The gold leaf., 1910-03-10
The Lyceum Course and Polk
Miller.
Contributed

contributed.
The writer holds O season ticket to the
Lyceum Course, and attended the enter
tainment given by Mr.. Polk Miller and
his assistants. We have njOyed four Of
these six entertainments offered in the
Lyceum Course. They have been high
class entertainments, which are both in
structive and pleasing.
Manager Poy thress is to be compli-
mented for securing these high class en-
tortainments, and it seems to US that
the people of Henderson ought to ap-
preciate them enough to fill the theatre
to overfowing. But this does not seem
to be the condition Of things. These
good helpful entertainments have been
sparsely attended. We have wondered
if these exercises were appreciated by the
majority OF those who have attended
One of the "Vassar Girls said to the
manager These people are not respon-
sive." To me that was an indicatio
that she felt that the audience was not
appreciative.
The audience was rebuked for dis
orderly conduct, by the performer in the
last one of the series given. Certainly, a
part Of that audience was not ap-
preciating the exercises.
The empty seats in the Lyceum Course
might be overlooked bnt for the fact
that Polk Miller's entertainment was
largely attended. Attended for what?
The writer knows nothing OF the charac-
ter of the four young colored men who
assisted in this entertainment, but the
class of their songs was Rag" and to
my mind of the saloon grade. 1t was a
burlesque upon the negro race, and GER
tainly was not instructive for the white
race.
Mr.. Miller claims that these songs are
revival of the old time song of ante
bellum days. but they were the new
Rags" of the latter day. Had they
sung Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" OF
| Nobody knows the trouble l see, no.
body knows but Jesus" we would have
recognized the sweet pathos of slavery
| days when the good old slave sang, out
OF the depths of his soul, his sorrows
and Joys.
In the old plantation songs there was
| q blending of souls, and hence sweet
music, but in the songs OF Mr. Miller
| quartette there was no blending OF souls
and little harmony, and therefore poor
music. 1t is further claimed by Mr.
Miller that the young people going out
from the institutions of learning try tC
Sing like white people," Now the
writer does not claim that the negro
is better musician than the white
man, but when it comes to singing, al
agree that the negro excels the white
man. Sam Jones said, ''In singing there
is something in a nigger's throat that 6
white man can't get" Dunbar puts it
You amt got the natl o'gans to max,
| de tune come out"
Now since the ability to sing seems tt
be a natural gift, why should the coloret
people not cultivate this gift, and sins
the best classical music?
There will always be enough who dc
not go to school to keep up the class O
music that Polk Miller's quartette sings
Mr.. Miller seems to find fault with tn,
negro who does things like white people
[ do not see why he should do this. Th,
white people are held up as the superior
and we grant it. Then should we no
be encouraged to emulate our superiors
1t is said the negro is naturally an imi
tator, then should he be urged to imitat,
the low and vulgar?
Ii the American civilization has mean
anything to the negro, it has beel
brought about by example, and not b,
precept. II the negro aspires to bette
things in dress, in conduct, and in song
he should be encouraged by his superio
brother. In the face of these facts it is
sad commentary on any audience tha
appreciates Polk Miller's entertainment
J. A. COTTON.