davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
an Car Porter to Honor Guest of Drama League
The Ladder by Which Charles Gil
pin Climbed to Stage Success
Had Many Devious Rounds

trouble Of protesting against anv
discrimination against me. I had r.
go and show my appreciation Of
their kindness.
$50 I planned just to drop IN and
say thank you.' had a lice litt].
speech all prepared, the fewest
words I could think Of to explain
how grsteful was and how I really
couldn't stay. I expected them to
be polite-it isn't hard for ladies'
and gentlemen to be polite-hut I
expected nothing moro.
II hadn't gone more than two feet
INSIDE the door before I realized
that it wasn't going to be any ordeal.
They were treating me as though 7
really belonged there. They took me
right down to table and sat n.
down between Gilda Varesi and Mrs
Rollin Kirby. And there I stayed
when I got up to speak ever,
line OF my speech had gone shoot
ing of to the four winds But it
wouldn't have served anyway. for in
it l had apologized for not staying
for the dinner. and there I was,
Life's Greatest Moment
can I could saw was thank you. >
and guess said that pretty badly;
but hope they understood how I
felt. It was the greatest moment
of my life"
And we'll It may have been. Here
was coiored man, we'll on his way
toward fifty years old, who has been
knocked around from pillar to post
all his life who has played In any
old Ay-by-night show that came along
in vaudeville, musical comedy.
transforming minstrels-in most Of
the bad and a few Of the good the
aters in this country and Canada.
In between acting jobs he has served
as a Pullman porter, hotel porter
elevator man, barber-anything to
make living.
And all OF sudden. due to a curl
Gus break Of circumstances, he finds
himself little less than the hero Of a
huge banquet turned into a testin,o-
NAL meeting in honor Of his color
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
First Colored Theater

"Then I joined Robert Motifs at
the Pekin in Chicago, the first col,
ored theater in the country. Mostly
we did musical comedy, but there
were eleven of US in the company
who wanted to have try at the seri-
Gus drama. One night we took an
awful chance and produced Captain
Swift
"The general character Of the re-
marks of the folks who had paid
down their good money for admis-
sion was that they we're there for a
good laugh. They came to laugh
and they remained to applaud. It
was an artistic hit.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
A Barber Shop Porter

II wasn't fussy; I'd take any job
that was offered. Away we'd start
with show, get paid for the first
night or SO, and then we'd live on
art for a while. Finally I got
stranded down in Charlottesville
after transforming tour with a
minstrel show, andt took oath never
to play again. l worked in barber
shop as a porter and learned the
trade until l wasn't much worse
than some of the other BARRIERS.
Zone day a wire came from the
Canadian Jubilee Singers. l jumped
at the chance and Joined them at
Hamilton, Ontario. We put in the
winter of 1903-O. touring Canada.
From there I drifted out with Bert
Williams and Walker in 'Abyssinia'
and with Gus Hills Smart Set in
The Black Politician
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13

after that We used to do one seri
Gus drama every two weeks. I got
my chance to play varied parts,
With little grease paint and
powder could make up into any
color on demand. I played every
thing from blackface comedy to a
Chinaman. But when Mosts died it
was all over. 81
Il went back 10 portering again.
When there was nothing else doing
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
Moved Up Town

The critics came and were i'm
pressed. The small public that could
crowd into the tiny house came, too,
and applauded. "The Emperor
Jones" was making a good bid for
attention. Some one took it up to
the Selwyn Theater for a few spe-
cial matinees. Then it moved into
the Princess for regular run. Be-
tween O'Neill and Gilpin 1.-The En-
peror Jones" became established as
an artistic and commercial success.
Essentially it was a play that the
actor could make or break. It tells
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13

me league were going TO exclude
Gilpin on account of his color they
would stay away from the dinner,
too. From Mary Garden to Ben
Ami the demand was insistent that
Gilpin should be invited.
A few days later the Drama
League came out with .etraction.
If Gilpin we're among the first ten
he would be invited. Then came
hints from Gilpin that perhaps he
wouldn't go, anyway. But the din
ner came off and Gilpin was there.
Among the ten selected were
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
Acting Proving Improbable, the
Star Of emperor Jones' Didn't
Despise Menial Tasks

