the organize .so
" tios. The company called themselves n, wv
, Ethiopian Serenaders, and were Gun .nn
7 posed of Messrs. Gsrmon, Harrington