Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-06-23
NHinstreIsy.

Ethiopian minstrelsy, as it is COM
monty called, snot nearly so popular
as it was twelve of thirteen years ago;
the public having been somewhat salts
fed with its extravagances and sham
negrOisms. 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 of
the cities and towns of the country,
and had an extraordinary run for a
quarter of a century. 1t is nearly forty
years since the first troupe was formed
here, and it is remarkable that most
Of the leading minstrels have, not
withstanding their pecuniary pros
perity, died very poor. The burnt
cork performers have been prone to
rapid courses, and have used up their
financial and physical substance pre-.
maturely. Edwin P. Christy, who
was the pioneer, founded the original
Christy Minstrels at Buffalo in l84l,
and played at Mechanics hall, in this
city, for several years to crowded
audiences. He made $4,000 at the
business, and finally committed sui
eide, after losing almost everything,
by leaping from a third-story win
dow. His putative son, George N.
Christy Harrington, was the first
representative of female parts,
such as Lucy Long and Lucinda
at the Soiree; had a large salary,
and managed several companies sue
cessfully, 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 for twenty years, made a for
tune, and got entirely entirely rid Of
it. After his death benefits were
given and subscriptions taken up for
the support Of his family. w. w.
Newcomb (Combs), author Of the
~burlesque lecture on Woman's Rights
and other popular absurdities, mem.
Der of the once very successful firm
Of Rumsey & Newcomb, visited Eng
land and Germany professionally, had
a snowy cottage at Saratoga, and cut
a grand figure in this way. He ran
through his money, was obliged to de-
pend on a salary as a subordinate per
former, and came to his end in penury.
The expenses of his illness and burial
were borne by his former agent, N.
D. Roberts. H. S. Rumsey, his for
mer partner, a famous bufoon and
b%anjoist, went up and went down like
the rest. Having been paralyzed, he
was taken care of by relations at New
berg, on the Hudson, and was aided
by his fellow-showmen until the close
of his wretched days. Sam Sharpley
(Sharpe), distinguished as a jester and
end-man, proprietor of Sharpley's
minstrels, known as the Iron clads, a
great card in his day, made ducks and
brakes Of his large earnings by petro.
leum speculations, patents and other
ventures, and died at Providence, r. |.
&. 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 penniless Eph Horn, of great
note in various troupes in his day
commanded big salaries, but was SC
improvident that members of the call.
ing had to bury him in one of the
metropolitan cemeteriIs. Billy Man.
ming, Of Emerson d Manning's troupe
an eccentric d~elineator filled his purse
and emptied it, and when he went tC
his grave in Chicago his friends paiC
for his funeral. Billy Morris, O.
Morris brothers, mimic and vocalist
let all his profits slip through his fin
gers, drifted into a %lunatic asylum
was provided for by his brothers unit
Boston furnished him with six feet O
earth. William H. Delehanty wa
one of the last of the negro comedi
ans to be buried by his guild, and ye
he had earned for years $500 a weel
as dancer and singer. He was thu
author Of the popular triie "ShoC
Fly" Nearly all the ways Of tn,
Ethiopian minstrel seem to lead Il
n~rodigalitv. destination and the nee(