davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening journal., 1920-02-11
A Short History of lMnsheLSy

Minstrelsy is the oldest form OF
amusement known to man. In the early
Gays the wandering minstrel Travelled
from place to place and In verse and
improvlsed melody. told the happenings
or the times, thus spreading the news
OF the world and draw bridges were
lowered and castle gates flung wide for
MS reception when the cry arose "The
Minstrel is Coming" In America. min
slrelsy turned 10 the impersonation OF
The plantation darkey and Today Negro
minstrelsy Is the only really distinctive
American stage amusement. IL had It's
origin in isi0. However, long before
that, several actors blacked their faces
and appeared in the legitimate thea
tres between acts, impersonating the
southern steamboat roustabout and
happy-go-lucky darkey.' Among the
most prominent OF these was t. ID.
Rice, nicknamed "Jim Crow Rice. whose
impersonatlOn was so true TO life that
he took the public by storm. His great
est hit was the singing OF the song,
Jump Jim Crow" In which he car
ried a sack upon the stage and dumped
a small boy out Of IL who initiated him
in his ch0ruses. This small boy was
the late Joe Jefferson. Of Rip Van Win
lie fame.
Among those who took UP black-face
impersOnatlons were Billy N'hitlOck.
Dick Pelham Frank Bower and Daniel
Decatur Emmett, all doing single turns.
Early in 1910 a benefit performance
was 10 be given for r. w. Pelham. and
Dan Emmett suggested that instead OF
appearing singly. they arrange songs,
choruses and instrumental music, both
comic and sentimental. and appear to-
gether. They. by accident, arranged the
chairs in q semi-circle and this custom
has been adhered TO ever since.
This minstrel first part was the first
one ever presented and it captivated
the public. II took New York by storm
and engagements were offered the per-
formers from all over the country. and
they formed a company, calling them
selves the Virginia Minstrels. Money
flowed into their pockets like water
and prosperity turned their heads. Seek
ing new worlds 10 conquer, they sailed
for England, where they Immediately
duplicated their American successes.
This unheard OF flow Of wealth was too
much for them, they quarreled, separ- |
ated and returned 20 America, each |
determined TO organize a company OF
his own, but during their absence a
dozen other companies had sprung up
and the origlnators OF American min
strelsy were soon only laborlng for
others and not one OF them ever
achieved very great financial sucness
Dan Emmett, the author OF Dixie. be-
came famous the world over, but died
penniless. i
Daniel Emmett was the undisputed
originator OF American minstrelsy, that
is. the first part or semi-circle. En-
nett left his home while quite a young
man, Joining the orchestra OF a small
travelling circus. From the circus he
changed to minstrelsy, finally becoming
leader OF Bryants Minstrels, a troupe
that was very popular for many years.
While with this company he wrote the
Evening journal., 1920-02-11

song "DiXie."
All minstrel entertainments were FIN.
ished i'm those days. With walk-around
a medley Of chOruses and a dance mum.
Der inte-spersed here and there. Dan
Bryant. the manager OF Bryant Min
strels. desiring a change in the music
for this number on his show. called
upon Dan Emmett TO provide the re-
quired song, and at a Monday morning
rehearsal he played Dixie. The melody
was fetching. That night the song was
put on. The program announced n as
a song entitled away Down South I'm
the Land OF Cotton" Later The tine
was changed 10 "Dixieiandr and SIN
later Away Down South In Dixie" huf
since that time it has been generally
given the title Of "Dlxie."
No song OF the kind ever met with
such general favor. While 10 is recog-
nized as a song OF the southland. n is
a popular favorile all over ,Nnerlco
Emmett never reaped any pecuhfary re-
ward from the song Many persons laid
claim TO its authorship, but The New
York Herald. assisted by Al. G.. Field
established Emmett's claim TO the au-
thorship. beyond dispute.
Dan Emmett, in his eightleth year
made a tour Of the country with The
Al. q. Fields Ministries, after which he
retired. He Is buried near his old home
at Mt. Vernon. Ohio, and over his grave
Is a monument erected TO his memory
by James Smith. Of Ashtabula. Ohio.
To trace American minstrelsy from
its origin is interesting. The Negro. ns
inspiration, is the most tractable and
Initiative Of all human beings. on the
plantations, long before the white man
began TO initiate him. the Negro sang
the songs and performed the dances that
have made minstrelsy popular. When
Evening journal., 1920-02-11

