The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-06

NOT only once, but many times, his
signature to a slip of paper meant
fortune to the ordinary person of the
world and his ife's history is replate
with the noble and charita BILE deeds
which he has done. His fathers de-
sire was that he should succeed him in
his practice but the prospects of pass
ing through life in this profession was
more than the boy could stand and he
took French leave.
He wandered south to New Orleans
and Joined a circus which was start
ing out for the season and after many
hardships incident to that life he at
tracted the attention of Dan Rice. the
famous clown and acrobat of a quar-
ter of century ago, and jim Hays.
then known as the foremost clog dan
Ger of his time.
To these two men he owes the repu-
tation which he afterwards attained in
life as professional and financial sue
cess. They taught him to do the turns
which in after years brought him the
fame SO dear to the heart of every. per
former, and they taught him to laugh
when the clouds were the darkest and
to smile when sorrow was the deepest.
AS years rolled around and success
crowned his efforts in his chosen line
wealth came to him as the waters of
the rivers emptying into the seas He
returned to New Orleans, for the south
with its balmy breezeS and soft melO-
dies was now home to him, and in
1877 organized The Old Imperial New
Orleans Minstrels.' The troupe in
cluded George c. Thompson, the first
exalted ruler of the Elk lodge. who
composed "Old Black Joe" and other
songs and music of the day which won
for him fame. and which have grown
mellow with age and are more popular
today than when written.
There were many notables in the
company of MINISTRIES which was
among the first to tour this portion Of
the world and it was with these com
panions that Billy Williams became
famous as minstrel and clog dancer
But his fame was not confined to his
profession for while the company was
yet in the south yellow fever broke out
and the members were quarantined in
the plague stricken district.
Shortly before this he had inherited
SIS, 600 from the estate of his father
This the man who is now reduced to
poverty gave to the sufferers of the
pest stricken district, nor was that all
that he did, for he went about among
the sufferers lending his aid to the
nurses and doctors and bestowing char
ity upon the needy. He in turn was
between life and death for weeks be-
fore his constitution conquered the
dreaded disease which carried away
thousands of the population Of the
south
one hundred thousand dollars will
not cover the donations which he made
to suffering humanity. He gave s21,-
600 to the plague stricken city of Mem
Dhis alone, and nine hundred barrels
/ Of -four costing $5. 600 were sent to an
other district In his own city Of New
/ Orleans he purchased ninety collins for
children who otherwise would have
been buried In trenches and their rest
ing places marked as unknown"
These and many other things he did
in the name of sweet charity expecting
no reward other than that satisfaction
brought by knowing that he had bark
ened to the cry of suffering humanity,
and had lent his mite towards alleviat-
/ ing its distress
As a result of his generosity and self
sacrifice his name became a household
word all over the south and today his
memory is held sacred in many a
southern household who benefited by
/ his charity when It meant life or death
to them So impressed was Pope Leo
XIII with the transformations charity
/ Of Billy Williams that he ordered a
/ beautiful gold medal struck. appro-
prlately inscribed which Is worn TO
this day by the once famous minstrel
4 man.
It's different now. Billy Williams