The Washington times., 1915-02-14
lies and Rural Classic to Show the Dramas Infinite Variety
Mrs. Minzie of Terry Hote'
dGirl Tom SdzUver
BY GARDNER MACK.

The principal purpose Of this story is
to prove the immortality Of the Indiana
sense of humor. And, Incidentally. 1t
deals with the life and work Of . we'll
known personality with the little
known name-Mrs. Frank Minzie. The
reasons for both being simple: Hoosiers
are the only people who intensity in the
cultivation of laughter And Mrs. Frank
Minzie Is one Of the persons who has
made the Hoosier laughter what might
be called grandinora throughout the
well-known universe.
A person usually creates a laugh In
any sort Of an interstate crowd by ac-
knowledging Indiana as birthplace. to
begin with. Then an Indianaian 10
likely to put things in a way that will
make people laugh. And also the APP
pearanco OF the person who halls from
Indiana and says the unusual thing is
likely to create a laugh.
With all these facts understood. Mrs.
Frank Minzie proceeded to capitalize
them. The interest on this capital has
been distributed BY her throughout the
country in the form Of happy. carefree
hours of innocent amusement to such
an extent that more than 6. 10000 or
people have benefited therefrom. Here
Is the story:
Comes From ''Terry Hote."
Mrs. Minzie halls from Terry Hote Il
know that's not the way to spell 1t. but
I'm repeating what I heard a person
from the town call iO, and that is as
good as Lafayette or South Bend or
kokomo or any Of the other places that
have broken into vaudeville comedy. for
the cultivation of real native wit. Mrs.
Minzie hadn't the slightest idea of dig
tributinR toy in an original package
throughout the country when she was a
child, nor did she as a young woman
while attending school at the famous
St. Mary's Of the Woods or training
for the 200 hurdles and degree IN arts
at Franklin College.
She made the track team and would
have landed the degree but for the fact
that she visited her sisters In Lanes'
vile. Ohio, after her second year IN col.
lege. The sisters were actresses and
Ing a summer engagement. There We're
two Of them Ida and Pearl and both
like Rose--Mrs. Minzie's particular name
were rather handsome young women
numbers and never gets credit for.
1t was this faCt-that Indiana girls
are a handsome lot and know how tc
dress and set of costume In a style
that is distinctly Partisan when seen or
Michigan avenue in Chicaeo,,-which led
to the inception of the original Minzie
idea. Having e. very keen sense OF
humor. 1t did not make her angT tc
hear the people of her State behttled
by people In other States ~ amused
her. And in order TO give full play tc
her sense Of humor she decided to give
the people an opportunity to see the
Indiana type they all imagined.
Created a Caricature,
In a play her brother.in-law. Samuel
Yong. wrote for his wife. there was the
part Of a girl that suited Mrs. Minzie 6
purpose. She created a caricature Of a
human being-but gave 1t the qualities
OF heart and mind that every person
likes to ina gine in a real heroine. II
was a simple country lass--a lass with
rosy cheeks, calico gown. stiffly braided
! hair with the braids sticking out and
! much youthful awkwardness-almost
| gawkiness.
1t was just twenty years ago that this
character was created. Mrs. Minzie anG
! There they were given an opportunit,
| to introduce the character . in Little
! Christopher" were billed as The
TIVE Little Jaws From Indiana" Rose
bit of pantomime. In short while 1ds
! left the act and Rose carried it through
alone.
| II made big hit. Everybody saw II
and everybody laughed. Rose said the
drollest sort of things and managed tc
twist her face in the most curious man
| ner-and yet she seemed always to bt
smiling and always able to make Others
| smile.
| Furthermore everything she said ant
everything che did not only made people
laugh. but made them happy in thei
laughter. Her humor was fresh ant