The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-16
.PRIMROSE''';S'i ANGEL
The Man Who Gave the Minstrel
His Start at; Last Nights
Performance.
He Is J. J. McGinnis, a Resident Of
s Minneapolis Story Of Georges
y II Debut.

George Primrose sang and danced IN
his ininitable, old time fashion, for the
special benefit of one man in! the big au-
dience at the Metropolitan: last night Be-
fore he came on. with his two burnt,
cork pickaninnies he said to them: Boys,
there's. a. man out in front to might who
gave me my start in life, just as I'm look
ing after you. want you Ito pick him
out OF the audience, if you can, and give
him. a sign of recognition" @.5.5 T.
While the boys were doing their act
they were all eyes,,sand when one waved
headed man, who was vigorously applaud
ing as they skipped off the stage he had
picked PrimrOse's angel
Dispensing drinks at a Fourth street
refectory is ]. J, ,McGinnis,, the man who
gave Primrose his start in life at Sagi-
nav City, Mich, nearly forty years ago.
He was employed as clerk In the old Tay-
lor house in 1857 and George Primrose,
then II years old, was seeing active. sery-
ice as as'.bell hop -, =. - .....
THE boy was very active on his pins
at that early age, says Mr.. McGlnnls
and even then gave signs Of achieving
recognition as the premier clog dancer OF
| the world. When: he wasn't answering
bells or running other errands. George was
always dancing t'jubas, which was much
| in vogue with minstrel companies at that
time. He danced right up on his toes
with such grace and in such excellent time
that he invariably attracted the attention
Of the guests, who showered small coins
upon him. George was out to be some one
and he realized that a man gets his start
in life only by saving his money. so ne
brought all the change he picked up to me
and I put it in the bank for him. That
was how he was able to branch out. .
when Ward and Dalahanty's Ministries
struck town, Ward was much taken WIZ
JConroo'a
he could make an expert clog dancer ou
Of George, and arranged for the BOY t(
ego on at a benefit performance Tor Billy
Remington, a minstrel man. at Inc olc
Alhambra theater in East Saginaw. Wher
; the time came for George to do his stun
and he was aching toTsmake ms DOW
Ward just tossed him easily into the cen.
| ter Of the stage, and the moment the kle
hit the plarks he was at it in perfect time
4 Although he had never received any IN.
struction, he danced wonderfully Well ane
the crowd went wf4sI They carried hin
around the parquet on their shoulders ane
raised a purse for him. "
1 He made such a.sshit with Ward tina
he took him to Chicago, and that was
strel man. The late Colonel Jack Haverly
then the emost burnt cork manager
took hold Of Primrose after he had played
a season or two In Chicago, and gave hin
the boost with q company OF his owl
which has made him. 9th the exception
Of, Doekstader, grea test SIT. minstrel O
his time Ssl:s,Ss[ Is 70. :...,Ss:j.
Primrose is. 5o..:ygars old, and the mar
who taught him to save his; money Is ST.
wears MS. SEMI llanrose is probaol!
the richest minstrel msthe business TO
h day.:# IIis Z fortunes, invested in the hes
i securities, IS said proximate 81, 600
i ooo: .Ess sjs .ssss s5s, ;:s: