Smyrna times., 1899-11-01
LETTER FROM DR.. GREWER.
BECOMES REMINISCENT IN HIS REMARKS
ABOUT SMYRNA.
The Old "Grewer's Amateur Minstrels" and
Some of Those Connected
With It,

Some of Those Connected
With 1t.
SCRANTON, Pa, Sept, %, 1899.
To THE SMYRNA TIMES,
Robert d. Hoffecker, Editor:
In looking over your paper of We'd
nesday, Sept. Goth, find you have an
article headed, "Reminiscene of
Smryna, Growers Amateur Minstrels
of 40 years ago."
At that time I was living in your
city, known as Ned Grewer, my father
being born in Lorraine, province of
France, made him at his birth a
Frenchman. The name in French,
using the same letters, is pronounced
Grevere, in German, Graver, and in
the English language, Grewer, which
led to the belief by many of the citi-
Zens of your town, that after gradua-
ted when 1 called myself DIR. E.
Grewer that 1 had counterfeited my
name. Some of my old schoolmates
said when Ned was in Smyrna he
called Ned Grevere and now since he
is a doctor he calls himself DIR. E.
Grewer.
I was taught by my father Nicholas
Grewer, who was known by many of
your citizens, to use the letters no
matter what it spelt in any language.
When 1 first went to an English
school, my first teacher, Miss Fannie
Culbreth, the wife of James Spruance,
informed me that my name in the En-
glish language was Grewer. 1 felt
somewhat alarmed about the matter
and informed my father of the same
when 1 arrived at home in the evening.
He said that is all right, 1 don't give a
If it spelt pop goes the weasel,
always use the letters.
1 also forgot to state in the article
which you copied from the Elmira
Telegram regarding the Growers
Amateur Minstrels, that there were
several members of the company whom
left out. There names are DIR. Dollar
Benjiman, of Camden, N. j.; Mr.
Thomas Cavender, of Smyrna, Del.
and Billy White, formerly of YOU
town, who is now one of the leading
minstrels of the world, and for whose
good and bad acts presume am re
sponsible. His father kept a salool
adjoining a we'll know clothier named
Isaac Shortman, (who was short by
name, short by nature, short by stature
which you will all remember) one o
the prominent masons of your city, fo
whom there was nothing left but sym
pathy when he died.
Billy White is the author of a son
entitled ''Sweet Peaches of Delaware,
for which he received a gold meds
upon which there was mounted larg
diamond, while he entertained the eli
izens of San Francisco, who presente
him with the same, the value of whic
was $4,000. The troop was known 6
Whites Minstrels, the last heard {
him he was in Trenton, N. J.
The last. but not the least of OF
company, was Chas. R. Risden, who
now draughtsman for the Philade
phia Ledger Office.
am at present practicing mediciI
in the city of Scranton, Pa, but d
vote most of my time to large mani
featuring enterprise in New Orang
n. j., where 1 expect to employ abol
1000 people within the coming year.
Hon. John H. Hofecker was sto
ping at the Stockton, Cope May, N. j
while 1 was taking my vacation, but
did not have the pleasure of seeil
him.
1 also wish to inform you that durir
the National Encampment of the G.
R., held in Philadelphia, during Il
month of September, was present
with a gold medal by Post No. 2,
Philadelphia, valued at 5000, owing
the fact that was the youngest m
in the G. A. r.
l will probably have the pleasure
visiting your town some time this ia
and while there will endeavor to ma
a short visit to your old sanctum to {
how it looks. Meanwhile, will do Sol
speaking for Billy Bryan, the Mt
president of the United States. 4
listed to stump Pennsylvania, De
ware, New Jersey and Maryland in
the principal cities. So look out
grape and canister, am loaded W
hot shot, for gold on equality with s
yer and wealth on equality with
pauper.
Truly your old friend,
DIR. E. GREwER