Year: 1876

his Ialnliy. Inc advantages gained
will amply pay for all economies in
saving, and the writer feels sure that
every one influenced to make the
visit will never regret it.


Startling Business as a Minstrel.


From the Poughkeepsie Eagle


Cool Burgess, who was here with
Haverly's Minstrels, is an interesting
man to talk with on the minstrel
business. Speaking of himself TO
group of friends the other evening
after the show was out, he related
quite an experience. He said he
first went on the stage in Canada and
earned $l.50 per week. AS he grew
up he felt confident he ought to
stick to the minstrel business for
living, and wherever he went in the
provinces he made "hit.n Finally
friends told him that if he ever ex-
pected to make anything out of the
business he ought to go TO New
York. He went to New York, but
quickly ascertained that there was a
minstrel clique there that would not
allow green hand to be drought
out" He applied to the Bryants to
bill him, but they turned their cold
shoulder to him-said there was so
many applications that they could
not undertake it; they, however,
wanted him to rehearse before them
privately, to show them what he
could do. He was too proud to do
that and left them. He applied at
444 Broadway, when it was in it's
minstrel glory, tor "only one night"
but every obstacle was thrown in his
way, and he failed, His wife and
children were with him, expenses
were going on every day, and he felt
that the little money he had was fast
slipping away, and desperate effort
had to be made. All he had left
was $500 Canada gold note. He
saw there was no use trying to get
chance in New York, SO as last re-
sort he went to Brooklyn. Hooley's
Opera house was then in Its prime,
and was heavily patronized by the
elite of Brooklyn. He went to Mr..
Hooley with his story, told him he
was stranger, and asked for one ap-
pearance. Mr.. Hooley discouraged
him all he could, but advised him to
come and see him next day. With
misgivings Burgess went, when
Hooley said he had concluded he
could not engage in experiments,
and advised Burgess to leave that
section of the country and try some
where else. Sore with dlsappoint-
ment after disappointment, rebuff
after rebuff, he turned to Mr.. Hooley
and pulling out the $500 gold note
said: "Here, Mr.. Hooley, take this
note to your banker, see if it is good,
and if it is, give me just one appear
ancc at your Opera House, and if l
fail you keep the money" Mr..
Hooley looked at Burgess with sur
prise, and replied: "Well, you have
more confidence In yourself than any
man ever saw in the business; I
will give you next Monday night"
Overjoyed at this decision, Cool went
home to his family and related the
particulars of the interview. The
Monday night came, and as "Cool
Burgess" had been billed for the
night all over Brooklyn, the house
was jamed to see the stranger. Full
of confidence as to his power to
please, he went on the stage and
gave the Brooklynites an entire new
line of negro minstrel performance.
Again and again he was called back
until the encores numbered twelve
when Cool was compelled to decline
to appear again because of sheer ex-
haustion. Manager Hooley was de-
lighted. He called on Cool the next
day and asked him to name his price
per week for two years, and he would
then and there sign the papers,
This took Burgess by surprise. Said
he, 81 don't want to be hoggish, nor
did 1 want to let slip good chance to
make living for my wife and little
Ones" 1 thought it over while he
waited, and my first thought was $35
a week; then I thought he might
be able to stand another five, and SO
l called it $40 week. "Forty dol
lars a week, Burgess?" replied Hool-
ey. "Then," said Burgess, 81 thought
I had overshot the mark. and my
heart went into my throat; but it
came right out when Hooley took
me by the hand and exclaimed: "My
boy, why, I'll give you $50 a week
and $1,000 down. And that gave !
Cool Burgess fair start in the min
strel business. After his first nights
performance Mr.. Kinsella, of the
Brooklyn Eagle, wrote a column
editorial on him, praising his perfor-
nance in the highest manner-an
act never before experienced by any
minstrel. To-day Cool Burgess gets
$l75 per week with the Haverly's,
and he is the owner of several build
ings in western city. Next spring
he will make a tour of the United
States with troupe of his own.


Remember that appearances are
often deceitful. Many a pale, thin
young lady will eat more corned beef
than a blacksmith. Because you
find her playing the piano IN the par
lor, it is no sign that her mother is