The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-04


 It makes rather a pretty little story, the way 1t happened.
 Some seven years ago was coming south from New York by water; it was midsummer; silver June moon hung over the sea by night and the day was scorching hot, from the rays of blister ing summer sun.
 At that season of the year, there were few people who were lured to Dixieland-- most of them seeking cooler and pleas anter climes during the heated term.
 was safely deposited in care of the captain of the boat, as I left New York and found myself lucky in being asked to sit at his table; for the captain of the boat Is monarch of all he surveys, ' and if you don't happen to stand in with him-you are not lucky to say the least of it.
 During the dinner hour shortly after we steamed out of New York harbor. I chanced to ask the captain if there were any notable people aboard.
 'Yes," said the genial captain, 'Mr. George Primrose, the big minstrel man. and his company. They are going to Atlanta to play an engagement there in vaudeville"
 The captain pointed out the delectable MT. Primrose, and said he was going to try to arrange a concert for the guests of the ship that night, if Mir. Primrose would consent.
 sengers-about 40 in number-assembled on deck and a few minutes later MT. Primrose and his company of eight gave their songs and dances out in the "open," the glorious moon and the soft, summer zephyrs forming the only scenic effect for the occasion.
 After the show was over'' the captain took Mir. Primrose around and inrroquced him to the little company, and like most introductions when 90 or 40 people are a single name.
 He chanced to sit near me, and we drifted into very entertaining Cat least to mel conversation for had never be- fore in all my life, met a real live actor, for you see at that time, l had never even been introduced to the newspaper game-so why should I?
 When the good nights" were said, Mir Primrose remarked that he didn't catch w tell him what it was.
 'Oh, just call me Miss Alabama said facetiously, and made by adieux.
 All during the trip south MT Primrose was the life and joy of the party; each night he sang and danced as only he can sing and dance, and made every body happy with his brightness and his cleverness and his wonderful spontaneity, and I don't believe there Is a member of that party who will ever forget the way he sang "Chloe From Tennessee"
 But all good things must come to an end, and so our trip did, and when a little group assembled in Savannah early one morning--6 o'clock-the most ungodly hour (the middle of the night I believe MT. Diamond Jim Brady calls it said "goodby," and each went his own little way, MT. Primrose laughingly said ito me: FsR e
 And is it Miss Alabama still?'
 ''Yes, Miss Alabama laughingly said.
 Yesterday I dropped in to see MT. Primrose for few minutes.
 By appointment he was waiting for me; of course, he had no more idea than any thing in the world who I was, but the moment I entered the door he looked up in that half quizzical, half puzzled way that people have when they are not quite sure, and said jubilantly:
 Well, if it isn't Miss Alabama!'
 Of course I was f1attered to death that he remembered me, and then I began like all good 'bromides' to talk about how small the world is and how I never dreamed of being a newspaper person when I met him and all that. and just then I heard the band playing outside. saw his feet nervously batting the floor; I noticed the gleam in his merry eyes. and I laughingly said to him:
 ''The same old story-you just can't make your feet behave
 Mr. Primrose laughed and said:
 "Forty-five years on the stage, singing dancing and telling stories, and always at this hour of the morning, 11:45, leading the minstrel parade-how can help 1t? Do you know what I'm singing now in my show? Chloe from Tennessee'-the song I sang on the boat coming down from New York. No; I guess I never will be able to make my feet behave, certainly not while the music lasts"
 well, nobody wants you too," I assured him. You wouldn't be yourself if you did,"
 Do you know that never took a danc- ing lesson in my life,' he said quickly. 'and have danced ever since I was a baby-in dresses. I shuffled about and invented steps and have always danced. When I went on the stage I started soft shoe dancing. It used to be called Tuba dancing;' you know how the darkeys would sing the old song, 'Juba dis, and Juba dat:' and then the Buck Dance keys also-the big buck nlggers doIna the dance; from the soft shoe dance originated with me. somehow it just came sort of naturally. You can't teach peo- pie the sort of dancing I do; It's born in their feet.''