New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-28
OLD MINSTREL DAYS.
BILLY BIRCH INDUCES IN REMNIS-
CENCES

lie TELLS OF THE FAMOUS Partnership
sTARTrD IN SAN FRANCISCAN MAN WHO
LOVED 4 JOKE, BIT COULD NOT Laugh.
.No sir declared Billy Hirch. the veteran burnt
cork comedian. TO the writer It" "'H> "h'' -.
Minstrel profession isn't what j. nd I" he by hai''
went upoa the stage forty years ago ana have
soon many changes since then. oi r"n'-c We I'd"
nv trials and ti;hnlti"nS like most everybody ''c'
Lut I've also experienced great many gays am >o"'
pretty rcspcctlblc tr"mphS. ~'"r ~ - '"'''
SINGER and had been lcforc the io"f'fh' 10Y Sc'a'
year. before met Iachu, and Wamlo!d IN san iran
cisco They, had organized a company and Oh" Jay
Charlie Bac!iiis came 10 III" and a'Eri me I" JON ''',
3, Gr., I held back rot thinhiiIa tlcr' was enough
money in the business tor three par'n' I'nt many
was persuaded TO cast my lot WIN 'h''' 'u'u ''
firm name became Erich. EarknS anu "ah'o"' VII
the first night Op1"cd III IAN ii"'l ." III. w.
was packed with an enthusiastic audience. We VI"
b;c b,.;nc,, for several months and ,atn thc people
OF the Golden Gate began 10 81; h''c 'rea vi U.s.
though we changed the bill every i'-f'.
{. reug wi,c in our day and generations VIC dr'ioeu
it would be the proper caper I" Civ" III" Fan fr"'.'
public a rest for awhile and we diu We "'Nu'" ''o
company up into two sections ana mli'"" %" w wv
Mines each party going in opposite d''c 'oh>' aN"s
and hi: men USUALLY wcIt 20 tie >"ifh"rh "'i""b
districts. while WamLold and | and the rest Oh ''s
eomnauy went uorth. | tell YOU We used 7" nave
some clorlou. times In those early day among ''c
miners, sometimes we performed III ionVn HFo
,hanv sometimes In IA dnry cabin and not in'Tcqrh'N
on a little knoll or bluff. IN the open air, Win ''c
star, for our foo,lights. We would give the whoie
show tu,, the same "a " were PLAYING IN an
elegantly appointed theatre. Every miner III the
comp and from ncighhorng camps. would attend our
performance ard bring his entire family II Ne MA
any, Tho seats we're 81 apiece and none "i them was
reserved except benefit occasions, WHICH, m">'
confess were pretty t"l"rahly frequent my'en
thought nothing Of taking benefit about once every
four or Owe weeks ard other members Of the r"mpah!
ayai,cd them selves OF the same privilege. just thH
of IT, those big open hearted digrc:> enjoyed paving
their dollars worth Of dust to IL TO 20" II, 'n' mp
our monkey shine, ard at that very p"i!"n nero II.
New. Yurl. CITY y could get int" III" sam" GAS
Of enter taument for Il quartet. never IA H'N iic
saw such ra.ily amused men those old California
miners were They did not try T." supplies thcii
hearty laughter when Of lie said good ihin or ala
ANYTHING funny And th'ir appreciation encouraged
", To- accomplish beet. Isnt they had "'irh WAY
of Judging when our performance Wa ~" In" MP !"
,hc mari; and they didn't hcSita" to his when they
didn't Ike anythiaR
"Eh, ne. how Wumhod used To- catch THETA WITH
Ia, sentimental and pathetic song. Yen E""N what
peculiarly >we.n, and mllon voice II" had. NJ
voice. ever thrilled me AZ m, I-'d 10. TIL moment
he rose ard topped forward :" >uI -" Miners ~o"''
fairly yell for m"Dcrt and then t"N Would quiet