Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-15

placed her saddle horse at my disposal on
many occasions. Al
1 also received from home some shees
music and complete score Of "Plnafore
The songs were all old and worn threadosra
in America, but here they were entirely
new, and it was while the lady who otfts
ciated as music teacher at the schooi waa
going into raptures over 'rhe OId Log
Cabin in the Lane" that conceived me
idea of ascertaining what talent 1 could
muster on the ship in the minstrel line .
first spoke to the Captain, who was much
pleased with the idea, and gave me perm1sf
sion to go ashore any time when was not
needed by the mate on the ship. For seV<
eral days was busily at work preparing tha
programme and cudgelling my brains fof
moldy old end-men jokes, songs, etc.
When I was in doubt as to a line improt
yised, and the good people never knew the
difference.
was invited to sing in the church choir,
as was the possessor of heavy bass voice.
attended regularly every Sunday, also at
rehearsal on Friday evening. It was here &
made the acquaintance of a young lady
who was gifted with a beautiful soprano
voice, which made sad havoc with my heart.
and it was with trembling hand that 9
drew her arm within mine, after our hrst
rehearsal to escort her to her home. It was
the first time for nearly two years had
been accorded the treatment of q gentle@
man. and is it very strange that we were a1
hour walking few hundred yards?
The other members of the crew sooH
found me out, and was subjected to an un<
merciful amount of chaff, but, as I knew, is
was principally promoted by envy, it only
added to my enjoyment.
AT length had prepared a programme
which I thought was within the scope of ouf
talent, and one evening we met In an old
barn on shore for rehearsal. One of the
storekeepers had volunteered to repeat a
selection from Shakespeare, and the lady
music teacher was to oficiate at the piano
and also favor the audience with two solos.
When unfolded nv list of Jokes for the
opening negro minstrel scene, was assured
by the storekeeper that L must carefully
purge it of anything which related to the
Bible, and so / was obliged to draw lins
through Noah and old 'tKnee-hlgh-miah,'s
and other Biblical characters.
We wished to obtain the schoolhouse for
our use, but as there had never been a
fshow" in town, the wiseacres were obliged
to consult the law in regard to sehoolhouses,
and finally ascertained that it could not be
used for such purposes unless the proceeds
of the entertainment were to be devoted to
charity. We Immediately offered to give
said proceeds, if any, to a poor widow
named Usher, whom the Portuguese in@
variabIy called 'Iiss Ashes
This silenced their scruples, and on the
appointed night we made our appearance as
burnt-cork artists to crowded house. The
public press was not represented in Mons
gonni, so we could not advertise our ''great-
est show on earth," but for a fortnight il
had been the talk of the town, and on the
day N question the settlers from outlying
districts came in on horseback, some OF
them travelling over 80 miles to see their
first SHOW" Not only was every avail
able inch of room inside taken by patrons
at Is cd per head, but outside the windows
were boxes upon which scores were perched,
and even the large trees were loaded with
living fruit, all anxious to get even a peep
at what was to them simply marvellous
As general manager and chief performer
was beginning to get excited. 1 had mob
calculated on the sensation we would create,
and when saw the bag of silver which
represented the receipts at the door, and
thought of the performance we were about
to inflict on the unsuspecting public, my
rerve nearly failed me. 1 was booked for a
stump speech, 1nterlocutor, clog danca