Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-08-10
NEGRO MINsTRELsY AND MELODY.
The Originator of this Class OF En-
tertainmcnt aud His Follower.

| Negro minstTelsy and melody are the ohy
arts 10 which we have any original claim.
Everyt else Is borrowed, says The Aoe
| York Graphic Negro melody belongs 10 the
great family OF folk songs, and has no origin
that does not lie deep In tho hearts and lives
Of the negro race.
Negro minstrelsy Is the first native effort In
q purely artistic direction. 1t dealt with al
together new material There we're no pre-
| cedentA
| The Negro race, with its peculiar and
| strongly marked characteristics, wm before
unknown 10 the stsge. But not only was the
material fresh, but the method OF It's presen-
tstion was new.
As IN all artistic work OF valu-, II was
studied from the life. 70 present the plants
ton negro, his music, his poetry, his humor.
his dialect, his attitudes, was
tsste OF more dignity than 1t has ever been
granted. Bones, banjo and Mr.. johnson,
WIKI his dignity and polysyilables are three
types which almost every plantation furnish
ed and are worth perpetuaton,
The original minstrel was Dan Emmett,
Wbsn . correspondent has rece nty uneartb-
ed at Chicago, q feeble old man OF 81 Dan
Emmett according TO his own story, was born
at Mount Vernon, o., In 1878 His father
WAS blacksmith, and Dan vas brought up TO
work the bellowa but At twelve could play %
skilfully On the violin that he transferred
bimelf and his violin from the blacksmith
shop TO Stickpey's circus In lS42 he organ
lied the first band OF black cork minstrel, and
produced those studies OF darkey life he had
acquired IN his travels with The circus There
were four members: Prank Brewer, bones;
Billy Whitloek, banjo; Dick Pelham, tam
BOURNE; Dan Emmit violin. Ii came about
enough an EFFORT TO serenade old man Howe, OF
circus fame, In the Bowery The tune chosen
was 'Old Dan Tucker and they made IL
ring. Boys" said old man Howe. you've
got blsDked good thing II you only knew II"
But no burnt cork was used until Pelham's
benefit At the Chutham Street theater, when
the public went wild over the great hit No
charge was made al the subsequent perform.
ances, which were in a gambling saloon, but
collection was taken up at the door. The
Tour men were then engaged by Welch's cir
Gus and paid 500 a week.
The company afterwards Travelled through
the country, and In 1850 the first local min
stre4 show was started In Chicago, and was
known as Emmet's varieties. The success Of
Emmebs Ministries was soon followed By the
organization OF other troupes. One OF the
early famous organizations was Christy's
minstrc!s which first brought into vogue
long succession OF such songs "a "Suwanne
Riverp "Ole Kentucky Home" "Massa's in
the Cold, Cold Ground" which brought rep
utation 10 stephen G. Foster, the writer. who
died few years ago at Pittsburgh. These
are called negro melod es, but are such only
In name, negro music having entirely differ
ent sar-marks.
In the height Of his success George Christy
took his Ministries TO London, where they
became 8 permanent institution. and are
doubtless there SIN. 10 London they are
called "nigger minstrels." This strikes
American ears strangely, for even IN ante
bellum DAYS negro iuinstrelsn was the H.
cepted term here.
For MANY years the MINISTRIES AMI the tray
cling families, such as the Hutch nsons aud
the Swiss Bell Ringers, were the only forms
OF public amuseneuts the country outside OF
the cities knew II is impossible TO-DAY 10
realize the eager antic patton that the news
OF their coming gave The names OF the Old
mns,rels are household words, but they are
now either dead or have gone into other pur-
suits bob Hart still appears in his varied
chara cters MS preacher, senator, etc. Billy
Lawrence is letter. carrier. Edwin Winchell
is In the railroad business Billy Manning il
dead, and the two men best known in New
York-Dan Bryant aud Charley Backus-are
both dead.
Bryant's Ministries, when they occupied the
Twenty street house, was one OF the
best OrgauiZed, art site, aud most cred table
entertainments In town. Coarseness never
passed for wit; the fun was wholesome and
the mu.ic good Professional men, worn out
10 20 TO Bryant's as they took tonic. aud IL
WAS tonic that brought retreshmeut TO faded
mind and spirit a well "a 10 the body.
II was here that Dixie first appeared as a
waIk-around In 1859. Dan Emmett was the
composer, and his only inspiration was Bry-
ants beseechng appeal for something new.
This Was one day The next day Dixie
appeared. 1t was a hit Every body took II
up music publishers, bands, and the part it
played among both comGatants
in the war is well known.
Daa Brl ant died OF consumption early I'm
the .7Us, aud few men left more friends aud
graceful memories The Twenty-third street
place was then followed by Birch Il Backus'
III strels an Broadway. Charley Bnckus was
the son OF a Presbyterian clergyman, his
natural mental equipment for AL end mun
was assisted by phenomenal mouth, which
the arts OF black cork made more phenomenal.
Charley Backus was particularly strong in
commenting on passing events. The thing
uppertpoet IN the public MUD was not ex-
baused until Backus had been heard on II.
In this way the little house ALWAYS had an
audience OF men Of brains and affairs. The
Beecher trial WAS source Of delight Bsckus
especially del GIFTED In Mr.. warts long sen
fences Every body remembers Mr.. Evaris'
delivery OF 'falsus IN uno. falsus IN omn-
bus" and Charley Backus' concluslo "fsL
sus in the street-cars." delivered with such
impressiveness and extent OF mouth.
Evcn when Birch aud Backus were not In
character II was the custom OF reports TO
interview them on al important topics OF the
dav.
Negro minstrelsy exists In name, but II is al
together a different thing The old gags,
jokes, songs have been worked over and
beaten out 10 a thinness that has but little
body left The i'm person ator no longer studie.
from life, although there is q colored barber In
Cleveland, o., and an Old oyster opener in
Washington that are always Interviewed by
the end man for local gags or for matter for
his topical song,
The topical song 10 the feature OF TO-DAY,
aud II 10 generally an English song remodelrd
BY the professional "hsmfattcrn whose bust
ness It is TO furnish this sort Of material IN
minstrel companies. The blscked faces are a
eort OF survival. but bv no means essential TO
the character of the performance. Billy Elmer
cons greatest hit Is an Irish policeman
1batcher's slump spec ches, which are the beet
and most original efforts now heard at min.
strel performance, have nothing Ia them OF
the negro character
Thatcher's speeches are in great vogue in
private life Young men study the m practice
them when they make their NOR ming toilets,
and then get them oif for their mothers and
AisterA Many, Indeed, arc not averse Of al
evening 10 giving them fo~ the benedt Of a
clscle q admring frienda
ntlitery pailvosA M~-.-ns-