the IIugenots fed their country qnc
settled in South Carolina, they brought
their customs and religious ceremonIe.
with them They danced the statel,
minuet, serving refreshments. partictl.
larly a large fruit cake made for The
occasion. From this custom came the
cake walk dance 50 long a favOrite with
ile Negro. The Negroes Initiating the
minuet Of the white folks. with that ami
nation Characteristic Of their race. made
the dignilied mlnuet OF the courtly HUI
guenots the gr0iesque dance OF the
slaves OF those days and of the min
strels OF today.
In the minslrels Of The early DAYS all
The customs Of the plantation slaves
were introduced The bones the Negro
slave ratified were limitations Of the cas-
taneis Of the Spanish and French casla-
nets used by dancers OF those days. The
iambourines were limitations of-ihe tam
bourlnes OF the Spaniards and in imiia-
tion OF the guitar, the plantation Negra
originated the banjo. The Negro gave
IL the ame-baniO-and the significance
OF the word has never been traced be-
yond The 0riglnaiion OF that crude in
strument.
The songs OF those days refer TO "the
old jaw bone" used by the Negroes and
copied by the early minstrels. II was
the Jaw bone OF horse. cow or mule
4 small piece OF iron was used to rattle
The teeth and small sleigh bells We're at
iached TO Il. These crude instruments
were greatly admired by the Negroes OF
mir Southland HnKNoynr fhoca fncfrt1-
ments. excepting the banjo. can be
traced 20 the uncultured tribes OF Africa
and other countries.
There Is no race so humorous nor
iumor so infectious as the functions
fun Of the Negro. There Is no section
Of the world where the English Ian
guage is spoken that the wit OF the
Negro is not appreciated.
Minsirelsy is responsible for many OF
Dur sweetest songs. Minstrelsy has al
Evening journal., 1920-02-11
FILE RETURNS EARLY.
COLLECTOR URGES

Now that forms are being sent TO
ihose Obliged 10 make returns under
the Federal Income Tax law, Collector
Harry Y. Graham urges that returns
be made as soon as possible. March Is
is The last day Returns aled after that
date are subject 90 a penalty.
Personal exemption allowed taxpayers
mas no relation TO the requirements TO
ille return. This eempt.on is not 10
be considered undl person has figured
out his net income and has determined
whether 10 was sufficient 10 require him
Evening journal., 1920-02-11
Flu This Year is MiIder

While we know very little more about
the flu now than we did last year-the
germ itself has never been positively
identined-still most authorities agree
that the. flu germs are breathed in II
the system is in good shape and the
membrane or lining Of the air passages
is in healthy condition-these germs
are thrown of.
A good plan is 20 melt little Vick's
VapoRub in a spoon night and morn
ing. and inhale the vapors, also apply
little up the nostrils several times a
day especially just before being ex-
: posed 10 crowds.
Treat All Colds Promptly
Above all, keep free from colds, as
colds irritate the lining Of the air pass
ages and make them real breeding
grounds for germs. Prompt use OF
Nick's VapoRub aids in preventing colds.
For head colds, sore throat or horse
ness, rub Vicks well over the throat
and chest and cover with warm fan
mel cloth. For deep chest colds, severe
sore throat or bronchitis, hot wet
towels should first be applied 10 the
throat. chest and back between the
shoulder blades TO open the pores. Then
Nicks should be rubbed in over the
parts until the skin is red-spread on
ihickly and covered with two thick
nesses OF hot flannel cloths. Leave the
clothing loose around the neck, so the
vapors, released by the body heat, may
be freely inhaled.
These vapors, inhaled with each
breath. carry the medication directly
10 the lungs and air passages. At the
same time Vicks is absorbed thru and
stimulates the skin, thus aiding TO re-
lleve the congestion within.
Use OF External Treatment for Colds
Increasing.
Vick's VapoRub is the discovery Of a
North Carolina druggist who found how
to combine in Salve form, the standard
time tested remedies, Camphor-Men-
-Eucalyptus-Thy etc-so that
when the salve is applied TO the body
heat. these ingredients are liberated in
the form Of vapors.
Nicks is particularly recommended for
children's Group or colds. since II is ex-
ternally applied and therefore can be
used freely and often without the
slightest harmful effects.
The best evidence of the value Of /
Nicks is the steadily increasing number |
Sf people who have been converted to I
the use OF this "outside" treatment
Beginning with the customers OF a |
small retail drug store, the use Of Vicks
has grown-year by year State by |
State-until now more than II million
lars are used annually. And this in
spite OF the fact that Vicks is a new
form OF treatment 10 many folks in the
North end West. Nicks can be had at
all druggists in three slzes-30c., 6Oc or
al 30.
Evening journal., 1920-02-11

