The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-27

proved an excellent drawing card ara
provided an evening Of novel and delight
fui entertainment. The house was filled
with an excellent audience, ard one that
fully appreciated the genius Of the men
who appeared as entertainers. The pleas
ant announcement that every seat IN the
house had been sold was tclcphoued out
to the Saxby residence In the early even
ing and was especially flattering con-
sidering the other attractions OF the even
ing.
Air. NJ l.. ingalls, occupied a seat IN
one Of the boxes, and after Mr. Saxby had
paid his respects 10 thirty different kinds
of men and retired. Mr. ingalls, escorted
Mr.. Miller to the platform and introduced
him. Alr. ingalls, had Cancelled another
engagement in order 10 be at the Miller
recital. He said he felt little was left
10 him TO say after SaNby mad finished
his eulocy Of Mr.. Miller. and he had
notion TO retaliate by making a Demo-
cratic speech. In introducing Mr. Miller
lie said the man who can teacn MS 10
laugh and help US 20 few moments or
enjoyment is a public benefactor and such
a man is Mr.. Miller.
Mr.. Miller. who Is druggist or Rich
mond. Va, said he felt especially honored
at being introduced 20 an ohio audi
Virginia as Ohio. and whose railroad
has done as much as any other influence
10 develop the State.
A description OF Mr.. Miller's entertain
ment is difficult Running throughout II
all is a line Of dissertation on the old
plantation negro as he was and as he Is
stu found; his peculiaritics are clearly
and attractively set forth. The delightful
bits Of pathos and humor are brought IN
as illustrations. as Is also the musical
feature of the evening. Beside a perfect
imitation Of the negro dialect. Mr. Miller
Is able to sing the old plantation songs
and accompany them on a banjo, which ne
learned TO play when boy on his fathers
plantation This mixture Of lecture, BAN
io-playing. storytelling. and song IS the
entertainment. and an attractive SORT or
entertainment IT proved TO be. In the
latter part Of the evening Mr.. Miller re-
lated one incident after another. each OF
which had taken place I'm his own store
I'm Richmond. 1t was a well-pleased au-
dence that left the Auditorium at 1920
O'Clock last night.
Polk Miller is not alone attractive and
entertaining on the stage. II IS pleasure
10 meet him socially. and the hours spent
IN his company slip by like minutes. lie
has the true Nuginian dialect and tone.
The polished manners of the typical Viz
rinian gentleman Of the Old school have
been handed down TO him. and. while they
may have lost much of their digniied stlu-
ness. they have been enhanced by an easy
grace that makes the interviewer quite
at home. whether the interview be OF "A
purely social nature. or of the professional
sort. which the COmemrcial Gazette re-
porter sought.
Mr.. Miller was found snugly ensconced
in Mir. Howard Saxbys sanctum out at
that gentleman's handsome residence on
Highland avenue. New and secondhand
Jokes of every description were lying
about the room, and adorned the mantel.
with its plate-glass background. The fact
that Mr.. SaXby could trust Mr. Miller IN
the room with all these wares lying about
would indicate his confidence in the YER
satile Virginian's honor and Judgment
though the jokes may have had strings
tied 10 them.
WHAT can / say that would be Of any
value i'm a newspaper interview" said Mr..
Miller. redectively. when the nature OF
the errand was made known.
you might tell us something about
affairs in the South" suggested the re-
porter.
THAT'S so; might" responded the