The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-19
M E N, w o M EN
 A ND THIN c s


 Thursday. I daresay this means noth- ing to many, but when I state that Al G. Field is billed at the Jefferson. it Will bring pleasure to the numerous friends of the weIl-known minstrel. some men select their own stage names while others have them thrust Field. When Thayer and Moves great American circus exhibited in Baltimore, special quarter sheet bill was printed. It was the programme of the perfor- nance. Al c. Field was one of the names on the bill in two colors.
 
 The agent mailed one of these bills to the show, but it was not until the portly proprietor, Doctor Thayer, ex- plained to Alfred that his name was entirely too long for quarter sheet, and that if he wished to be billed, he must shorten his name. The good doc tor laughingly added, I've just knocked your hat off. At the time Al thought little of it as he just regarded
 
 it as a nom de plume.
 But he never signed a letter or used the newly acquired name until years afterwards. But 1t had stuck to him ali the<same and circumstances and con ditions having fixed the nom de plume upon him 1t became necessary for him a0Onf inherit a name that was to become household word throughout the United States, and therefore I thought it might interest my readers to have the facts set out.
 In 1881 by act of the legislature of Ohio and the probate court of Franklin county. O., the name of Alfred Griffith Hatfield Field was legalized, and ab- breviated on all advertising matter to Al G. Field. It is so copyrighted in the title of Al G. Field Greater Minstrels with the librarian of Congress. Short ening a name for display purposes re- minds me that friend of mine south ern girl Irene Shropshire went to New York ard became the secretary of a Wall Street broker, who stuttered. and was hired on the condition that she be called Miss Brown" as time was too valuable for her employer to wrestle with the tongue twisting Shropshire.
 But time came when the old name Haffia15 on txr agent of another minstrel company which was a bitter competitor. Joe Kaine wired "AP' that the opposition had caused to be printed a roast in a newspaper which passed the limits of decency. and wanted to know what must be done about it. It was the time the notorious Hatfield gang of West Virginia, were the subjects of much newspaper notoriety." Now I'm going to give some of the details not to rake up old enmities, but merely to show to what lengths in those days press agents went to boost their own show and knock rivals.
 The write-up that stirred Kaine was in substance as follows: "Prominent minstrel mans real name leads to con- lecture he was once one of the notor- ious Hatfield gang. Doubts as to his braving the laws of West Virginia" This was the caption of the scurrilous reported though his company is adyer- tised, it will not appear in any of the cities in tiIis state. The depredations of the notorious Hatfield family has made the name feared wherever it is known
 This was some indictment but not satisfied, it ran, officers have been on their tracks for years. The majority of the desperate family seem to be se- cure in the fastnesses of their mountain hiding places. So completely terrorized are the mountaineers by this family that no arrests have been made of any of the gang lately. However, should a member of the family now masquerad- state, he will be arrested on sight and made to stand trial for past deeds of the family. However 1t is not believed that the man will run the risk of en- tering the state. It is rumored he is on his way to Canada"
 Kaine supplemented his first tele- gram by stating that the evening paper would publish any statement he tele- graphed and to make 1t strong It was a battle royal between rival press agents. Af wired him: Engage coun- sel, who will answer for me. I am pre- pared to give bond in any amount" He further telegraphed Devil Anse" Hat field and several others of the family: will be there. Meet me on arrival" But the master stroke was the one which went forward later as news: Tt is reported here that a dozen armed men from Kentucky and West Virginia Field Minstrels to resist arrest of one of their number who is reported with the minstrels."
 It makes a newspaper mans heart glow to think of the good old days when such stuff could get by and create diversion. There were hundreds at the depot to meet the Incoming min strel troupe. The officers had been mt wise, but the crowd just ate up the rumors and swallowed them as facts The owner of the paper wherein the re- ports originated about "Ars beloneine to the Hatfield gang assured him that he had been imposed upon and opened