The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-07-15
Negro Minstrels.

Ethiopian minstrelsy, as it is COM
monty called, is not nearly so popular as
it was twelve or fifteen years ago; the
public having been somewhat satiated1
with its extravaganza and sham negro
isms. The kind Of minstrelsy we have
to-day is very unlike that of the past,
being more refined and strictly musical
than of yore. This sort of amusement
once ragged in all the cities and towns
of the country, and had on extraordi-
nary run for a quarter of a century. 1t
is nearly forty years since the first
troupe was formed here, and it is re-
mafkable that most of the leading min
strels have, Notwithstanding their pecu-
mary prosperity, died very poor. The
burnt cork performers have been prone
to rapid courses, and have used up their
financial and physical substance prema-
turely.
Edwin P. Christy, who was the pio-
neer, founded the original Christy Min
strels in Buffalo, in lS4l, and played at
Mechanics Hall, in this city, for several
years to crowded audiences. He made
$4,000 at the business, and finally
committed suicide, after losing every
thing, by leaping through a third-story
window. His putatlve son, George N.
Christy (Harrington), was the first rep
resentative Of female parts, such as
Lucy Long and Lucinda at the %soiree,
had a large salary, and managed several
companies successfully, but he died here
in great poverty. Dan Bryant (O'Brien),
of Bryant's Minstrels, the most noted
of the three brothers, began in 1850,
played twenty years, made a fortune
and got entil ely rid CT it. After his
death benefits were given and subscrip-
tions taken up for the support of his
family. w. w. Newcomb (Combs),
author OF the burlesque lecture on We
mans Rights and other popular absur-
dities, member of the once very success
full firm of Rumsey e. Newcomb, visited
England and Germany professionally,
had q snowy cottage at Saratoga, and
cut a grand figure in his way. He a
through his money, was obliged to de-
pend on a salary as a subordinate per-
former, and came to his end here in pen
ury. the expenses Of his illness and
burial were borne by his former agent,
N. d. Roberts. Ii. S. Ramsey, his
partner, a famous butfoon and banjoist,
went W, and went down like the rest.
Having been pa~ralyzed, he was taken
care of by relatives at Newburg, on the
Hudson, and was aided by his fellow
showmen until the close Of his wretched
life.
Sam S~harpelcy (Sharpe) distinguished
as a jester and endmen, proprietor of
Sharpeley's Minstrels, known as the
Iron-clads, a great card in his day, made
ducks and brakes of his earnings by
petroleum sp%eculations, patents and OTHER
ventures, and died at Providence, r. ].
G. Swaine Buckley, of Buckley's Sere-
naders, a very versatile performer and
creator of burlesque opera, played IN
New York season after season. to
thronged houses. He gained and lost a
fortune, went into bankruptcy, started
again, and again failed. He died at
Quincy, Mass, last year, almost penni-
less. Eph Horn, of great note in vari-
GUS troupes in his day, commanded big
salaries, but was SO impovident that
members of the calling had to bury him
in one of the Metropolitan cemeteries.
Billy Manning, of Emerson Il Manning's
Company, IN eccentric delineator, filled
his purse and emptied it, and when he
went to his gave in Chicago, his friends
paid for his funeral Billy Morris, OF
Morris Brothers, mimic and vocalist, let
all his profits slip through his fingers,
drifted into q lunatic asylum, was pro
vided for by his brothers until Boston
furnished him with Gx feet of earth.
VIM. H. Delehanty was n of the
last of the negro comedians to be buried
by his guild, and yet he had earned for
years $500 a week, as dancer and singer.
He was the author Of the popular trif1e
Shoe Fly" Nearly all the ways of
the Ethiopian minstrel seem to lead to
p~rodigality, dissipation, and the need OF
sepulthral benevolence. - New York
T,uroc