The Washington times., 1914-01-17
COMB THE SOUTH
FOR BOY SINGERS
"In Old Kentucky" Has Already
Drawn on Three Generations
of PiCkaninnieS.

Since that delightful play of Southern
life, In Old Kentucky first COM
menced to charm theater-goers with its
sweet and wholesome story. three gen.
erations of theater-goers have laughed
al the antics of the Pickaninnies that
form the band in that play. and three
generations OF pickaniunies have been
picked up here and there through the
South 70 furnish amusement for the
people who visit the play. In OLD Ken
lucky is to visit Washington next
week. playing a weeks engagement in
the Academy Theater and some of the
little kinky haired colored boys who will
be seen here on this occasion are the
grandchildren of the first little black
boys who appeared in the original pro-
dUction.
Their manager says that Of all the
colored boys that have occupied posi-
tinns in the PicAaninniy band from time
10 tine, and Of ali The boys he has ex-
amined for this position. he has never
found one il whom music was not in
II asserts itself as soon as he can
pUckc- UD his mouth into Z whistle,
while witt thc dJmning Of trousers he la
far advanced, and his repertoire in
clUdeS everything musical he has ever
'
OF the bones and the y!cl-n and banjo
are soon added to his repertoire. Let
him commune with natirC, and the in
ventyeness Of his mimi will bring forth
d new com mpositiou~WhiCh, If accepted at
the next dance IA the Corners" will
be taken up by Ills fellow musicians
ana will go down through the history
Of music of slavery days. 1t may be
that he originates airs that are whistle
able airs that can readily be picked
up by the average mortal and which
are. after all the most popular. With
musicians who require that music shall
be rtIen down for them. he will nave
nothing TO 90. This is, in mis- opinion.
not true art. Whether ii be a violin,
from bone, lanjU or tomato can, the only
music worthy the name which can be
extracted from them is bv aid Of the
plaver'S ear. md not by notes.
The pickanin;les in the In Old Ken
lucky" band have nearly reached this.
Tht. only drawback is the fact that
the are required 20 eat and siceT. In
ever city TkCy visit. they are feted by
their friends and relatives. and move
in the very best coIpred society. They
arr the lions OF tn" hour in = social
Nay, put the game would pail in them
were Il rot for their InusIcal instrU-
InOsl:s. and II~.r uniforms.
Il Hrn they are in their Uniforms Win
their instruments in their hands all
their blase appearance vdnishes. They
arr il clover and they proceed to put
heart ard soul into tho polished brass
in b way that never fails to bring down
Irie house The encnres are played v ith
an enthusiasm that shows THAI they are
getting warmed up to the work Dix
IL" is one 0f their masterpieces and
they go through It with A snap and n
bang. The Rickaninuy Band Is COM
Ioscd Of about score Of little col
ored boys. They range In age from
nine % fifteen and in color from: ebony
to cream, with several unclassi!ied
shades i'll between.
They are picked up in various narts
of the South, the best being aprropri-
sted. organized and drilled Some are
from the towns. others from the fields
II the second act OF 'In Old ken
tuclIy'' they give an illLstrati0u of life
end cnaracCs~ on the plantation that
is NEST natural and Intensely interest
ing