Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-23
FUN.LOVING BACKUS DEAD
Some Stories of His Life.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sum-
Backus was born comedian. It was lust
as natural for him to do low comedy as for a
baby to cry. 1t was in his feet, in his arms. and
above all, in his face. His wink would make
man laugh and his grin WOULD conyulse q
packed house.
He more than held up his end of the row of
San Francisco minstrels. Probably his most re-
markable dOngs as he sat at the right Gas to the
audience) of the ebony arc in the first part of
the performance were accomplished with his
mouth. This extraordinary feature was rare
| manipulation he could at any moment bring
| down the house. 1t was his especial delight
to find group of children in the box at his
LETT elbow. He could turn his head.
and plunge them into paroxysms of
laughter by simply causing his mouth to run
in wavy, catacornered way across his face.
1t was large mouth by nature. and he
added to Its vast appearance by stopping the
pnrnt cork an inch or so short of its confines,
and filling In the interval with beautiful YER
million. He could describe with his mouth q
circle a crescent, a triangle. a parallelogram. or
a streak OF lightning at pleasure. Everything
that he did with his mouth was full grown, not
to say inordinate. When he spoke Italian after
Salvini or French after the Bernhardt the sounds
OF those languages were like thunder rolled
through bordering Of st. Vitus. When he
moved his mouth merely, the children screamed
with merriment when he spoke through it,
they nearly died Of terror. He dubbed with
fun, and his vivacity on the stage did not exceed
his humor off it. To reporter who called to
Inquire about his health some years ago he said:
i've painful, but, mind you. an arstocratic
disease, govt. Birch had it year ago, and I've
been jealous of him ever SINCE"
In speaking of his early life he said;
~ was not born like the generality of people
who have become knOwn-Of poor but honest
parents. was born Of wealthy parents, who
were not only honest to begin with, but re-
NAMED so. Consequently I am not related to
any bank presidents, heads of Insurance COM
panies, check raisers, or defaulting cashiers"
When Ad Weaver stopped him on the street
hourfshed his fists in his face and threateningly
demanded If he had made an Objectionable COM
ment about him. Backus looked around and
Eyes, and then ran off, 'This, he was wont to
say, was good demonstration Of the superb
orlty OF brain over mere brute strength"
A disconsOlate father called upon him one day
and said: II have no control over my son; he
wants to become minstrel singer. l have in
vain tried to induce him to embrace the law,
medicine, or ministry. He is going to destruc-
ton: How can divert him?"
:" Perhaps you don't go the right way to work
with the poor boy" said Mr.. Backus. "Per-
Boys will be boys. Be gentle with him. Dress
him. Take him around to see the sights. Take
him to Boston and lead him to that cradle of
liberty Faneuil hill. Then take him to the
top OF Bunker hill monument-and throw him
over"
Mr. Backus heard that gentleman, insulted
at something he had said, was searching for
him. to shoot him. He sent him this message:
xiii Birch. He has no child and have"
On one of his periodical visits to Rochester,
Mr.. Backus was Invited to visit a very fine tall.
and large business building called Powers
Block, then newly erected on the main street
He was told that beautiful view of the city and
glimpse of Lake Ontario could be obtained
from the root. The building contained no ele-
vator, and the minstrel q very heavy and short
winded man, climbed and climbed traversing
flight after flight Of stairs between the ground
floor and the roof. On the top story he halted
opposite door and raped until the janitor's
daughter responded.
Excuse me-" said Backus, putting and pant
ing and hopping his face with his handkerchief,
''but is st. Peter in?"