the story Of an American negro.
Pullman porter, who landed on one
of the islands in the West Indies and
in two years made himself emperor.
AS the play opens the rebellion has
started. Smithers tells him about it.
1t is time for Emperor Jones TO "re-
sign" He starts out alone, whis-
tling, with all the bravado he can
assume.
The rest Of the play takes place in
the forest at night, showing the
gradual breaking down of the negro's
nerve under the pressure of the dark,
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13

in amateur theatricals there at the
school.
"When I was about fourteen
started in at the printers trade on
The Richmond Planet; worked at
everything from printers devil up to
a pressman. Occasionally I'd go on
at Putnam's Music Hall in a song
and dance sl,it. Just for the excite
ment. There wasn't any money
in it.
about 1890 I came up to Phila
delphia and worked three hours as a
rressman. Then they fired me on
account Of my color. So I sort of
got tossed back on to the stage
again.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
THE deposed emperor hos
= a VSslom OF q past page tn
has life

and his art. A better man mipht
have lost his head under the same
pressure.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13

always went back to portering.
Lots of times I could make more
money on the railroads than I could
at acting. 1t was better than going
hungry, anyway, and I had it on a
lot Of actors who didn't have any
second trade.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
By Torrey Ford

IND I havt any thrills? III
~ say l did had EN- all
had the thrill Of my life,
and whole lot more thrown in on
tbe side. They Knocked me of NV
feet"
Thus spoke Charles S. Gilpin. one
tms Pullman porter and elevator
hy, now the negro star of EN-
rror Jones, whcn asked t describe
the emotions he experienced at the
Drama League banquet, VIXEN nearly
thousand members Of the league
Jumped 10 their feet. tossed napkins
in the air and shouted themselves
aoarse to make the negro feel .nar
be was welcome at their board.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
For q Friends Sake

First eff thought I wouldn't go
1t all, even if hey did ask me.
later got TO thinking that if I
ldn't go I would be disloyal to the
.aacn friends who wanted me
here, who had gone to all the
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13

progress the negroes have made in
the time and with the opportunity
they have had. And I don't want the
public to think anything different"
1t was only with great reluctance
that Gilpin consented to tell any
thing about himself-where he camn
from and how he happened to be
where he is to-day. Throughout the
conversation he kept frowning over
the idea that he was sailing under
false colors. He didn't want any
one TO imagine that a little promi-
nence in the headlines had made him
lose his sense of proportion.
Not Easy to Interview
AS matter Of fact, we didn't in
terview him at all We crosslexam-
ined him, pulling the facts out one
by one with pair of heavy pliers.
Il was born down in Richmond
Va. A colored man doesn't have
any dates-he is just born. I went
to the St. Francis Roman Catholic
School, where one of the Sisters
taught me few of the fundamen-
tails of the acting business-elocu-
tion and gesticulation. I took part
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
Away From Race

"In 1912 I toured Canada with a
double quartet, and had one of the
pleasantest trips of my career. For
few months I got away from that
damned race thing-all about what
could do if I wasn't a black man.
"Then back to vaudeville and more
portering.
"1n 1916 I began producing last
years Broadway shows at the La
fayette Theater, in 1921 Street. I
guess / was the first colored man to
try such thing. The theater is
e+ilI r,,ppipo
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13

Charles S. Gilpin, selected for his
work in "The Emperor Jones'; Dud
ley Digges, director of "Heartbreal6
House; Gilda varesi, for her work
in Enter Madame; Lionel Atwiu,
for his acting in "Deburau": Lee
Simonson, scenic artist for Heart
break House; Margaret Severn, for
her use of masks in the "Greenwich
Village Follies" Jacob Ben-Ami, for
his work in Samson and Delilah":
David Belasco, as manager and di-
rector; Fred Stone, for being the
leading American comedian, and
Eugene G. O'Neill, for being the
author of "The Emperor JONES'
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
Great Crowd Attended

