The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-23
HOW IT WAS WRITTEN.
POLK MIZLER'S RECITAL HAD A
VERY SMALL BEGINNING.
Il All Came FROM Psret That He Pre-
pared to Read Before n Few Frisnds
In bon Air--His Crest Succesa

Polk Miller's charming dialect recitals on
"old Times in the SOUTH" with the old
Virginia plantation negro AZ central
figure. The story OF how he came 10
write tho recital, ana subsequently 10
have been called 10 such prominent
place on the entertainment platform VIII
prove Interesting reading. as wef as serve
TO show how sometimes matters OF seem
Ing insignincance assume important pro-
portions.
Polk Miller did not have the remotest
idea OF ever becoming q public character
through the medium of his recital ana
for nearly "A year after the matter LOT
his recital was prepared there were no
definite developments along this line.
MIR. Miller resides. with his family, at
Bon Air, n pleasant little village about
eight miles from Richmond, on the line
OF the Southern railroad. and IN order TO
pass the long winter evenings pleasantly
combining with the social and literary
features the clements OF amusement ana
recreation. some choice spirits organized
the Bon Air Chautauqua Circle and
held meetings at stated periods.
Papers on interesting topics were pre-
pared from time to time by various mem
beers of the circle, and on one occasion
MIR. Miller whose familiarity with the
subject was well known, was asked TO
write a paper on "Old Times in the
South" and was requested to make the
old family servant 10 play a prominent
part.
PREPARED IN SHORT TIME.
The paper was prepared In about three
hours. and on the appointed evening read
before the circle. Every one expressed
themselves as greatly pleased at Mr.. NIL
ler's exposition OF the subject, ana the re-
ouest was unanimous for repetitloil'
shortly after. some Of MIR. Millers friends
in Richmond. hearing Of the paper through
a member OF the Bon Air circle, asked
that II be read i'm Richmond, ana AT
private residence, before some OF Mr.
Mnler's friends and acquaintances' me
story was repeated AS tiine p"soeu
numerous other calls were maze TOT pr
waite Rotations of this paper anu on Se'
eral occasions when asked 10 pai tiVi ,.',
I'm entertainments lor the benefit OF chdrl-
IA HE and church purposes. Mr. Miller gave
ekotches from this now locally celeprated
paper. ,,oo II
During February, 1884, Mr.. Horace r.
Smith. formerly connected win NV
Young Mems Christian Association OF 'hiS
civ. having heard Mr.. Miller tell seVcrai
negro dialect stories, ana peihs mn
self a member of "a band OF young IN,
who. under the name of the POLK Mnioi ,
were often seen and heard
An amateur entertainments in ana ABOUT
proposed 10 Mr.. Miiler ina me
be allowed TO make arrangements ~
recital. to be given in several shlall 'oMn'
within n short distance or Hlciiihoiiu, "a
Miller. after much persuasion, cohsehted'
and Nr Smith prepared a brief circuiar'
containing two or three letters OF com
,nendation. from Rev. NJ, -. Hoge' ~
ID Thomas Nelson Page. ana others, W
oefher with several local press cnppihss
and a brief synopsis of the recltal.
Manager Smith selected Norfolk, lamp
.on and NewDort News as the points u
visit. and at once proceeded 10 arl"m
The preliminary business details
Miller filed these engagements tose'no1
with several others, with instant "n"
',ional scccess and Manager smith, auopt
&c, ,ho noticv that "a thing worth doing
at All Is worth doing We'll" prepared
retter circular and determined to ann
biqh at once. He started for New forN
civ and. through the courtesy anu ma,
ter,ai interest and influence or seVerai
az MIR. Miner's personal friends, Mr'
Miller was heard at the Southern Society
BANQUET at Sherry's. the University Clup'
Inc Aldine Club. the Press club and sew
eral other prominent organizations IL the
metropolis.
WITH MARK TWAIN.
II was during this first visit. In March,
1Se' al the University Club story-teiiers
night that Mr.. Miller first met Marx
Twain and James Whitcomb Riley. Ihese
famous men were to appear Jointiy at
the Madison Square Garden Concert nan
an evening or two after, ana were 30
much impressed with the clever WORK OF
Mir. Miller that they invited him TO tel
two or three stories with thein' MI
Miller did so. and received a most en-
thusiastic reception from the immense
audience OF New iofh
cultured and literary people.
Mr. Miller intended TO spend only lew
DAYS In New York, but, as matter OF
fact his engagements necessitated ms re-
naming In Gotham for month.
At this juncture upon MIR. Miller's re-
turn. The Times published a column arti-
Gle on the success scored by Mr.. Miller
and christened him 1.-THE New Genius or
the South" This article was widely read
and copied by many papers throhshout the
country. and inquiries began to come in
from various points In Virginia and North
Carolina. and the question for Manager
Smith to solve was not how 10 secure en-
bat which OF the many calls
10 accept. from lHlS ptliph uHAit NV
present Mr.. Miller has been almost con-
iinuously engaged. The story, with all
its richness of humor and pathos, Its
faithfulness of detail. its wonderfully
truthful reproduction of the well-known
scenes Of life as 1t existed In the "old
times" painting word picture of those
grand old barronial days never again 70
recur, and with the genuine negro dialect
stories. songs and banjo pickin' such as
only Polk Miller can give has been hearo
in fifteen States and over one hundred
and fifty cities and towns of the country.
The press has been unanimous In its
praise. Governors of States, men high
in business, art and the professions have
lavished unstinted applause and hearty
on this new representative
Nirginian.
AT cHAUTAUQUA MEETINGS.
Mr.. Miller's engagements In some OF
the larger cities have been made events
OF social and literary Importance. He
has been heard at the Georgia and Penn
sylvania Chautauqua assemblies, and Will
be heard next summer at the New York
Stale Chautauqua. Several OF the fore
most lyceum bureaus have made Mr..
Miller fatterng offers, but he has pre-
ferred 10 retain control OF his own plans
under the able management of his repre-
Mr.. Smith, and no trouble is
experienced in finding almost unlimited
scope FOR the display of his genius. a
glance at his advertising circular dis
closes the fact that some Of the most
papers and most celebrated
men In the country have endorsed MIR.
Niller's recital, and. by the way. IL might
be of interest TO note the fact that the
word lecture is studiously avoided.
II is. strictly speaking, a monologue or
recital OF a reminiscent character. being