Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-30
EARLY MINSTRELSY.
GEORGE cHRIsTY, ONE OF THE oRIeI.
 MAYORS OF THE SHOW.

Edwin Forrest and a Talented Comedian.
 Negro Minstrclsy In Great Britain.
 Mrs Edwina Forrest Fair, a daugh- ter of the famous George Christy, who established negro minstrelsy in New York in 1S47, chatted with me the oth- CT day very entertainingly regarding her fathers career. She gave me his old sorapbook to refer to and several excel. lent photographs and some old fashioned engravings.
 It seems so long since the days of the Christy minstrels that rather expected George Christy's daughter appears to be. She is an enthusiast over her fathers memory. She has another sister living, and also brother. George Harrington, who. instead of perpetuating the family trademark, has been known chiefly through his "beefsteak dinners" at the old Morgue club.
 My father, known in private life as George N. Harrington, was Q young man when he died.' said Mrs. Fair. He was only 40. He had fine consti- tuition, 1t was thought, but he wore his heart on his sleeve and put a year into every day. Boing jovial. hearty and generous with every one, even his most humble employee, he was consistently sought by well known persons, and his nature could not resist the compliment he felt their companionship to be.
 "One of his very particular friends HyufY hot Twas born my father declared he would name his child for him. What if it's a girl?' asked my mother. Then we'll call her Edwina. replied my father. So you see l was named beforehand. An other friend of his. my brother tells me, was Theodore Thomas, who used to black up and do 'nigger business.
 And why not? Didn't Edwin Booth try 1t? It was pity that my father did not live to make great name as an actor in white, for ho was considered Il remarkable low comedian. In burlesque he used to sustain from ono to half a dozen characters in piece and exhibit wonderful versatility flo made great hit with his Topsy in burletta on Uncle Toms Cabin. He had singu- larly sweet singing voice. and as a dancer he had few equals. Ho was also a contortiouist and seemed blessed with every physical possibility.
 II was Is years old when last saw him, and that's most impresSionable ago for girl. lthink Billy Birch copied few of his characteristics, and George Thatcher has given some good imita- tions of him, but they and such other men as Schoolcraft and Swcatnam are different in general style"
 Although 1 think it is generally un- derstood that the Christy minstrels were the originators of that sort of entertain ment, individual negro delineation was done as far back as l199, at the Federal Street theater, in Boston.
 The first idea of minstrelsy in its present shape. or before Mir. Haverly in troduoed his 'Mastodons. " came forth in the spring of lS41, for one night only. at the Chatham theater. The com pany was called tho Virginia min- strels" and was mado up by Dan Elm met, Frank Brower. Billy Whitluck and Dick Pelham. The entertainment met with astonishing success It was repeated subsequently at the Bowery amphitheater and at the Park. Fearing quick opposition here, the company, with c. B. Woodbridge at its head, went to England.
 In London it performed for six weeks at the Adelphi in connection with Pro- lessor Anderson. then known as "the wizard of the north" A misunderstood ing arising, a second company was or ganized by Pelham and Whitlock in connection with Joe Sweeney. and il travelled through Ireland and Scotland with success.
 Another company, called the Ring and Parker minstrels from Boston, " now came along. and while ill Liverpool one of the members introduced the char acter Lucy Long, which became imme, diatcly popular.
 l Simultaneously minstrel companies wero being organized in nearly all the American cities. and on the return home of these two organizations they not only found plenty of rivalry. but much i'm. provemcnt on thCir plan
 Now followed in notable favor the "Kentucky minstrcls," the Congo melodistS" and Buckley s serenadrrs. ' Then was organized tho famous Chris tvs. consisting of F.. r. Christy. George N. Christy. L. Durand and T. Vaughn. George who afterward became the leader and was tho joyous spirit of the show, had previously appeared at the old Eagle Street theAter. in Buffalo, iu 1899. and in lS42 the company started on its existence in the same city in q hall on Water street. Geo1ge Christy was "bonea" and Lansing Durand was "tambo " It is asserted that George was the original Lucy Long. the first to do tho wrench business. He alsC made hit as Cachuca.
 Tho first appearance of tho company in New York was at the Palma Opcra House, in Chambers street. After vari ous visits to other localities it finally settled at 472 Broadway, in lS47, where it remained II years George finally withdrew from the care of his foster ia ther. E. P. Christy. and with Harry Wood opened another hall at 444 Broad way, and a year later the original party went to California. and George became master of the situation.
 After several years of great success MeSsrs Wood and Christy opened the Fifth Avenue Opera House, in Twenty fourth street. Christy's last appearance, on the stage was with Hooley's min strels. in Brooklyn, on May ?, 1867. Ht died on May I2 at his home and wa: buried from Trinity chapel three day: later. His body is in Cypress Hills ceme