to nlgareturn.
Wien in doubt on any point as to in
come dedsctions, a persen may obtain
free advice from the collectors office
and from The deputies throughout the
district. Many banks and iruss COM
panies with furnish similar service dur
Ing banking hours.
For The convenience of those who
cannot call during business hours the
income tax division Will remain open
until O'Clock each evening
Evening journal., 1920-02-11
How To Use
Vick's VapoRub
To Prevent Flu
Flu Germs Are Breathed In. In
famed Air Passages Make Ideal
Breeding Grounds For These
Germs.
KEEP AIR PASSAGES OPEN

Melt Little yick's vapoRub in Spoon
Night and Morning and Inhale Vapors
Also Apply Up the Nosuils Several
Times a Day, Especially Just Before
Being Exposed TO Crowds.
Evening journal., 1920-02-11
MIINnY npENs EII,rnN nrIIcr

Mundy and Company has opened an
office in ElNon, Md, and viii Offr
Maryland farms from this onlee.
II. r. II. Jones is in charge Of the
Office
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-04-13
Driving Home the Cows.
From the Sioux City Journal.

Sometimes | wish that we could get back
to the sweet old delights for the sake of our
boys and girls The average boy or girl of
today does not know what it means to walk
mile or more. They must always ride in
papa's car be the distance to be traversed
only three or four city blocks 1t is likewise
so in the country; the farm boys and girls are
never encouraged to realize the pleasures of
long rural rambles as were the children of
the past Often on short trip to school
someone benevolently picks them up and
gives them a ride, which is not as good for
them as the use of their legs would be. God
intended that his human creatures should
walk a great deal Had he not, there would
probably have been Ford waiting for Adam
and Eve in the garden of Eden. This brings
me to my point wish to recall the joys of
those vanished times when I used to take
Carlo and go out to the pasture to drive the
cows home to be MIXED at evening. Some
times. indeed, it was deemed hardship of
boyhood, but under the thin gauze of aft1lc-
ton there shone the bright gold of benefit
There was the glorious sunlight of approach
ing evening, made holy by the vesper an
then1s of the feathered singers, whose carols
were sweeter than those of Caruso or Melba
or Schumann-Heink. They were the super
Jenny Linds of my bOyhood. Carlo was al
most sure to start gopher or rabbit, and
then there would be a mad and howhng
race, generally not won by Carlo, even with
INV exciting encouragement. How the bell
attached to the neck of old Bess would TIN
kie tinkle dreamily, just beyond some silvery
edged knoll! How the butterflies would polSe
and waver always just ahead and beyond the
cruel, kiddish grasp! 1t is all past, and 1t
will come no more to me, but when | look
around on the colorless lives of the children
of TODAY a feeling of deep sadness comes
when | remember that the parents OF the
present-only a few of them-ever ask their
children to go mile or less to drive home
the cows at evening This is all so hope
lessly pitiful that no argument is needed 10
make it as clear as noontime sunshine
Co, boss co, boss! co boss!
Tinkle! tinkle! tinkle! tinkle!
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-04-13
LORD HELP Us. IF HE DOES

From the Newman Herald and Advertiser
We sincerely hope that Mr.. John A, Man
get, federal price-fxer for Georgia, won't
take it into his head to probe the country
newspaper business. We can barely live as
it is, and our observation has been that when
ever the government undertakes to regulate
any of the country's industries conditions
grow worse instead of better This was true
in the case of the paper industry. For ex-
ample, before the government took it upon
itself to fix an arbitrary price for newsprint
The Herald had no difficulty in getting sup
plies to answer its requirements at one-third
the cost exacted of US now. And what is
a much more serious matter, newsprint is
scarcely obtainable to-day at any price AS
a theory government control" affords pleas
ing subject for the altruist, perhaps, but
experience has demonstrated that it won't
work out.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-04-13
For A CLEAN TOWN.

