Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-02-17
DEATH OF HANK WHITE.
Tn. Famous Minstrel Expires Suddenly at His
Home In Reading.

Home In Reading.
Mr.. AFRO White, or as he was
generally known, Hank White, died
| last Wednesday at Reading of neu-
ralgia of the heart. after very h'ief
illness. On the previous evening
he had been around the village in
his usual good health.
He was the son of George and
Electa (Cushman, White and was
born At Grecnbush. in Weatters-
field, VT, IS years ago. His educa
ton was such as the common school
afforded. and he was at one time an
apprentice in the printing office of
the Vermont Journal at Windsor.
His genial, happy temperament
made him hosts of friends. and he
was ever ready to turn a joke and
promote and enjoy Il good time.
His Observation-Disclosures was prcver-
bal and he could never attend Il
funeral. even that of his dearest and
nearest friends. or witnes, suffering
unmovcd.
lie was a musician in Go. II. 10Th
VI. Vols, in the war of the Rebel
lion and won many friends in Il e
army and was a universal favorite
with the officers especially.
Returning from the army, he mar
ried Miss Kate Felch of Felci,villc,
who survives hun, and settled down
rs Il farmer ON his wife's farm. His
genius rs Il comedian and ptitudc
as IL singer led him to connect him
self with Whitmorc & Clmke's min
>trcls and for twcnt, five consecutive
yeals he was one of the send men"
and the star of that famous troupe of !!
MINISTRIES and by his genial wit and
grotesque presentations of The negro,
he won fame throughout New Eng
land and the Canadas, so that
"Hank W hite" became a SYNONYM
for fun and drollery, and crowds
went to see and hear him.
In his favorltc characters he was
simply immense. No professor of
''burnt cork" ever approached or
excelled him. His fund of humor
and repartec seemed ever new and
exhaustless. He was the DRAWN,
card and without his presence tn.
company at one time was ON the
verge of financial ruin.
Hank always had his regular sal
airy and the song book privilege out
of which he annually realized
handsome income.
Geo. NJ. Clarke, of that troupe,
and Hank married sisters and
maintained lifelong friendship,
although differing in political faith
and in many characteristics.
Mr.. White was brought in contact
in his professional life with class
of men addicted to habits OF not the
most approved character, but it is
true of him that he ever maintained
himself free from the use of intoxi
cants and tobacco and free from
other evil practice and he did this
without offending his associates.
AS citizen he was prudent, thrifty,
careful of the rights of others. strict-
ly honest in all his dealings, sharp
at trade and not extravagant. He
was kind to the poor and ever ready
to lend helping hand. III politics
he was Il Republican and rcpl esent.
cd his town in 1886 and held many
local offices, and very frequently was
delegate TO the county, district and
state conventions and as such was
an efficient worker for the canli-
dates that he favored. lis friend
ships were strong and uryielding,
but he possessed little of the asperi-
ties of life, being ever ready to meet
his opponents in a pleasant way.
His skill at social games, such rs
chess, chccquers, cards, were re.
markable and vet he was never Il
gambler.
He was ever ready to give his
professional services to aid schools,
societies and social organizations in
carrying forward their work, and in
these enterprises filled his place
with all the enthusiasm of IN ''end
man" in minstrel show.
Mr.. White was enthusiastic in
promoting the library at Felchville,
which promised SO much for the
general good. 1t was for years the
custom of Whitmore a. Clarke's
minstrel troupe to close their annual
tour with benefit az Felchvile for
the Reading library, and in this way
the first purchases of books were re-
ceived and these books with others
donated by other sons of Reading
have found their home in the Gilbert
A. Davis Library Building at Felch-
willie. Mr.. Clark's portrait is hung
in that building.
Mr.. Whites military service Sc.
cured for him a pension. OF late
veais, he has been extensively en-
ployed as an auctioneer, ticket seller
at fairs and popular entertainments
and as manager and actor in local
plays throughout New England.
Hank White never failed to be a
guarantee of full house, aud he
had something new to
hand out for the amusement of the