The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-29

NhCCa eDNuAf 0SOAAt
An do iis so;
An every time turn about
jump Jim Grow.
Then followed breakdown.
This always took the audience by storm,
and it struck ''Decate"; it opened up new
field for his genius to work in. Soon after
he composed and sang his first negro
melody, entitled, "Oh, jimmie, Is de Hoe
cake Done %
De sun am gone benin de cloud,
De oberseer am talkin' loud,
An I'm so hungry can't see,
What is it good you We got for me?
Oh, jimmie, is de hoecake done, my lnb:
Oh, jimmie, is de hoecake done!
Not long after this our minstrel was miss
ing The "songbird" had flown, whittier
10 one knew, and for long time-several
years-nothing was heard from him by his
associates. / have heard that his first en-
gagement was in Cincinnati, at the old Dor
field Museum, the place where the Infer
nal Regions were so graphically portrayed
ian Ingenious piece of mechanism) to the
great wonder of the backwoodsmen and
hogdrivers of the northwest. But he was
first brought prominently before
the public when he organized the
first band Of negro MINISTRIES that
was ever formed, the idea being original
with him, called the Emmett Minstrels. -
The party consisted Of four persons-Dick
Pelham Jim Linton, Frank Brewer and
Emmett. The violin, bones, tambourine
and banjo were the instruments used. The
new scheme took immensely, and after
travelling through this country he reorgan-
lied his company, adding three or PERFORM
ers to it, and took them TO England, where
they met with great ovation. and re-
turned with their pockets we'll filed with
English gold.
"Dsn," as ne is called by the profession,
on his return visited his parents, who were
in reduced circumstances. He rendered the
family very material aid before he left
them. He educated an only brother and
two sisters. The brother became prOIni-
nent jurist; the sisters married men of
i prominence, one of them becoming prom
inent authoress
Just picture to yourself Dan Emmett's
pigmy troupe of four performers, and then
one OF the colossal organizations of to-day.
How things have changed! But | doubt
present time gives better satisfaction than
4 did the lesser one in Its day, SO fresh and
unique.
About this time Ed Christie organized
troupe in New York, containing ten mem-
Ders, and was permanently located at No.
ga Broadway. Christie was Buffalo man,
and bis reputed SOD. George Christie, was
the great attraction in the troupe. being
hne comedian, song and dance man. The
now venerable Cool White was the inter
locutor. The venture proved a great
bonanza to Christie. The hall was small,
seating only about 800 persons; the conse
quence was that large numbers were turned
away nightly. He claimed that this was a
4 big advertisement for him. SIT becomes
the talk of the town, )" said he, that Christie
Is turning hundreds from his doors nightly,
and then the location for this business is the
oese IN the city. The people come early in
order to secure seats, and find that we'll
packed house has an animating and pleas
ing effect upon the audience, and inspires
ana encourages the performers as we'll.
mere Is great deal in this idea. | re-
member when Forrest was once playing an
engagement in Cincinnati at Pixies opera
mouse (which 1t was said that Pike built out
Oh one years profits in the whisky trade). L
entered late, and was surprised to find so
many empty seats. 1t really worried me,
ana saw 1t had the same effect on those
around me. Forrest was playing Meta
mora" which always took well in the
vest The house was big one, paying
handsomely, but on account of the great
sseatlng capacity the audience seemed small.
.MeeGlng Forrest next day in the parlor of
.pe burnet house, asked him If there was
anything in the idea. He said there was a
great deal in it; it had It's effect on him
eVery night that he had been playing there,
40 40 ne said that audiences were more en-
pSSSiastlc when the house was packed.
rikss was too large for that city or any
Wy IN the west at that time.
~ was during this engagement that For
Ss mad the realistic scene with the red men
o,t me Tar west. One night while playing
q - t ~ party of braves, who were
~ @elr return to the west from Washing
w W., u. e., having stopped at Cincinnati
tS Jake boat to st. Louis, attended the
niet' occupying a private box. At q
point IN the play where "Metamoran gives q
ullar shout, which among his tribe was
n nn9Wn as call for aid, it seemed TO be
iuerstood by the real Indians, who at once
q haped to the stage with uplifted toma-
tna Forrest at first did not comprehend
,n,aas then those for whom the signal wal
hioS ea rushed upon the stage from be-
Iisn.' ne scenes, and IL one Of the real In
,ssi. 49, nsd not al the opportune moment
- We deception. there might have
@,., Enacted a bloody tragedy that was not
49,. ga The billa AS Il was, the sham In.
we're badly frightened.
h" 81 . use a homsiy phrase, every dog
~ day and % i was with Emmett
a ia nea ia day, q day crowned vito
stpe ana unprecedented success. Hil
N. ~ nov found ~ be 10 the descendant
81 ~. 800. ae prestlse aud We dnd hlfn travel
"'sA ne various circus csmpaDles, be