Usually there are about $50 per
sons who attend the annual Drama
League dinner. This year close to
one thousand people tried to jam
their way into the grand ballroom
at the Hotel McAlpin. An adjoining
room had TO be made ready at the
last moment to accommodate part
of the overflow.
When America wakes up to the
spirit of fair play it doesn't do things
by halves. Gilpin had his we'll de-
served hour of triumph. And no
one begrudged him a minute Of it.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
Had q Fine Time

There was NOR than that to the
demonstration They wanted Gilpin
to know how badly every one felt
shout the unforgivsb blunder made
BY some Of the members IN an ILL.,
considered attempt to draw the color
line in art Thew wanted to make
some retribution and apparently
they succeeded.
Al only intended to drop in and
pay my respects Gilpin SAID. az
planned TO stay about four minutes
and then retire gracefully. / stayed
four hours and had the time Of my
life.
"No, it didn't take much nerve to
90 and face the crowd / knew some
Of my friends would be there and
I'd be al right with them. could
count on the ar lists treating me
fairly, and l didn't care a hang
abont the others. They could sit
there and stare A. me as though I
were some kind of prize monkey
and it wouldn't disturb me at all.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
In abraham, Lincoln

wv hen the producers were staging
Drinkwater's Abraham Lincoln they
had some difficulty finding an actor
to play William Curtis. I got q wire
when | was out on the road and
caught the dress rehearsal by hair.
They promised to put me on after
the first two weeks. I opened with
the show the next night in STAN
ford, Conn, and stayed with it
throughout the Broadway run.
Last fall joined the Province
town Players with The Emperor
Jones' We were going to play it for
two weeks. We're still going. That
ALL"
Few producers would have dared
tackle Eugene G. O'Neill's 1.-The En-
peror Jones'" 1t was too radically
different from anything that had
ever happened before. There were
eight scenes, Of which all but two
were straight monologue by negro
character. For relief there was only
a tom-tom drum that began in the
first scene and continued through
out the play. 1t was one of those
things that couldn't be done.
Yet George Cram Cook did it down
at the little theater in Macdougal
Street.
New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
Played in Many Parts

was an artistic hit.
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-26
GLASTONBURY
ATBEM III
Teams Are Being Selected
For Basketball
Play

Bemidji, Minn.,,i Nov. 25:-A class
basketball tournament will be held at
the: hteh:schooli this season. the first
to ever have been attempted at the
local school. The purpose Of staging
the meet sc early in the season is to
get a line on the material the blue
and white wilt have on hand for bas-
ketball this season.
/. Coach Smith and his assistant, c..
A. Christensen. will ofhciate in every
one of the games and will be able to
get a good line On every man. Any
player who makes a good showing
during the tournament will be ad-
mitted to the regular basketball
squad.
The teams are being selected this
week and VI ctice is :in order every
afternoon. The games will be played
in the afternoon during the regular
practice hours, at the. new armory.
AS an incentive to increased inter-
est and at the same aid in the devel-
opment Of basketball material. Earle
Barker, of the Barker Drug and
Jewelry company is offering a trophy
in the form of a silver loving cup.
which will so to the winning team of
the tournament and will be put in
display in the class room for the bal
ance of the year, with the engraving
Of the winning quint. To obtain
permanent possession of the trophy.
however a.5team. must win the tourn-
ament; three years in succession.
The various classes are holding
meetings and. electing their captain
for the tournament.
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-26
AMERICAN OLYMPIC
ASSOCIATION is
ORGANIZED IN n. Y

New York. Nov. 25.-The organiza-
ton of the American Olympic associ-
alton was effected today at a meeting
here attended by delegates from more
than forty sport governing bodies
throughout the country.
After a. bitter fight the constitution
for a proposed American amateur
athletic federation as approved b,
Secretary of War John w. Weeks,
was withdrawn and the constitution
proposed by the American Olympic
committee was adopted.
1t was decided. however. that the
constitution proposed by Mr.. Weeks
be referred to the executive commit
tee Of the Olympic association for
consideration.
After the adoption of the American
Olympic associations constitution
more than forty sport governing bod
les were accepted into membership.
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-26
ARMY AND NAVY |.
BATTLE TODAY
Closes an Eastern Gridiron
Season Notable For It's
Thrills and Upsets.

