The times., 1898-11-27

MS Is all oi tne story excepting tnat IL
was originally told on odell Williams. and
was altered because it sounded better
with the name of a serious actor in the
cast.
Eugene Fields, in whose poetry half the
charm was spontaneity, is the author of
the following tribute to Colonel Jack
Haverly, whose minstrels are in the city
this week:
Jack Haverly, Jack Haverly! ] wonder where you
are:
Are your fortunes cast with Sirius or meath some
kindlier star
How happens we never see your wondrous min
strel show
With its apt aliiterations as we used to years
ago?
All the ebon aggregations that affiict US these
Are equally unworthy of our prose and of our
rhymes;
And l sainly pine and banker for the joys that
used TO come
With the trumpet's ump- -ta-ra-ra and the big
bass drum.
How grand you looked, Jack Haverly, a-march-
ing down the street.
A diamond on your bosom, patent feathers on
your feet
Your sturdy, curly moustache, OF warm, ag-
sressive hue
Seemed to advertise the circumstance that there
were no flies on you;
First came the band, and then you came, and
next your famous troupe,
And last Of all, we youngsters, with wild hilari
whoop,
For it couldn't be expected that we younkits
should be dun
In the rapture of those trumpets and that big
bass drum!
Jack Hayerly the way you used to advertise
those days.
Why, with red and green the walls about our
will atr
And the language so beautiful that ! feel
prepared to say
That in literary circles you have not peer to-
day;
And the piGtures-ah, the pictures of your gal
They were quite as dear as Christmas to Us ru-
raj little folks;
For unto our callow ianciss they bespoke the
With the trrmpet's ump-ta-ra-ra and the big bass
drum.
The good you've done, Jack Haverly, you never
might suspect,
Fo- your influence upon US little boys was indi-
rect;
If We were nice and proper, mother'd say that
shed provide
The money for the tickets-and a popcorn ball
besdel
Though our grandma thought it terrible our
rnother'd let US go
To that abomination, a negro minstrel show"
I've seen dear grandma perk her head-yes, even
heard her hum
To the music of the trumpet and the big bass
drum,
Ny father used to tell me Con the quieD that
your show
Wasn't near as good as Christy's was some forty
I'm certain he was preiudiced. and. when my
Beseech me to recount the best of all my youth
tel them Of Jack Haverly and the silver cor.
That were the twin delights of every youngster
in the land,
And file around the sitting-room and down
the hall we come
To the faneied call of trumpets and the big bass
drum
In the hustle and the hustle of these harsher lat
Life is brighter and made lighter by the grace
that reappears
OF the olden time and golden, when, Jack Hay
erly, you made;
Things very bright and merry in the place.
where you played
That sweet singing goes a-ringing in my tickIed
fancy yet,
And that dancing, so entrancing-why, never
can forget!
Yet this seeming is but dreaming-idle fancy
nothing moro
And folks wonder why in thunder keep harp
ing on OF yore
Alas, may not hear those chcery darkey songs
again
Nor the interloouter who so impressed me
then,
With his wealth of cuffs and collars and his two
big clustering rings
And his solemn basso, which gets still more
solemn when he sings.
Alasi | may not see nor hear those uerry-mak.
ing mokes
But, though | live thousand years shall sec
and hear their jokes:
For negro minstrel humor is like Rider Hsgcard's
She
1t goes wondering down the ages into Eternity
Jack Hayerly, here's hoping that some bright
propitious star
Beams kindly upon you wheresO'er your inter.
ests are;
For my heart is warm toward you for the joy YOU
gave me when
was little wabbling tyiSe; and were GLAD
again
To see you marching up the street with YOU
dusky knights OF song
BY George, I'd head the gang OF boys that
whooped your way along.
And I'd stake my all our plaudits and acclaim!
would overcome
The trumpets ump-ta-ra-ra and the big bas
drum!
No comment is necessary. The verse
speaks both for its author and the mar
whom it eulogizes. And it is not to ey.
cry one that Eugene Field wrote such &
tributei