The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-21
"BoB" HART NoTA REAL MINSTREL,
His Great Speciality Was Wis Famous Stump
Speech Act.

70 THE EDITOR OF THE SUS-Sir,: A corre-
spondent writes you to ask II Bob Hart. other
wise known as Senator Bob Hart, the author Of
"Old Black Joe" was not entitled to be consid-
cred in the same class as a minstrel with Birch,
Bernard, and Wambold.
Without going into the question of the author.
ship of "Old Black joe" clouded with some of
the uncertainty long thrown about the author
ship of Beautiful Snow" I would say that Bob
Hart was not entitled to a place among the old:
time Ministries Of whom Billy Birch was the last
Of the line. Bob Hart was not a minstrel at all.
He was a stump speaker. and though popular by
reason of his ability, his act" could have been
as well done In white as in black-and it some
times was. There was nothing Of the minstrel,
the colored man. or the plantation in Bob Hart.
Temperance exhorter after he left the minstrel
stage, he was always an effective elocutionist,
and he took upon himself the appearance OF a
minstrel In order to present his stump speech to
ner some of tho comic writers OF a generation
age particularly Artemus Ward. Josh Billings.
raphy. in order to give their remarks a more
humorous turn. and stump speakers generally.
wtnsirs appearing av on t the ,h e Of on 2 the
and the only reason. for Bob Harris identified.
tion with American minstrelsy as a performer.
readers Of The SUN. viii Illustrate this 1t was
great haste. and before beginning his stump
Grafton, to excuse the delay by explaining that
he had been detained by the Sheriff. The
sherif. he said, wouldn't let him leave, and any
OF the audience who have had any business with
the Sheriff could realize his position and excuse
his apparent hardness when they knew the true
cause of 1t. Then he would add, 'On this sus.
picious occasion. ladies and gentlemen, l will do
what / seldom do-drink a glass of water He
drank q glass of water, set upon a table
IN the middle of the stage, removed
his high black hat, and put aside his
cheap cotton umbrella. and then would begin
his Grafton usually In this wise: I'm none OF the
cities of the United States which / have visited
has my welcome been as cordial and as hearty as
that which / received at the hands of the citi-
gems of your town. Entering at the Grand Cen.
citizens In uniform and escorted to a special
conveyance, fortified against assault by locks
and iron bars. This conveyance was waiting
for me at the door. and / was driven rapidly in
1t to u place the name OF which i now forget, hut
think II was called the Tombs. To whose hospi-
tally i was indebted for the conveyance l am
still unable to say. but there was some talk of a
woman named Maria-Black Maria, l think"
After his Introductory remarks Senator Bob
Hart would become greatly excited In the de-
livery of his speech, and, rubbing his face vio-
lently with his handkerchief. would disclose to
the audience the fact that he had a red nosel II
was colored red. and / submit TO the considera.
tion Of the readers of The SUN that n red-nosed
negro could have had no recognized place In
veritablc American minstrelsy. SUwANEE.