The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-17

"Dan" Bryant are still 30 fresh In the
public's mind as TO require little COM
ment here. "Billy,n especially I'm his
early days in tho hfties, was a good Jig
dancer, but. his great reputation was
made as "endman, "and In the very many
funny negro acts which were produ ced
by his companies, and particularly by the
San Francisco Minstrels. Once In q while
he appears in public nowadays. When
not In private he Is still the same genial
amusing "Billy." Mention OF "Dan"
Bryant suggests the name Of "Little
cisted with Bryant's Minstrels. His
birthplace was Brockville, Canada, his
father a confectioner there, and the little
dwarf's name was really Ebenezer Nichol-
son, His specialties were ''essences, !"
"knockabout" acts and dances, and the
lively impe.sonation Of monkey.
"Matt" Peel was among the managerial
fraternity OF minstrel men who could do q
right good "turn" at a Jig, or whatever
the exigencies of his profession called
upon him for In the way of dancing.
A very pretty, neat dancer was "Tom-
my Peel; and his positions were grace
itself. AS was his dancing so was he
and it. His great match with "Dick"
Carroll occurred on April 10, 1852, at Wal
lacks Theater, Broadway and Broome
street. Excitement ran very high over IL
and much money changed hapds upon
the result. Frank" Converse officiated
on the banjo for "Tommy's" dancing,
while candy" Roome played for "Dick.b
The celebrated "Sick Injun' Jig was
among those Converse played In his med
ley. Peel danced first, while Carroll re-
mained behind the scenes with his back
to the stage, and q screen surrounding
him as II was previously agreed that who
ever drew lots and had TO dance first
oh he IaA 40
steps he used to the man who was to fol-
low him.
From Montreal came "Johnny" Hogan
to make his start In professional life with
Bryant's Minstrels in 1855, following
"Dann to Wallaok's Theater, to render
Jig aud reel service in the happy Irish
dramas that were then produced by Bry-
ant. When boys, Hogan and John Prem
dergast (no relation TO "Tom" Prender-
gast, the vocalist, and of Stewart q Prem
oergast, though both were in Bryant's
Minstrels) did double clogs and jigs at
Mechanics Hall, No. Az Broadway; they
had enjoyed previous association, when
they danced and sang "Hot Corn" with
the Raynor Christy pepole 1t was neat
dance OF the "Bobby" Newcomb, "Billy"
Emerson stripe, and was dressed with full
length peg top trousers, tidy jig shoes,
blue shirts, black neckties, and natty
straw hats. When at Wallsck's Hogan,
duced the "MacGillicudyn and the "Ruc-
tionn jigs, when they danced at the fair
In "Shamus O'Brien.n This was Hogan's
first association with Hughes c' Ruey''),
and their initial partnership engagement
was played with Budworth's Minstrels,
at the Fifth Avenue Theater, when they
gave the "Happiest Couple Out" with
black faces. With Tony and Billy Pas
tors show they did white face s'turn"
entitled the Jolly Old Couple"
BILLY" Emerson, with his "Love
Among the Roses, "Big Sunflower,"
''Yaller Gal That Winked at Me" and 9TH
ers of later date, is still among US, and
a sight of him will do him more thor
oughly the justice his marked ability de-
serves than words or pen could here.