New York. Nov. 36.-Limitation of
armies and. scrapping OF navies were
farthest from the thoughts Of Uncle
Sans army and navy today. when the
football eleNens from Annapolis and
West Point clashed in battle array at
the Polo Grounds. The army-havy
contest not only settles the question OF
the years football supremacy between
the two branches of the service, but
this year closes an eastern, gridiron
a notable or its thrills and up
sets, Advance sales indicated that the
Folio. grounds would be filled to their
capacity-4o,o 900 persons.
The roofing cohorts OF the oppes-
ing teams arrived on the early trains
and visitors We're here literally from
n ends Of the earth-weather beaten
~promenaders of the quarter dack and
sun tanned West Pointers ron tropi-
cal posts. -
Diplomatic Washington had made
us annual TALL pilgrimage to New
YORK n this year box seats had
been allotted certain deleEates to the
arms conference who had come from
far: on lands where a football scrim-
mage was an unknown form Of war
fare. '- - = =. =
Navy \ Favo<fte. :,
Both yelevens. with the Navy a ia
yor1te, had" put their. last. polish ON
their point winning machinery yes
terday:
Vice President and Mrs: Calvin Col
lidse, the secretarses ofSwar and navy
the assistant secretary 81. the. navy
and Major General James G. Hartford
with a host Of friends, to. share tlieir
boxes, arrived in the CIV on an earlx
train ~ &. *"
The secretary Of commerce and
Mrs. Hoover, the secretary OF labor
and Mrs! Davis; Rear Admiral and
Mrs. Eberle, Major General H.-K.
Bethel of the British embassy and
others were on another train; But
these were only a few of the .notaotes,
for khaki clads and. wearers of:.the
navy blue camesinsK great punches. :
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-26
ARMY AND NAVY
READY TO CLASH
Middies Practice AT New
York On the Polo
Grounds

! New York, Nov. 2s.-The Army anl
Navy, tonight were awaiting tlte souy1ia
OF the bugle that tomorrow should sst
them Rlunging into each other for
service gridiron honors of 1921.
The lads from Annapolis had their
spy glasses fastened on what they
deemed to be tho star of victory, for
they were given the odds in the bet
ting. But the boys from West Point
had come down the Hudson determin-
ed to lombard into oblivion the hopes
of their cousins in the service, and
confident the defeats they had from
Yale and Notre Dame would Sonly
serve as bracers. 80
Defeated only by Penn State after
having battered Princeton into Sub
mission, the Middies took the field to-
day at the Polo grounds and put in a
period of snappy signal practice. Out
;siGe the gates. waiting to get in. was
the Army, and as, soon as the Annapo-
lis eleven had called it a day, the
West Pointers began frisking over the
gridiron. ,s..
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-26
LEGAL NOTICES.:
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

-a-ft * ss ',t. )Ea rEH'F
County of Grand Forks.
In District Court-Firsts judicial Dis
trict. 74n.,
In the matter of the voluntary dissolu-
ton Of Elk Valley Farming Com
pany, a corporation.
To whom 1t may concern: .H.,
Please take notice that the directors
of the Elk Valley Farming Company. a
corporation. organized. and existing I'M
der and by virtue of the laws of the
State of North Dakota, with it's office and
principal place. of business at Larimore.
n. D.. in conformity with. and Under
and pursuant to the provisions of Sec
tion 4565 of the Compiled Laws Of
North Dakota for 1913. have presented
to the above named court and the Judge
thereof their application in writing,
duly verified. praying the voluntary dis
solution of said corporation, and the
order Of said court and the. Judge there
Of having been made directing that such
application be filed. and that the under
signed give IS days notice Of such ap-
plication. II such application having
been filed accordingly. @
Now therefore, notice is hereby given,
that anyon interested may prepare and
file objections to such application with
the undersigned at any time on or be-
fore January 3rd, 1922, and If no objec-
tions are filed within the time aforesaid
such application will be heard and de-
termined without further notice on
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-26
Three Attempts To
Salvage $4,000 900
Cargo From Sea Fail

