The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-11-09
ORIGIN OF THE BANJO.
Where the Negroes Favorite Music
First Game From.
A Rudsly Constructed Afiair which Hal
Developed Into Popular
and Pleasing In
strument.

VIVA hoA4 " NSNAeAAJ o6Nt 49, SAAS VIVA
Of Banjoemas, on the island Of Java, a
negro native Of the place-with that
love Of music which his race universally
possesses-desiring an instrument to &C.
company the voice, conceived the fol.
lowing plan:
Taking cheese box and crossing Il
with goat or sheep skin, he ran handle
through it, then, using violin strings,
which were tuned to the first, third,
fifth and eighth notes Of an octave, he
gave it the name of "banjo," from the
first two syllables in the name of his
native town. No banjo Of this time is
known to be in existence, but from de.
scriptions handed down they must have
been very rude instruments, says Anna
L. Williams in Kate Fields Washing.
ton.
AS the years passed improvements
were made, but only in slight degree,
Throughout our southern states banjos
became as plentiful as pickaninnies and
negroes might be found on any planta-
tion who could "make the banjo talk
Many scene Of merriment was enact.
ed in the quarters" after the days
work was done, young and old jigging
around to the lively notes of the instru.
ment as If bewitched, till the dancers,
one by one, fell down exhausted.
But this country was not to have
monopoly of such merry music, for more
than forty years ago the banjo crossed
the briny deep and made its debut on
the London boards. It was at the
Princess theater, then under the man.
agement of Mr.. Maddox, and the per.
former was very skillful and artistic
player named Sweeney. Public taste,
however, had not been trained as yet to
banjo music, SO Mr.. Sweeney's stay on
English soil was brief. The judges OF
classical music looked upon the banjo
as cross between the guitar and tam.
BOURNE, and would not encourage its
use.
But less than five years after Mr..
Sweeney and his banjo were avenged.
The original ethiopian Serenaders"
from America took London by storm.
They came, they were seen-and they
conquered. When the curtain went up
on the st. James stage the audience
beheld row upon row of chairs on which
sat men with faces blackened by burnt
cork, wigs Of curly wool, and lips OF
vivid red. When the strains Of Poor !
Lucy Neal" were heard there were few
dry eyes in the house
Night after night London crowded
the hall, and the most renowned states.
meD-among them Sir Robert Peel
could be seen with stately head, gravely
keeping time TO songs which set the
people wild. Mr.. Greville has said that
the airs became familiar In fashionable
circles, and around many 4 piano were
gathered sons and daughters of wealth,
all joining in the strains Of ~ bet my
money on the bob-tailed nag" The
songs, however, were nothing compared
to the banjoists. Mr.. Pell, the original
"bones," was admired, but the banjo
players were idolized. Men forgot the
cares Of business or state while listen,
ing TO the tum-tum Of the banjo.
As the instrument Is now made II Il
pretty enough to have satin ribbon on
1t and be suspended from the neck Ia
guitar. In n clever performers hands
the banjo seems capable Of doing every.
thing-bells chime, waters ripple, wind,
blow, birds sing, and many other pleas
ant ideas are evoked; but It will never
do for romance, its very name Is against
1t; whether from association or not, we
cannot connect romance and the banjo.
The neck is now made with frets, SINH
lar to the guitar, and the circular head
Is covered with fine calfslsin which Il
tightly held by large number Of
clamps with screws attached. These
tighten the skin and assist in giving 9
more sonorous tone. Thus science has
improved the rough toy instrument Of
more than half a century ago until it 1.
hardly inferior in style or tone to It's
near relative, the guitar.