The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06
OLD NEGRO MINSTRELSY.
SONGS AND JOKES THAT AMUSED
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
An Ole Book Ths Recalls the Pioneers IN
Were Once Fanous-PonY Moore Ne.

An ole Beck That Recalls the Pioneers IN
the Black Drama aud the SONGS That
Wero Once Fsnous-Rony Moore Re-
venied In The Character OF . Feet.
"The Negro Singers Own Book: Containing
Every. Negro Song That Has Ever Been Sung
or Printed" is the title OF n book owned by =
collector of old-time stage literature In this
city. Thc-s is no date of publication printed
n the book. but from local and political refer
ences in some OF It's SONGS II was evidently pub
lishod some time between 1914 and 1S4e. Tur-
nor q Fisher OF 10 North Sixth street. PhilA-
delphia. and ~ Chatham street, New York,
wero Its publishers. It is particularly inter
estinR and valuable because Of It's presentation
of the names of tho negro MINISTRIES who wero
famous half q century ago. the great majority
of them long since dead and forgotten, and tho
long list which II preser yes Of the songs those
men maze and sang into national popularity
in the golden age of minstrelsy.
The names of old Jim Carter. William Stick
ney, James Kierpan. f. Ludlow. John Smith,
Daddy Rice, Dan Emmett. d. w. Lull. Joe
Murphy. Dan Kelley. Billy Whitlock, w. b.
Donaldson, G. w. Moore, Dick Proctor, Jim
Sanford, William Laconta, George Reed,
Frank Brewer. Fred Williams. Neil Janier.
Zeke West, Charley White. r. Edwards. Cry.
k~iorett. Dave Walker. s. Bondi. Dave Leon,
jim Shu1pDcll, DhTuby Wlhlbunb, SOOl w nlUS,
Master McDermott, R. O.. Hyatt, Jenkins and
Hallett. Tony Winnemore, f. f. Cooper. Con-
quest. Pickaninny Coleman, J. w. Sweeney,
Ed Earper, j. H. White. ]. c. Everhard, and
w. W. Conover appear on the paRes OF this old
book. They were household words all over the
Union q generation and a half ago. Only two
of these pioneer minstrels. so far as 10 known.
are living to-day. Dan Emmett and G. w.
Moore, the latter of whom 10 mono .other than
the redoubtable Pony" Moore OF London.
Prize Fighter Charley Mitchell's father-in.law
Not more than half a dozen Of them linRer in
the memory Of the present generation.
The great popularity Of negro minstrelsy at
tho time this book was published 10 shown by
tho announcements printed over many Of the
songs, stating that they are as sung by tho
Original Virginia Serenaders. the Black APP
polonius, the Elite Minstrels. the Luminaries.
the Utopian Band of Minstrels. the Angola
Minstrels. tho ColoSed savoyards. the Orpheus
Mlnstrels, tho Band Of Ethiopian vocalists. tho
Serutn Opera Corps and Band. the Congo Min
strels, the Apollo Serenaders, tho Ethiopian
Melodists, the VirRinny Minstrals, the vir-
ginny Minstrel Band, land all other minstrel
bands in the leading theatres of the country"
Dan Emmett Is called 'the inimitable prince
Of darkies." Charley White was tho cele-
brhted Black Apollo" and was greeted every
where with rapturous applause" jim San
ford was tic greatest of all living niRgers."
Dave Leon was "the Immense dandy Niger"
The favorite melodies, chants, and choruses Of
all these minstrel troupes were 'Juber,'
Dance. Dance, de Boatmen. Dance"tby Dan
Emmett. "Bo-ery Gals. Arc You Comm
Out To-niGht7' "Blue-Tarled Fly" 'Or' Zip
Coon" "or Dan Tucker" of which there were
many rival versions, one by Dan Emmett;
"Steben 30 Deceibin' Dat dc Devh Won't Be-
Heb 'Im:" Coal Black Rose:" DO Floatin'
ScoS of OF VirRinny'' tby Charley white>:
Dandy Jim O. Caroline lBarney Wjlliams's
first hit. Hit I'm in de Eye Ball. Bim.'
jimmy Crack Corn" Daddy Rice's Jump
Jim Crow" TWENTY-FIVE verses long: Lucy
Long" q song so popular that there were sew
cral versions of 1t. each one claiming to be tho
original and only: Railroad Trabble Am n
G!ttin' All de Go" tby Charley white); up
In de Mornin'. Sound Yer Horn ''oh. Johnny
Booker. Help Dis Niger Jimmy Git Yer
Hoe Gale Done." Jim Along. Josey.' Lucy
Neal" MY or Dad" and my Of, Aunt
Sally Thy Dan Emmett. 'Nebber Do to GID
1t Up So. Mr.. Brown" "Ol' Tar River" Pic
4yune-a Butler. COMM. Comin'." 'Possum Up
o Gum Tree Sally Am de Gal fer Me-"
stop Dat knockin'" Thy Da 70 walker). Der
Rose OBJ OF yirRinny." "Cl'ar dc Kitchen, or
OF Virginny Neboer Tire" 'walky In do Par
lor. Boys; or. de World Was Mado in Six
Days tby Charley White, and 'whar D'y,
c, mo from. Knock a Niger Down"
This old book reveals the astounding fact
that Pony Moore was q poet and composer in
tho callow days OF minstrelsy. He was one
or the Black ;Apolloneons. and is credited with
2 e the t author cn Of TIVE songs mWork. NiGgers,
OF which he sang with uncontrolled outbursts
of applause" In the first he was wont to sing
AS follows TO our sires and Grandslres:
When the ebenin, shades am soIn' down
An sinkin' in dc West,
o, den de n'gRers work am done,
An den he takes him rest.
Chorus:
Work. niRgers. work; work. niggers work.
What care we TO- do morrow
Bet oh sun. dc days works done,
Den well Danish sorrow.
oh. when do ~nigger's In do nold,
De sun am shinin' hot.
H. leans hisself upon him hoe,
An curse him tiresome lot.
Work. niggers, work. &C.
In his second song Pony Moore sings, In Ian
Ruage forcible but not elegant. tho fierce hand
to. hand com bat OF two colored ladies, and
varies the scene of the strife by the somewhat
inappropriate chorus Of:
De niggers dance upon do green
To dc music OBJ de tAmbourine.
Den lightly touch de banjo string.
And den shake dis chlle'B tambnurine.
This old song book throws much light on tho
style and methods of the original black drama.
The songs were all sung to tine accompaniment
dion. The looks Illustrations represent the
bau1o player holding his instrument with its
head against his left shoulder, or resting on
his breast, the neck extending diagonallY tn