The Woman's Club has undertaken
commendable work in its campaign for a
cleaner and more sanitary city. No club
can relieve the dirty and unsightly condi-
ton of the streets in the business section.
That is the work of the municipality. 1t is
the duty of the municipality to prevent the
sidewalks from being used as junk yards
in which to pile empty boxes, decayed fruit
and vegetables, plumber of different kinds
and other unsightly and unwholesome ma
terial. Public sentiment can make itself
manifest only through the municipality in
these matters.
There is a field, however, in which the
women may expend their energies with
profit to the city. The residence portion
needs attention. Unkept yards are pri
vate concern in a way, but public inter
est properly aroused will induce the aver
age citizen to see that his lawn is beauty
spot instead of an eyesore. Public senti-
ment can be centralized on keeping the
grass trimmed and the weeds cut and the
back yards free of trash and rubbish. Pub
lie sentiment, rightly aroused, will make
every resident a member of a committee
to keep the city neat and attractive, his
portion being his own premises.
1t is important to have clean streets and
clean premises. Yet people make the con-
ditions amid which they live The women
who have undertaken to have Dawson wash
its face have enlisted in no trifling con-
test. If they accomplish a little of the
things hoped for they will have splendidly
served the city.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-04-13
Affinities.

Together we roamed through the forest
glade
In the years of the long ago,
You were the sunlight, the shade;
Where you went | would go.
We were mates and together were one
In the prehistoric age,
fought for you and the battle done
| roared at the stars in rage.
Side by side in the jungle pack,
In calm, in storm and stress.
We held the course through the forest track
In its awful loneliness.
We held to the law of the jungle clan,
In meadow, plain or brake;
II .et him who has keep if he can
What he who can will take"
feel the call of the Jungle clan.
From an age that has passed away,
For strain of the blood of primitive man
Tnges my veins today.
For civilization is only a she'll
As men so often show;
scratch too deep and the mark will tell
That the savage lies below.
So face life's battle all unafraid.
For this, all well l know.
You are the sunlight, l the shade,
Where you go l will go.
Dawson, Ga. W. 7. BARFIELD.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-04-13
BASE BALL FOR DAWSON.

The News is glad that Dawson is to have
good baseball team this season. This in
sures good sport and recreation for the peo-
pie throughout the summer.
Baseball should be cultivated and encour-
aged by the people of Dawson. 1t is an out
door athletic exercise of fine quality and
great value. 1t is developing and vitalizing
in almost every respect, and it is well to
encourage such sport. 1t is the natural
American game, it is typicaIly American; it
brings out and develops characteristics
along naturally American lines.
Dawson has heretofore assumed a leading
position in baseball circles and the DaW-
son club has won many hard fought games
from rival teams composed of some of the
best players in the state. The people OF
Dawson are interested in baseball. They
enjoy the game, and it is believed they will
patronize it this season just as generously
as before, if not more so.
The News indorses the efforts of the Daw-
son baseball association to furnish the peo-
ple with a clean, healthful sport besides Of
fering amusement for the summer season,
and wishes it unbounded success
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-04-13
We Know and Appreciate Her.


On an afternoon she is seen often at her
window darning stockings. 1t is her hour
of rest.
Some folks wonder how she stays so
Young and good-looking, working as she
does.
Those boys of hers keep her mending and
patching when she isn't busy cleaning and
cooking. and yet she seems to find little
time for everything. She is leading mem
Der of her club and when somebody IN the
neighborhood is sick she is always on hand
to help out.
Those who visit her home notice 1t seems
to shine with her presence
With a kiss she can heal the bruised
fingers the children bring in from play.
Her husband finds he can think his way out
of his worries and difficulties better when
she is at his side, giving the wise counsel of
perfect intuition, than he can at the office
You know her, of course you do. She IS
the GOOD mother-the Ideal Girl.
Tonight, long after the children are IN
bed, she probably can be found sewing back
the buttons they ripped off their clothes
during the day. And she is humming a
song as she thus concludes the days work
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-04-13
DAWSON AN EXAMPLE

