New-York tribune., 1922-03-06
lheater Critics
LarnentDeatI10f
Bert Williams
Negro Comedian Considered
Foremost in Presenting
Philosophy and Humor Of
Race in Unsfudied Form
Never Raised Color Issue
Co-Star With Geo. Walker,
He Gained Fame Abroad:
Masonic Rites at Funeral

Bert Williams, negro comedian, who SC
death at his homo in New York Satur-
day night was announced in The
Tribune yesterday, was not only one
OF the best known actors of the Amer
lcan stage, but in the opinion Of critics
at home and abroad creator Of
comedy character possessing original
lty that amounted to genius.
Williams put into his quaint songs
and humorous sayings the quality and
philosophy of tic negro race. He did
or one side of negro life snd character +
just what the plantation negros did for
another. He gave expression to and
put INTO form easily understood and
appreciated something OF the inner
life and peculiar talent Of The negro.
White Grandfather We'd Quadroor
Ni''lams was born at New Proyi-
dence Nassau, in the British Bahamas
His grandfather. VINO was white. WAS
Danish and Spanish consul to Inc Ia
hamas, and married a quadroon Tho
consul owned feet Of small ships
which made money during the Civil
War, but this wealth vas lost later in
unfortunate investments in the United
States. When he was two years old
Frederick Williams, father of the
comedian was brought to New York
Here he learned the trade of papie r
mache making, which brought him into
contact with theatrical people. 1t was
| through this association that Bert as
boy made his first acquaintance
among New York stage folk.
From New York Frederick Williams
moved to Riverside, Calf. where Bert
was educated and was graduated from
the Riverside High School. His ain
had been to become a civil engineer
His interest in the thcater always hac
been keen, however, and unable to re
sist the urge he started as a member
Of little company of MINISTRIES. From
that moment he progressed steadily
winning the good will Of his public ane
the respect Of his associates
In 1908. whom the Williams ane
Walker company played at the Shaftes
bury Theater in London, Williams wa:
invited to attend a lawn party a
buckingham Palace to entertain guests
at the birthday celebration of tht
Prince of Wales. His demeanor so de
lighted royalty that he remained unit
his death a favorite with Londouers
Booker T. Washington once wrote o
Williams:
"Bert Williams is tremendous asse
of the negro race. The fact of his sue
cess aids the negro many times more
| thc@ he could have helped the race b,
/ merely contenting himself to whin'
/ about racial difficulties. TIE fact i
! the American people arc ready to homo
any man who does something wortl
while, irrcs pective of his color
Stricken at His Work
At the time OF his death William
was appearing in "Under the Bambo
Tree. He suffered breakdown in De
troit and was brought to his home i
New York i'll Of pneumonia. Some o
the most successful productions j
which Williams and Walker appeare
as team were 1.-TWO Real Coons.
"The Cold Bug" "Senegambian Carni
val" "Sons of Ham" and "ln Daho
mey." 1t was with the last-namcd pro
duction that they appeared so success
fully in London. George Walker die
in 1907 and Williams was feature
alone in "A Load of Coal In 1911 h
made a Ziegfeld contract under whicl
he appeared in "The Follies" for te
years.
The comedian is said to have left
large fortune, which goes to his wife
Lottie Williams. Funeral services will
be held tomorrow at 1880 p. IN. in ST
Philips Episcopal Church, 134t
Street. between Seventh and Eight
avenues. On Wedne sday the body vii
be taken to the Masonic Temple, i
West Twentythird Street, where sery
ices will be held by ST. Cecile Lodge
Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery
Williams became a member Of the Ma
sonic order in Edinburgh In 1907.