Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-12-09
MERRY RANJoIsrs.
A Former Well-Remembered New
Havener who Becomes Celebrated
in His Profession.

A Former WelI-Remembered New |
Havener who Becomes Celebrated |
in His Profession.
From very interesting leading article |
by our townsman, Charles q. Day, in the |
Banjo and Guitar journal, just issued, we
clip the following in reference to former
New Havener who attained ability as q
banjoist and specially artist on the stage
and is well remembered by not few of
the older New Haveners:
Henry Stanwood was my intimate friend
and chum for years. He was a Canadian
by birth and for several years worked at
clock-making at the Jerome mandatory
in New Haven, Conn. Harry came from
a music loving family, his brother Roe do
ing general music trade at Detroit. Their
father was music dealer at Coburg, Can
ada.
Stanwood's liking for music drew him
into an amateur minstrel troupe in the Elm
| city, from which he graduated to the pre-
| fessional burnt cork stage. Harry was a
valuable man in minstrelsy. He played
brass in the bands of the travelling shows
and was handy man for the management
as he could "take an end" and acquit him
self creditably.
| Harry Stanwood was handsome fellow,
but he was neither Nancy or dude; he
was neat and natty and his appearance was
was popular on the outside" his friends
| were myriad.
Stanwood was a better banjoist than
| most that were going at his time. As
player, he was not the equal of E. NJ. Hall,
nor did he ever attain Mr.. Halls figures on
the salary list, but his Ginning" was good
and he could entertain his audience with a
solo; as wit he was better off the stage
than on it, His repartes was instantane
highly entertaining and amusing. Harry
Stanwood was indeed "great company"
Harry's ssstudy" and his industry were
of the minus quantity, the learning of a
new song was an aversion, and many a
sharp reminder did he get from Dan Bry-
ant while he was a permanent feature OF
that mirthful minstrel managers band of
dusky troubadours and jolly testers.
Dan Bryant expostulated in vain; Harry
Stanwood still sang about "The Cream
Colored Horse" and personals in the
Herald"
/ Stanwood made capital "dandy coon''
in sketches, and he always was happy in
studying the swell darkey as he found him
in New York. If he was a barber he pa
tronized him and he often sought the gen
tlemen of color who gathered at Major
Poole's pool and billiard room on Wooster
street.
The "Maior" was a swell in black him.
self, and was looked upon by his dyed-in
the wool patrons as very great man in
deed. Major Poole was good deal of G
man about town who placed their money
. on horse or card. Frequently Stan
, wood there met Horace Weston, and then
there would be bit of banjo talk, whilt
,, black Horace's admirers would gather
! about and listen to the chat Usually botf
picked q little on the banjo, and Weston
showed Stanwood some things which h
could not accomplish, but which were al
easy as rolling off log to the unap
. any excuses, and when he was beaten he
y DOTTED his hat and acknowledged tn,
. corn"
All the colored folks at Major Poole
: | agreed, "Mistah Stannard's gemmen, i
he can't play de ban 10 like Horace Weston.
Sam Sharpley was bapjoist cut off il
his prime, a most excellent comedian,
man of intelligence and ehrewd manager
+ His banjo brought him fortune whicl
;, | was wasted in ventures outside of min
strelsy. Before he could regain his losse
/ he died, leaving many to mourn his genia
q wit. Sam was a man with q ready tongue
" and all the topics of the day Furnished
"a him food for banter both as an end ma
a and manipulation of the banjo.
a Sam Sharpley vas original. He Away
10 had something new in song and story t
It bring with his banjo, but he had two hol
.e rors. one was a stupid audience who needle
,e surgical operations before the points of b
1T satire and his songs, aud he equally hate
d one of those greedy tumultuous gather
" ings who guffawed and yelled and whistle
d and stamped that he might remain befol
them for the balance of the evening.
,e Before Sharpley was managing he con
], manded very large salary, because of tt
g. freshness and the aptness of his talk an
,e songs, and wherever he appeared the al
j. dience waited in delightful Impotence an
n anticipation for the number of the pr
"a gram calling for sSan Sharpley and h
IF banjo"
oe Poor Sam, he was carried off by that Il
D. sidious disease, cancer of the stomach.
During his last illness, while pain-racke
he made many quaint remarks, one
which we recall. An old friend visite
Ill him and, trying to cheer him up, exclair
of ed:
9. ''Bracs up, old fellow, you will be q
o.. right soon; pretty quick we'll see you Oh
% and ahead of the procession"
rs Eyes," smiled the dying comedian,
he will be at the head of the procession, b1
M | I will be in the box in the hearsen