Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-05-08

BILLY VAN.
ing to the Instruments" they played. At
tho rise Of the curtain the interlCcutor
would say, "Gentlemen, BIO seated, then
tho orchestra would play galop, which
tho end men would accompany with bones
and tambollrine. At the conclusion of the
overture songs would be introduced ytsD
different members of the company, inter
spersed here and there by jokes from the
end men The dialect of the negro was per-
feet, the songs characteristic, and the entire
first part only tended to make one believe
he was witnessing negro jubilee. The
costumes of the end men were not particu-
larly picturesque. They consisted of black
pants to the knees, red coats, yellow vests
and largo collars, the wig black and very
bushy, while the others were dressed sim
ply In full suit of black.
The stage setting was nothing but
simple interior, with elevations at the rear
of the semicircle where the orchestra sat
Everybody was in black face, and every
thing had the aspect Of tho negro. Tho
first part generally concluded with hui
morous skit by two or three members OF
the company, in which their costumes were
entirely changed, and then they had the APP
pcarance of what they were intended tc
represent, true types of the negro. Tho
many specialtios which followed consisted
Of songs, dances, plantation scenes, quar-
tets, etc, each one being intended to rep
resent the negro in his native home. The
Jubilee singers, the buck and wing dancers,
tho stump orators were all represented
in turn, and the entire performance would
conclude with humorous sketch in which
all the members of the company would
take part. Such was minstrelsy in tho
days gone by, simply II tableau represent
ing u series of advertisements which ono
can see daily among the genuine negroes Of
the south.
Look at minstrelsy of the present day.
What great change! We still have the
first part, but not as in the days gone by,
for only the end men are in black face,
while the other members are white. The
negro character Is almost lost and instead
of the songs and jokes being of that order
they deal with topics of tho day-in fact,
anything that may seem to be funny Is told
in minstrel show at tho present day as
being negro joke. There is no dialect
necessary to be a minstrel now, simply
blackcn your face and the trick is done.
Even the costuming Is different, the end
men being dressed in some handsome de-
sign, while the Others are either pictur-
esqucly costumed or representing some
historical event. Tho scenery, too, is clab-
Grated Large plush or velvet curtains,
elegant draperies, magnificent scenery and
other appurtenances go now to replace the
simple interior which was originally used
rs the entire scenic establishment of the
minstrel show. The atmosphere of the ne
GRO character il com pletely gone and what
would once take the auditor back to the
negro in his plantation home now only
tends to make him cast away his idea OF
minstrclsy and look upon the scene as n
pretty spectacle. The performance does not
consist of negro spccialties, but is simply
u series of marches, richly costumed, and
artistic songs and dances, and, in fact,
any and everything that one would see in
high class vaudeville performance.
Take negro from his native state and
let him witness minstrel performance of
the present day and his eyes would open
with wonder. He would neither under
stand nor appreciate the fact that he was
witnessing performance which purported
to be representation of his race. He
hears no negro dialect, sees no negro char
actcrs All is lost, and nothing remains
but a spectacular vaudeville entertain
mcnt. Such being the case, expect in
very fcw wears to see minstrelsy even more
omhcllished With sccpor,- and Costumes
TLs a.. 80. Ill, ~, -, ,,,,ss;,.o ,,,a
.,,, r. a.t,,s,>. ,,,ora olabo.nt(,
Wy ,.,., ~. 80
anu .i'c ei'si,c soei,e eiioi' ,,, ~ e.oo-
trio ana caiciun elIects' inc speciai,ies
viii be OF q higher ORDER ana mueh farther
th,nr vii, ho ~, , yr,nler and moro elnh.