The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-10
True Cause of MinstreIsy's Revival.

Not in MANY years has there been such
q sudden and widespread revival in min
strelsy as the present season has shown.
For a time it seemed as though this once
pre-eminently popular form OF amusement
were about TO become utterly extinct.
From a sentimental standpoint this prob
ability was deeply regrettable. On the
other hand, minstrelsy In the last lew
wears has been so handicapped by a lack
of enterprise and a seeming desire to send
companies out on as cheap scale as pos
sble. that few of its old-time lovers would
have went at its grave. Suddenly, now
ever II has burst forth into new lie ana
seems likely to become as widespread as
when In the zenith of it's popularity. Inc
season may fairly be termed an Elmo
pian renaissance, equal in extent, II not
in importance to that of Italy. The logic
of this may not at first be easily seem
Perhaps the patriotism aroused by the war
has infused new life into what is essential
lv an American institution. There are
tbose however, who see an even more
practical reason for this revival. Herein
rests a bit of unwritten minstrel history.
When il became known that William ii.
West had separated from his old business
associations and would this season mead
his own organization, there was consterna-
tion in the minstrel world, according 10
those who attempt to explain this resur-
rection of Ethiopian comedy To every
one they saw. at all familiar with the in
side workings of minstrelsy it has been
an omen secret that Mr.. West has been the
real energy of the many organizations I'M
der one title or another, with which for
score of years he has been connected. AT
times others associated with him have,
perhaps, held q point nearer the center
of the stage or been more in the public
eve But this was only while the cur
tain was up. Behind the scenes and in
business councils Mr. West has always
been the man of ideas, the originator and
the life of every novelty, the backbone
of every company to which his name has
been attached. Yet he was hampered. Too
great conservatism at times overruled him
when he would have startled and delight
ed the public by the originality and dar-
ing of his more than up-to-date projects.
Conservatism was killing minstrelsy. No
one realized this more keenly or more re-
helliously than Mr. West. He determined
that in severing all connection with others
Law his only chance of giving the public
the advanced form of mlnstrelsy that it
demanded and that he had long advocated.
This was the sole cause OF the birth OF
William H. Vests BY Minstrel Jubilee.
And that birth caused a storm in minstrel
land. for every minstrel, and every min
strel manager, knew that he would have
to ''hustle" as never before now that
West had actually shaken off all restraint
and was at last about to carry out all
his revolutionary ideas. These facts win
make especially interesting the first APP
nearance here of Mr.. Vests new company
on Friday. Nov. II, matinee and night
In addition to giving performance Of
hitherto uninterrupted excellence It is prob
able that the West organization will be
even more far reaching in its effects by
causing all other companies to look to
their laurels, thus benehtirg minstrelsy in
general and placing vast debt Of graft
4ude upon the public.-ad.