The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-06-17
DEVILS IN THE CHURCH.
4 True Story Of Burn, Cork HlmM On ne FOat

S- ~ NV ~ s OiIobtOlss
True Story Of Burnt CORK HQm0r On the FOad
Never heard Of such thing before"
said Charley Bennett. after prying open
a window and plunging head first into a
little waysilc church to escape the
driving and chilling storm.
"iIcard Of WHAT questioned Johnny
Lyon, carefully unwrapping his coat
from around his banjo and restoring it
10 his shivcring person.
"a church theatrical and that's what
this is bound to be tonight" and har-
ley also removed the wrappings from his
violin Tho rest If the boys following his
example, and producing bones and tam
BOURNE they had guarded from the
snow and sIect
" Not much" put in Dick Lamb, with
a nonchaIant whistle. " It's something
entirely new on the programme, and
ought to take"
somebody don tahcus for burglar.
ling II church, PIl be satisfied" laughed
Larry touncrs, the fourth Of the quar-.
tcttc that had busted upon the road,
slid out of the hotel window after dark
with their instruments Cali the yalua.
bIcs they had), leaving the landlord
minus for three days board and were
n oIing it back to Chicago
No danger Of that - answered Char
ley, but it's IN entirely new wrinkle
in the minstrel biz is 4 church theatrical,
and ought to draw a crowded house."
" Yes" sad Johnny Lyon rcfcctiycly,
"i'yc heard of an orthodox disscntn~,
and even a militant but never any
thing like this before"
Except" intcrIardcd Dick, "thc
one that was church up stairs, and
saloon below, aud ON the pillars Of which
Edgar A. Poe is said to have written:
"TurRE's srint above aud gpIrit below.
A spirit NJ joy and q spirit u woe;
The spirit above TX tho spirit III vine
And the spirit below Is the splil oi wine"
Wish | was there now groaned
Larry.
Where? In the church?'
No, You fool, in tho gin mill.
never was so dry in my life
Wet, you mean"
Yes, outside, but dry asa powder
house Within
No matter, we are in snug quarters
tor the night, and can take things com.
fortaklc."
"Ifsomc constable don make it lively
for u.s.
"" Pm not going to freeze, anyhow"
Searching around, Charley found a
stove, pile of wood, and by the aid of
matches and unused programmes of the
Great and unrlvaIed Congo Minstrc5
and unopproachabIc dclncators of At.
rlcan character etc, etc, he soon had
cheerful fire, and the boys were gath
cred round the roaring stove, and in
duIgcd in merry jests ut their own cx-
pcnsc.
They were what is (was) called
SNAP company" though the term was
uncOlncd then, Tor it was in the early
days of burnt cork artists in the West
erd country. The original Christy's |
Ministries with "Ncd' at the head, and |
"Gcorgc" ut the end, had made thcirlirst
visit to thicago, and the boys were wild
with delight. Everybody who could
thumb II string, draw boy, manipulate
bones, beat "Deacon skin and sinr at
at tune, lancicd they saw IN unworkcd
bon MA of untold wealth and wadcd in.
ne 'lOngo s. were among the earliest
to'take the field - and leave it. With
instruments, old songs, gags
lnd cons "A very short allowance
ii money AMI large stock of assurance,
they started out to astonish the natives
md rake in their pile. OF their original
'ccupat ons one was printer, one was a
butchers sub, one general loaicr, and
he other barkecper, and through the
,uzzing of the first named, they were in
ebted for their bills-and always would
with advance agent and treasurer
hey started out with flying colors but
Don came to grief. The agent (lived
n drank high, ran them in debt, and
loped; the treasurer paid no bills COB ,
led up all the avail able, disappeared,
nd left them stranded in strange
own, fifty miles from home, with hun.
ry creditors bouncing upon them at
very turn.
9, N'""''' VI -"tiit hoI thittly WAR,
ut ways and means --was held The
Oys, by dint of cheek, got an immense
rogramme for n benefit the following
icning, quoted the landlord with re-
llgcnt promises, filled themselves with
.ub land corn juice), retired early, 2
cked their doors, slid quietly out of the d
indows and took the back track on a c
iiet "go-as you-pleasc." The weather, !
,wever, was against them, and wild u
'estern snow-sturm ragged upon the !
airie. They we've driven to the shelter
little point of timber, found a p
nelly church, got inside quickly, and b
ide themselves perfectly at home, and Il
comfortable as was possible under the o
s,
But, pretty well used up, they soon g
Nv tired of singing and poking fun at Il
III other, and began looking around n
some place to lay their weary bones. II
ew cushions were found and dragged HI
he pulpit platform; they doubled up to
h themselves and their overcoats and m
pared for snooze, with the under OF
lding that any one who CHANGED to WI
ken should replenish the fire. ha