From the Worth County Local.
The people of Dawson have raised by pop
ular subscription almost one hundred thou
sand dollars to build modern hotel, the list
of subscribers, which includes a big percent
age of the men of the town, demonstrates
what can be done along the line of civic i'm
provement when there is cooperation. There
is plenty of money in this town to buy all
kinds of fake stock but because of the few
who are willing to invest their money in
something for the good of the town, like a
hotel, cannot promise the others that they
will receive fifty or seventy five per cent on
their money they are unable to secure the
help needed. "There are none so blind as
those who will not see."
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-04-13
WHERE PUBLIC MONEY GOES.

In a senate debate over the trip of Miss
Julia Lathrop, head of the child welfare bu-
reau, to Czechoslovakia for the purpose of
assisting the government of that country in
restoring the children to normal vigor the
point was made that when the bureau was
organized those who urged it promised that
it should not cost the people more than $685.
600 a year. The annual appropriation is
now 100000, or sixteen times what it was
intended it should be. Senator Overman, of
North Carolina, replying to Senator Kenyon,
of Iowa, made the following statement:
1t was originally stated on the floor
here that the establishment of this bu-
reau would not cost to exceed $4,000
per annum | then commended it would
cost much more, and it is now costing
the government over 100000 a year,
taking the course Of all similar bureaus
after their establishment.
This bureau, as Senator Overman points
eout, is only one instance in many Some
line of activity presents itself and few in
adviduals, often with selfish motives, urge
that a department or a bureau be created
to promote it. They are wise enough to
ask for only a pittance. But so soon as the
moters of the bureau create an organization
which cannot be operated within the bounds
of the appropriation. They cause a deficit
and then go back to congress or the legis-
lature, a sthe case may be, for an appro.
priation to make good the deficit. The
next year they combine the original appro-
priation and the deficit to make the foun-
dalton for the next appropriation. Then
they enlarge the organization and increase
the field of operation and create another
deficit and return with another request for
a deficiency appropriation Thus the pyra.
miding goes on year after year without
check, the people paying the cost without
knowing enough about the benefit to COM
prehend whether the money is wasted or not
There are 10000 useless clerks in the en-
ploy of the government at Washington at
this time. Many of them are unable to find
anything to do, yet they are kept on the
payrolls. The people pay the bills. If the
bureaus were reduced to the limits which
their fields justify and the surplus clerks
discharged, and if the useless and duplicat'
ing agencies of government were eliminated
and the clerical forces discharged there
would be smaller taxation burdens for the
people to bear.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-04-13
CALL rHE FOOL KILLER

From the st. Paul Pines Press.
One member of congress, openly favoring
a bonus of $2,OO0,0OO,OOO to the service men,
proposes a bond issue for that sum, turn
ing over the bonds to the benefciaries as
far as expedient Such proposition should
summon the fool killer in hot haste. If
government bonds were given direct to SER
vice men half of the entire issue would be
thrown on the market within a week. The
men would hurry to turn them into cash
with the result that the price would go down
with crash and carry with it the value of
all other government war bonds. A fall of
ten points along the entire issue might be
expected This would mean the loss of a
billion dollars more to the people who bought
the bonds when the necessity was great
This is the worst of all of the schemes which
have been suggested.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-04-13
Boys, She's There.
From the Montgomery Monitor.

Georgia has more liquor laws than any
other state in the union, most of them
poorly enforced; more blind tigers; more
iynchings than any other state; more good
neopie and more lswbreakers, territory con-
sidered: with a low education standard and
vet furnishing some of the brainiest men the
nation ever produced. The state of Georgia
must be something of an enigma to the
outside world. They wonder at the formu-
Ia used in Georgia in mixing crime and
virtue, brains and imbecility, blind tigers
and anti-iquor crusades-how the wings OF
angels flap in unison with the kissing OF
devils, as the old commonwealth moves on
under the martial strains of progress and
under an exalted banner on which is en-
blazoned "The Empire State of the South