Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-10-21
POLK miller !. !.
DIES SUDDENLY Y
Famous Entertainer Passes
Away Surrounded by
Family.
KNOWN OVER NATION,
FavGrite in Alexandria Where He
Occasionally Appeared With His
Famous Quartette.

Richmond, Oct 21.-Polk Miller
died very suddenly at lO:3O O'Clock
last night at his home in Bon Air.
The man WHO has made "a nation
laugh and weep; the man who was
respected and honored in all sec
tions of the country, and respected
anl honored and loved in all the
South and loved in Virginia, his ma
tive Suite, even as he loved her; the
hest known private citizen in Vir>
ginia has brought forth his last laugh
with his wit and humor and brought
forth his last tear with his sincere
and human pathos. His body will lie
soon in Hollywood cemetery, with
hundreds of boyhood friends and
compatriots in arms.
Mr.. Miller had not been so SER
iously i'll as to alarm his relatives
and friends, though he had been COM
planning for several days and his
death came with IN added shock be-
cause of its unexpectedness. He h2d
cen at his store as usual during
the last few days until yesterday.
Last night while ut his home in Bon
Air, where he haG lived for many
years, he spoke of feeling badly, but
gave no indication of being i'll in any
sense of, the word For few hours
after supper he appeared to be more
indispoSed, but not enough to cause
uacaSiness. At 1920, in his room,
the end came, suddenly and peace
fully.
His wife was with him at home
at the time and shortly after his
death his entire immediate family,
together with relatives from Rich
mond, were in the chamber of acath.
Polk Miller was born in Amelia
county in 1914. and lived on the plan
tation of his father until after the
outbreak of the war between the
States When the call for arms was
soundc% he was too young to an
swcr, but before the surrender at
Apromattox he NAd offered his youth
ful services ard served in the Con-
fcderatc States army until the END
came.
Shortly after the surrender he
,povod 70 Richmond. and a little later
established himself in the drug bus''
ness.
He is survived by his wife, who
was Miss Maud WitherS, daughter
Of Richmond physician; one son,
w Withers Miller; two daughters,
Misses Maude and Virginia, and 4
brother, A. H. Miller, all of Rich
1nond.
He was member of Dove Lodge,
No. 81. of Masons.
Polk Miller's last public appear
ance was last "Wednesday night. when
he appeared before the delegates to
the convention of the American Gas
Institute in his famous cold Planta-
tion Songs" and his inimitable war
stories. His entertainment was given
great crowd of prominent men
from all parts of the United States
and CanaGp, here for the institute
meeting, which packed the Jefferson
auditorium.
The quartet which had Travelled
through the country with him was
unique. It's members were taken
from their native element and trans
plante;: by him in world to which
they were new. 1t is because Of this
that Polk Miller. and his entertainers,
who, through his skill, always re-
tained their native humor and dis
played their natural talents without
attempt to force themselves beyond
their real capabilities, were always
certain of success.
1t was 3 combination Of natlSe
ability, the real nature in its happies,
mood of the negroes who made b
the quartet, and Of the intimatt
knowledge of human nature possessed
by Mr.. Miller, who directed. tha
svayed hundreds of audience
through all the emotions known t
the human family.
1t was not only with his quartz
that Polk Miller BECAME one of. til
biggest of the nations figures in tn