The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-09-07

and also brother, George Harrington
who, instead of perpetuating the family
trademark, has been known chiefly
through his "beefsteak timers" at the
old Morgue club.
"My father, known in private life al
George N Harrington, was young
man when he died., !" said Mrs. Fair,
"He was only 40. He had fine consti
tuition, it was thought, but he wore hi:
heart on his sleeve and put year Into
every day. Being jovial hearty and
generous with every one, even his most
humble employee, he was persistently
sought by well known persons, and ha
nature could not resist the compliment
he felt their ccmpanionship to be-
Zone of his very particular friends
was Edwin Forrest. A few days before
Twas born my father declared he would
name his child for him. What if it's Z
grip asked my mother Then well
call her Edwina, replied my father. Sc
you see was named beforehand. An
other friend of his, my brother tolls me,
was Theodore Thomas, who used to
black up and do niger business.
"And why not? Didn't Edwin Booth
try it? 1t was a pity that my father did
not live to make a great name as an
actor in white, for he was considered q
remarkable low comedian. In burlesque
he used to sustain from one to half q
dozen characters in piece and exhibit
wonderful versatility. He made great
hit with his Topsy in burletta on
Uncle Tom Cabin He had a singu-
larly sweet singing voice, and as q
dancer he had few equals. He was also
a contortionist and seemed blessed with
every physical possibility.
Twas Is years old when l last saw
him, and that's most impressionable
age for a girl think 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 Sohoolcraft and Sweatnam are
different in general style. "
Although 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 1899, at the Federal
Street theater, in Boston.
The first idea of minstrelsy in it's
present shape, or before Mr.. Haverly in
troduced his "Mastodons, came forth
In the spring of 1841, for one night
only, at the Chatham theater. The COM
pany was called the Virginia min
Etrels" and was made up by Dan En-
met, Frank Brewer, Billy Whitlock
and Dick Pelham. The entertainment
met with astonishing success. 1t was
repeated subsequently, at the Bowary
Rmphitheater and at the Park. Fearing
quick opposition here, the company,
with G. B. Woodbridge at its head,
went to England
In London it performed for six weeks
at the Adelphi in connection with Pro
fessor 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 it
travelled through Ireland and Scotland
with success.
Another company, called the Ring
and Parker Ministries from Boston,
now came along, and while in Liverpool
one of the members introduced the char
aoter Lucy Long, which became imme.
diately popular.
simultaneously minstrel companies
were 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
provement on their plan.
Now followed in notable favor ths
Kentucky minstrels," the Congo
melodists" and Buckley s serenaders.
Then was organized the famous Chris
tvs, consisting of E. P Christy, George
N. Christy, L. Durand and T. Vaughn
George, who afterward became the
leader and was the joyous spirit of the
show, bad previously appeared at the
old Eagle Street theater, in Buffalo, IN
1899, and in 1912 the company started
on its existence in the same city in a
hall on Water street. George Christy
was "bones" and Lansing Durand was
"tambo. 1t is asserted that GeorgD
was the original Lucy Long, the first
to do the "wenoh business. He also
made hit as Caohuca.
The first appearance of the company
in New York was at the Palma Opera
House, in Cham bers street. After vart-
Gus visits to other localities it finally
settled at 472 Broadway, in 1847, whers
it remained II years. George finally
Withdrew from the care Of his foster fa-
ther E, P. Christy, and with Harry
Wood opened another hall at 444 Broad
way, and year later the original party
went to California and George became
master of the situation.
After several years of great success
dessrs. Wood and Christy opened the
Fifth Avenue Opera House, il Twenty
fourth street. Christy's last appearance
IN the stage was with Hooley's min.
itrels, in Brooklyn. on May 2, 1867. He
lied on May ~ at his home and was
buried from Trinity chapel three days
alter. His body is in Cypress Hills GENE
DOOR DIGESTION leads to
! nervousness, chronic dyspepsia and
treat misery. The best remedy is
lNARFQ Re AREHgA