The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-02-23
.wAY Down SOUTH IN DIxIEn
A<hat with the Author OF Dixfe-DeAs'
thing About That Individual
Richmond wa, Daily Dispatch.

Richmond (va.) Daily Dispatch.I
While Mr.. M. B. Leayett's Gigantean
Minstrels were here lately playing at the
Olympian Theatre, he was called on bya
representative of this paper, and quite Q
conversation ensued as to minstrelsy,
past, present and to come. While MI.
Leavett was RECALLING the reportorial ear
with a history of minstrelsy Mr.. Dan
Emmett came upon the scene.
Old Dan, as everybody calls him, ID
the individual who bears the honored
distinction of being the first man who
used burnt cork on his face-the first
negro performer-and Dan has grown old
in the business, years increasing his
popularity. Mr.. Emmett has lost none
of his fire or vigor of former years, but,
on the contrary, may be counted better
to-day than q quarter of a century ago.
One of the most prominent features OF
Mr.. Leavett's Gigantean Minstrel
Troupe is a scene entitled "Old-time
Minstrelsy." This act represents the
very first scene In minstrelsy ever pro-
duced, and just as placed upon the stage
in 1910 by Dan Emmett, and shows at
once the contrast between minstrelsy IN
its infancy and minstrelsy as produced
to-day under the management of such Q
man as Mr.. B. Leavett. Old Dan, the
forty-year fayorite, never fails to win ap-
plause in the great scene, especially
when he sings, as he alone can sing,
"Away Down South in Dixie" Dams
rendition of that veteran song IL sure I
carry the audience every time. The
writer has, of course, heard it sung hun
dreds of times, and even heard MIR. EN-
NETT, the author, sing it years ago, but
/ kL.-I. &lo4 odd 10 sfo hoonfv and
enhances the interest thrown into it by
Dan.
The writer, speaking to Mi. Emmett,
said: "Dan, how is it that you are 30
lively, and still SO perfect In your bust
ness. after your term of nearly q half q
century upon the stage?" ssWell, replied
the author of "Dixie," 81 have always
been blessed with the best of health, and
have always lived a strictly temperate
life. I was never troubled with pain or
ache until five years ago, and then my
trouble began with the rheumatism, and
I got that in right royal state, and it
managed to cripple me up pretty badly.
A man who never has had the rheumatism
knows nothing about the dreadful suffer
ing endured by those who are afflicted
with that malady. How I did suffer with
my case-pain. day and night, constant
ve1ation and trouble from morning until
night and night till morning is what ]
endured.
But 1 began using st. Jacobs OIL for
my trouble, and it began to disappear.
rheumatism must leave the stage Of &C.
ton when st. Jacobs Oil comes on. til
evacuation day with Mr.. Rheumatism
every time, and so it has proved In m,
) case. You tell the people that Old DaI
Emmett says he considers st. Jacobs Oh
the very best medicine for rheumatism
in the world to-day, and would as sool
think of travelling without his violin O
, wardrobe as without st. Jacobs OIL. Tel
them that he is thankful Of st. Jacob
Oil for the good that it has done, and
, that he freely endorses that great medi
: cine and recommended ON ali occasions