The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-30
Mr.. POLK MILLER WINS THE TITLE
"yEW GENIUS From THE SOUTH"
An Ovation in tho Northera Cities-ais
Methods and Characteristics-Urge
tn Leave tho Drug Business.

this entire fair Southland.
When | called upon Mr. Horace r.
Smith, who is Sir. Millers business rep
resentatlve. found him busy answering
various communications. all looking to the
securing Of Mr.. Miller TO give his now
famous recital. The pressure brought to
bear by personal opinions expressed by
such lights as Mark Twain. James whit
comb Riley, Thomas Nelson Page. Bur
ton Harrison. William Carey, OF the
Century Magazine, and a host OF others,
together with the out and out business
propositions received every day for his
services; these allurements, coupled with
the fact that 70 Mr.. Miller the telling OF
those quaint and wonderfully humorous
sketches OF the "0ld-time negro Is a
vertabie pleasure and delight, not to say
hobby, have constrained him 10 join the
ranks OF those who pace the platform,
and add his mite TO the laudaole and
high calling. that Of disseminating mirth
and pleasure 10 the brain-taxed and ner-
vous public
That Polk Miller Is doomed to success
goes without saying, for press and public
unite in his praise. His recent trip TO
New York, where he came In contact
with and was heard by the culture and
elite Of the metropolis under the auspices
Of the leading clubs and literary lights
Of the city, was a compliment justly
earned and gladly paid, and stamps him
at once as a genius in his line
h~ GA rginin gro.
His subject. 1.-THE Old Virginia PIanta-
ton Negro" deals with parsonage and
former factor in southern life that is fast
becoming a thing OF the past. and as has
been APPLY said, the man who can tell
OF him is fast passing away also"
Books can give no adequate idea OF him;
he must be made to live and move be-
fore one in order that one may thorough
~ take in the delightful humor and nat
ural artistic touches which belong 20 the
"Oid-time negro" and him alone. when
this generation shall have passed away
there will be none living who can tell OF
him from the standpoint Of Mr.. Miller.
whose early life was spent on the planta-
ton and In that intimate relation which
was common IN those days.
In answer to the question, why do
you call 1t a recital instead Of Lecturer"
Mr.. Smith said: The word lecture sug-
gests a studied succession OF facts or
experience. and is liable to impress one
that an extended argument is TO be in
dulged in on subjects long settled and
therefore Is misleading. AIr. Miller gives
a recital Of actual experiences and early
life gained by personal contact with his
subject II is the result Of training, en-
vironment and unconscious absorption,
instead Of premeditated and studied ac-
QUESTION. AS a perfectly natural conse-
quence. ne speaks with confidence. ear
nestness and impfessiveness that Is the
acme Of art itself"
The Norfolk Landmark. editorially,
says: "Alr Miller is a genius. one Of the |
gentlest and most beguiling. An evening |
with him Is like n day i'm the woods |
when the buds are bursting and the !
birds are singing" The Atlanta Consti- |
tuition remarks briefly: MIR. Miller |
knows the negro" and the Atlanta Herald, |
OF the same city. pays this terse tribute; |
"He is a born wit, because he can't help |
it."
The Index-Appeal. Of Petersburg, credits |
him with Surprising pathos and hui
NOR" and the Lynchburg News pro-
claims that mo man in the South pos
sesses as keen a conception Of the negro
character. and who can delineate him |
with such absolute yirsimlitude." What |
he does not know about the negro is
not worth finding OUT Is the opinion OF
the Amateur Sportsman Of New York.
and the American Druggist. Of the same
city. says that "as a delineatOr of ne |
gro character, Polk Miller IS facile prin- !
ceps."
HI. Oh ractcristfes.
Mfr. Miller possesses remarkable mimetic |
power. and voice. the intonation Of |
which is the chief charm Of his delivery. |
together with an absolute absence OF |
mannerisms, farcical or |
Evolutionary effects
His easy, conversational style imme- !
diately wins the confidence OF his au- |
dlences. and as he talks right along, |
taking his auditors with him into the |
old corn fields, Tobacco low grounds, and |
log cabins, introducing them 10 the !
dear old "nigger mammys" and 'uncles,' |
drawing from their dialogues sweet pa |
th0s, humor unique philosophy ana !
rolicking fun. it Is not hard 10 imagine
the real "Old issue darkey as he |
was.
Mr.. Miller's method, II he may be said |
TO possess such a commodity. Is utterly |
devoid Of the element OF burlesque. His |
is a clean-cut personality. and the old |
school gentleman is the predominant fea-
ture. He is simple and direct in his ut
terances and most OF his sketches are |
drawn from actual occurrences and told |
I'm that inimitabie soft, and pleasing |
southern accent. which is a part OF them
selves.
Mark Twain. In his Introduction Of Mr.
Miller, at the Madison Square Garden |
Concert Hall, in New York city, said:
''Mr. Miller is thoroughly competent 10 |
you with his sketches OF the
old-time negro. and I not only commend /
him 10 your intelligent notice but per-
sonaly endorse him. The stories / have
heard him tell are the best | ever heard"
Major Pond. one Of the largest managers |
Of the lecture and concert platform in /
this country pronounced Mr.. Miller a |
decided success, and taken all together, |
the unanimous opinion Of all seems TO |
be that "a mighty man hath arisen in !
our midst"
Mr. Nader is expected 10 arrive home |
tonight from the North. where he has |
been filling several engagements. among |
which were before the 81. Nicholas
Society" at the Hotel Waldorf. New
York city. the Century Club" Of WI
nington. Del, and the Hamilton Club
IF Brooklyn. n. Y. He spoke 10 large
and delighted audiences at all the above
named places. and was given a perfect
walton at the close OF his recital.
Polk Nj Ter in - iswsr..
Mr.. T.. +. Davis. the assistant superin-
endent OF the city Water Works, returned |
morning from Wilmington. Del.
where he went with several others the
lay before to assist Mr.. Polk Miller In an
given before the new Cen
ury Club. OF that city.
He delighted his audience with several
ongs. 10 which he played the accom-
upon a new Bradbury banjo.
very fine instrument with a very sweet