The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-21

Two big tears trickIed down the burnt
cork coating that covered George Prim-
roses face. as. after a terrific round OF
spontaneous applause from the largest
audiences OF the season. he had been
obliged TO step before the curtain and
give a few words OF thanks. the sincerity
OF which could not be doubted. The mo-
ment his act was finished | had hurried
little chat with Mr.. Primrose before he
should escape TO his dressing room, ana
so missed his little speech. which was
afterwards told was one OF the beat inn
promptu speeches heard In long time. I
reached the stage just as he was nnish-
ing his little speech, and heard him say;
Thank you my friends. and then fol-
lowed another storm OF applause such as
L have never heard In a Providence
theatreg
Pardon my weakness" said the prince
Of minstrels. as ! made known my onsl-
ness. and he cheerfully nodded granting
OF the interview sought Its awfully
foolish. | know. but | can't help being
touched by such loyalty. Isn't II lovely
pated coming 10 Providence And do you
wonder from the lovely manner In which
am being treated i'm vaudeville, thnt
was lured from my retirement teel
just az ~ everyone of those generous peo-
pie out there were personal friends ana
would like to walk out and shake hands
with them That's the kind OF thing to
make man realize What good place place
himself for a moment to retire 10 ms
dressing room to remove the burnt cork
which disguised his face. While was
waiting for him I reflected that the world
had certainly been very kind 10 this man,
and deservedly so. for n ceverer or more
philanthropic man does not live than
George Primrose
pas; 2s years the greatest minstrel this
country has ever known; his name IL a
household word from one end OF tne
country to the other; he IS not oniy au,
mired and esteemed by the American
theatregoing public, hut loved and re
spected: his 30 odd years of hard WORK
before q public usually said TO be hckie
ioyal. had touched him lightly and left
him as youthful and full Of enthusiasm
as OF old. and he Is unuuesuonhbly ule
richest minstrel man living today. he nay
ing been commercially shrewd with ms
large fortune amassed during his career
as a minstrel.
At this moment the subject of my rehec-
tion re-appeared. having unnereone q
complete and somewhat startling trans
formation. He Was now imaculately neai
and stylish I'm a trim Prince Albert alN
silk hat, and even my unappreciatiVe anu
ignorant feminine eye felt the quiet good
taste shown I'm every detail OF his cos
tune He was now the George frlm-
rose OF whom have so often heard my
older friends speak with such reverence;
''If there's anything left 10 tell the
American theatregoing public. either
about minstrelsy or myself I'll cheerful
ly do So he began. as he watched me
settle myself for the delight of an inter
view. tiIere certainly was an opportunity
not afforded me everyday, and deter
mined TO make the most OF II, for who
can say when such an illustrious or more
interesting parsonage shall visit us again.
Yet, the word, 'personage" hardly seems
10 M him II seemed that | had known
him years and years. 80 thoroughly At
ease was ! from his modest. unassumng
mannerD
But II seems to, me-" he continued.
that everyone knows all about both. and
our people have beautiful habit OF re-
membering My career feel that every
one knows Il so they could say II with
their eyes shut. az can 10 nv dances.
II has embraced everything In minstrelsy.
and covered a period Of my life from four
teen years 10 nifty. That's why everyone
thinks I'm an old man. because I've been
before the public so many years. They
don't consider the fact that 7 was with
Haverly's MINISTRIES when | was fourteen
years old. With Billy West. Then. too. my
having retired recently has helped 10
strengthen that impression for everyone
thought retired because was too old 10
old 10 dance why there Is never a day.
summer or winter. rain or shine. that I
do not dance. not for practice or work.
but for recreation: because love a.
AT home. at Mt. Vernon. the boys and
spend some OF the most ENJOYABLE days
OF our vacatlons IN the barn dancing and
learning new steps" He paused. and
found time 90 Inquire: Then what was
the true reason for your retirement7'
ttNVafI rnnaHanftaI1N N II NiHnft
that. retired because. well for several
reasons. had always had an idea that
when was nifty I would retire. for
had been afraid Of following the many
examples set me by other minstrel men
who never left the business until they
either died or lost all their money. was
TO be an exception 10 that
rule Then. when 7 had saved oonsidera.
bic money. and reached my hftleth year