Morning journal and courier., 1882-12-18
Burnt Cork "Reminiscences.

Interesting Interview with EIr. Chas. H. Duprez-HItnstrelsy .n 1851 mad 1Ss2.
 Minstrelsy like every other business or profession, has undergone complete revo- Iution within the past thirty years. We did not fully realize the vast strides made in this line of the profession until we called upon MT. Charles H. Duprez Saturday. We found him nicely fixed in suite of pleasant rooms at his hotel, and .in a most cordial manner he welcomed the representative of the daily JOURNAL AND COURIER.
 We learned that Mir. Duprez was born in Paris, France, on March 14th, 1884. and when but nine months of age he was brought across the broad Atlantic and has resided in the United States ever since. His uncle, MT. E. H. Duprez, also of Paris, was one of the finest tenor singers France has ever raised. Young Charles received liberal Fr ench and 1 English education in the States of Massachu- | setts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, after ! which he learned the merchant tailoring bus 1 iness His going into the show business was 1 almost accidental, but like many other things which have been discovered by accident, it was fortunate-for Mir. Duprez.
 1 He was spending the summer at Rocky | Point, R. l. and while there met the original New Orleans minstrels, band of bankrupt minstrels They applied to Mr. Duprez for l financial aid, which was granted-he becom l ing the general manager of the company. 1 He went into it with the intention of having l a little pleasure for short time, but found 1 the business so prosperous that he has con I tinued ill it ever since-a period of thirty 1 two years.
 1 Then the entire troupe consisted of seven persons all told. There were two end men, one bass singer and two little dancing girls 1 who composed the quartette, dancing and l ha l considered inanaezase and consisted of a cor 1 net, violin and seraphirl. Their daily | expenses were about $33; the highest salary paid was sS3. 50 per week board at 50 cents a day; the admission prices were 15 cents | for bench seat and 25 for reserved seats. | They were considered & first class company, and played to crowded houses, for four weeks 1 each, in Hartford, Providence, Salem, Fall River, New Haven, Springfield, Worcester, Lowell, Portland and other eastern cities. l Ainsley Scott, who was one of the finest bari ! tone singers that ever blackened his face, re- ! ceived salary of $2. 50 per week. He is now engaged in Australia at Ss1OO per week. 1 Now MT. Daprez employs forty people, and undoubtedly has one of the largest and finest minstrel troupes in ths United States
 He works fourteen brilliant end men and has
 a large fine orchestra of irst-class musicians
 The specialties for the present season are two
 female impersonators or burlesque prime
 donnas, ten clog dancers, twelve banjo play
 CTS, heavy finale to first part of programme
 called ''Barnums Greatest Show on Earth;'
 another heavy after piece, entitled the 'Pola,
 Bear," and 8 very Imaginable dancing act
 ''The Twelve Cotton Field Shouting
 Belles." One of the attractions is his mill
 tary band of 40 members, who appear on tht
 streets in handsome military caps and capes
 discoursing fine selections of music. Mir
 Duprez employs none but first artists
 who are required to be sober and steady tt
 secure an engagement. He pays from S1O t(
 $40 and expenses per week, according to tai
 ent. His expenses run to about $4O0 pc
 night, according to location and size O.
 towns.
 L1r. Duprez never appears on the stage be
 fore an audience, but simply manages the af
 fairs Of his troupe. He is 8 man of extensive
 travel, versatile talents, pleasant, magnetic
 and entertaining in conversation. In busi
 ness he is sharp, shrewd and perceptive. He
 has seen his profession rise from obscurity tc
 prominence. When he began the business
 men in it were dissipated and reckless, bu
 now none but gentlemen of steady habits are
 wanted by good managers.
 The above gigantic troupe gave Q very
 pleasing, chaste grand minstrel entertain
 mept at CarlPs Opera House last Saturday evening before an audience of nearly clever hundred people. Their costumes and frs part were fine and elegant. Come again soon
 'I would net live alway, ask not to stay We do not wonder, with such 9 cold as yours
 but there is 8 bright side to everything, end sunshine even for those racked with pain Dr. Bulls Cough Syrup never fails to cure the most stubborn cough.