The sun., 1880-02-29
JAMES CLARK, MINSTREL.
A Jig Dancer and Banjo Maker whose Jiss
and Bnnjos wero Exceiied by None.

and Bnnios wero ExceIied by None.
James Clark, MINSTREL and once the best
JIG dancer on the American stage, died In his
home In Dominick street on Thursday even
Ing. He was best known to the older theatre
Goers for Ill health In later years kept him
from tho stage. But even In enforced retire.
mont he made himself known the world over
for excellence In q new craft-banjo making.
His improvements were valuable. and banios
that came from his hand were sought eagerly
by professional and amateur players. He sold
one Of superior make for the unusual price OF
nearly 5000.
zeke Chamberlain. tho old-time doorkeeper
OF the Union Square Theatre. is bundled up In
fannels In his home at SO varick street. suffer-
ing from rheumatism. He said yesterday:
There was time when no man could come
near Jimmy Clark In dancing real old-fash-
ioned jig. with plenty OF heel and toe In 1t. He
was very. useful man In other ways, because
he could sit down at q moments notice and pick
tune In firet t-class stvle. or jump In and do
character act. He could also axe peak ing part,
but 1t was his dancing that put lin far ahead
cup and the championship for dancing Mt a
6n benefit given IN to me in 1861. in the Melodson
OF Clark's life. for he took that cup from
ten of the best professional dancers that
be got He was "wsy Jolly
he was Just the soul Of jollity that day. It wasn't
due to drink; either. for Clark wasn't OF the
cold went to his lungs, and i soon became clear
that he had consumption. He had to leave the
stage and change his busy life for sick mans
a He would never admt tba he had
sumption until lately. Then he joked about his
travelling about with only one lung-his left
lung being .gcne-and that, he snd, with
g hs lsmp 1 i hr6Hsn 6s enough E rSsns Ss an s4avaa Sh9
spirits. Isi Isnio %aRIps 'O became his his se spD;
ring about them that no other banjo sver had.
and he got four times as much for them as any
other maker could get for his. No professional
Of any. account in this country or Europe
Cark's banjos. He was sending them con-
stantly to Europe, not only to professionals. but
to dukes. .earls, haronets. and counts with a
one Of his bnnjos now. and q pretty bit Of
money couldn't get 1t from me. He has often
said that when he went. can ing when he died
us to qSss had his w
He tuned 1t. and began to pick out tune in the
old-time way humming as his fingers twanged
tho strings. when a coughing fit seized him;
he stood up. banjo in hand, and the blood
spurted from his mouth. and he sank to the
floor. dead He WINS about 40 years OF age, and
was n member OF the Protective Order OF Elks."
Another Of Clark's old friends said that one
OF his peculiarities was that ho would never
were sadly reduced toward the last OF his life
g very sI % to Es Sen ron ot his
warm and active interest in his welfare. When
one Of his fellow members in the order called
on him for the last time. few days ago. he
said: Tom, I've got just one request to make
OF you and make it OF you because I'm sure
you'll see that it's carried out. | want to be
buried Just as close to John Mulligan as you
can put me-"
He will have grave next Johns in tho Elks'
lot in the Cemetery OF the Evergreens.