New York. Nov. 26.-The third at
tempt to salvage the $4,000. 900 gold
n silver cargo of the Ward line
steamer Merida, sunk ten years ago off
the Virginia Capes, has failed, it was
admitted today at the Offices of tho
H. L. Gotham corporation. which
financed the salvage. expeditions.
Bad weather has been. responsible
for three failures, according to Of
fcials of the salvagingfcompanyta, AT,
each attempt sever storms swept.the
scene of operations. carrying away
the tackle and compelling the salvag-
ers to scurry to the nearest fharbor
least. r.s -
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-26
HOPPE CHALLENGES
SCHAEFER TO PLAY
"A RETURN MATCH

Chicago, Nov. 2e.-wsAie. Hoppe.
h recently lost the worlds 1872
balkline billiard championship to
Young Jake; Schaefer, after holding
1t Tor: rs years, today challenged the
new champion to. a. return match and
posted a $3.50 guarantee for appear
ance. 49,. 80
Understhe copditions of, the recent
in.'Which Schaefer was
victor, he does not have. to defend his
title until March Is, 1922, and it is
believed that he will do nothing but
exhibition work until that date,
Schaefer has bee quoted as saying
that the next time he met. Hoppe he
wanted at least a 3,0e0-point contest,
and Hoppe il also said to favor the
marathon route.
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-26
Small Hope OF Cornell
Playing California "U'

Ithaca. N. T., Nov. 25.-There Il
scant hope, 1T was stated here TO-DAY.
that Cornell university will accept tne
invitation from Pasadena to send her
undefeated football team to California
to play in the annual Now Years
East VS.. West game at Tournament
field. with the University of Califor-
mia as the opponent. The invitation
ron Pasadena came To-Day, but it is
understood from other sources, how
ever, that Cornell will not accent,
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-26
Tommy Gibbons Wins
By K. @. Over Dan Odowd

New Orleans. Nov. 25.-Tommy
Gibbons of St. Paul knocked out Dan
ODowd OF Boston in the sixth round
Of a scheduled 15-round match here
tonight O'Dowd was knocked down
six times before he finally went out
before a terrific right cross to the
law which sprawled him Or the can
vass 50 heavily his head struck the
floor with stunning force. He was
knocked down twice in the first
round, once in the second, three
times in the fifth and once in the
Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-26
Lake Sailing Fails
70 Interest Men In
United States Nav

Superior, Wis. Nov. 2e.-There is
too great an opportunity to obtain a
taste OF sea life through the many
commercial shipping systems on the
Great Lakes, at least on Lake Su-
perior. for aspiring forces. according
to Chief Boatswains Mate Albert RYAN
in the charge OF the district recr,ftfns
office here.
Chief Ryan So bstantfates his state
ments that the Twin Ports record for
furnishing men for the navy is in
significant with figures showing tina,
OF the Thousands OF young men. who
served with the United States land
and sea forces during the world war
only 4 per cent of them chose the
navy.
Ordinarily, naval men believe that
nI2nd lakes serve as a schooling placs
for aspiring seamep, Ryan said. But
such is not the case with the Grea1
Lakes for sailors apparently are sat:
listed with the seven months navira.
ton season, for only a small humble,
OF them apply for enlistment in the
navy. o.. =,
Ryan. would accept former service.
men for the navy. but only an occa
sional ex-serviceman applies for en-,
listment, he said.
As 1s the case everywhere, accord,
ling Organ, many youths between
the ages .of 1S and r.. apply for en-.
listnent. At the present time no. re-
cruits will be accepted unless they
have e previous service under the
Stars and Stripes.
The alleged unemployment situa
ton and hard times have had hardly
noticeable effect On enlistments at the
local ontce, said Chief Ryan.
Ryan is. OF the opinion, : however,
that wien severe winter weather
strikes the Twin Ports and the Head
ofNthe Lakes. and. lake navigation
clnses f9r the season. there win be q
rush 4ofSapplicants. The; navy depart
menttts. conducting nosadvertisernen,
ie4napatgn.4 he said, andsnol special ef-
Tort is being made to additional men;