The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-12
A GREAT MINSTREL SHOW.
Fun for a Crowded House by the
Cleveland Minstrels.

~
There was fun at the Academy OF
Music last night-mirth and rollicking
merriment. if you please good. clean,
whole-souled fun that touched anu
gladened the heart like mellow sunshine
of glorious midsummer.
George Wilson was there. That &lls
the whole story. He is always an UNI
alleged delight and great favorite in
Raleigh. And full house never fails
to greet him here. He is n minstrel
show all by himself and easily the most
renowned man today in black-face COM
edv. Then there is with him John
Queen. the famous dancer; f. Nj. Hall.
the renowned banjoist; Charles G. Web
or. the eminent baritone: Keno and
Welch, the grotesque acrobats, and a
dozen other stars in minstrelsy.
Their performance last night was a
great one. The songs were new. the
jokes were bright and fresh. the music
was lively and sparkling and the cos
tunes were gorgeous. About the whole
performance. there was snap and swing
that left nothing to be desired. The au-
dience in the dress circle, which includ-
ed many ladies'. We're thoroughly pleas
ed and as for the galleries they could
never get enough of their favorites.
w. S. Cleveland and George Wilson
have held the topmost places for years
as manager and minstrel respectively.
Cleveland started in the business SO
young and got hold of a company so
early in the game that he is looked upon
as veteran, though only 80 years old.
1t is said that he has made barrels of
money in the business.
George Wilson is an entertainer pure
and simple. He is minstrel genius and
is funny without knowing why. Wilson
has had varied career. He was born
in London. but came to this country
when an infant. When a lad he went
to China with his father, who had a
consular position. His father died in
the Flowery Kingdom, and Wilson was
thrown on his own resources. At this
time the Black Flag Rebellion was IN
progress and Chinese Gordon had just
gotten into the game as commander of
the imperial forces George Wilson en-
listed. did splendid service and rose to
be a lieutenant in few months. When
the war was over he was given passage
TO San Francisco He landed without
cent and went to a music hall and ask
ed for an engagement. He gave pri-
vate exhibition to the manager, who saw
at once that he would make a good min
strel. Wilson has never lacked for en-
p.oyment since. He has managed big
companies and he has starred in others.
Cleveland and Wilson have been bit
ter rivals for years, but this season they
combined their companies into the
Cleveland Wilson Minstrels.
Next to George Wilson. as favorite.
last night came John Queen. Here are
a few of the many funny things they
said in the funniest way imaginable:
George Wilson:
"My girls complexion is fine. She
uses smokeless powder"
I'm so excited my breath comes in
short pants"
Before marriage man is a regular
dude; after marriage he's subdued. Be-
fore a man gets married he has no but
tons on his shirt; after he gets married
he's got no shirt. Before he gets mar
ried he says he wouldn't marry the best
woman on earth; after he gets married
he finds out he hasn't"
"The difference between Uncle Sam.
a rooster and an old maid is this: Uncle
Sam is Yankee Doodle-doo; rooster
is cock-a-doodle-doo and for an old
maid any old dude'll do
Il asked a doctor whether or not raw
oysters were healthy. He said he
didn't know, he'd never heard one
complain"
'They didn't raise any peas down ON
the coast this year. They were afraid
the Spanish ships would come over and
smell EN-
1.-THE seaside resorts had none of the
aristocracy this summer. All the big
guns were at Havana"
1--WE ought to call our navy the. kodak
navy. 1t takes things so quick"
eve are a fighting nation. Why, last
night / had a mosquito fleet in my room
and this morning / had naval orange
for breakfast"
''rhe only trouble about capturing all
them islands is that they've got to have
governors and postmasters. This will
depopulate Ohio
Rear Admiral is good name for
Sampson. He was eleven miles in the
rear when Schley won the battle"
do you know that if it hadn't been