NIGGER MINSTRELS AND PENURY.

Manawatu Times, Volume 29, Issue 103, 29 December 1880, Page 3

NIGGER MINSTRELS AND PENURY.

What connection fehera may be between burnt cork and extravagance is not apparent, but that there must be some sort of nffinity seems certain, for the ' New York Times* shows that nearly every Oh ' !j Miastrel who had attained celebrity and made a fortune, has died m pore y. Christy Minstrelism was originated some forty years ago, the record of the Ch.'aty Minstrels dating from Buffalo — w'se -"-gals'"- wore-the th?m^trf a once higV'v popular song, which invited them to "come out to-night anddanceby the light of the moon " — in 1841, by Edwin Ch.:sty, who made 150,000d01, lost it att, and killed himself by jumping out o f the third-story window of his house, thus setting a fashion which has been continually observed since. . His so», €h N. Christy, was the first representative of female parts, Lucy Long and other dusky damsels ; and he, too, after ' making a large fortune, died m poverty. '■■ His example, was carefully followed m every , particular by Mr. Dan Bryant, who was penniless at his death. Nevrcomb, the inve - ior of burlesque lectures, or st.i ■ speecaes as they were.called, made money ■•• Ameripa, added to it m England, loat ; . and was buried a$ the expense of one : : i his. former, employes. His partner, Rur- . sey,, a.famoxis perforra^r on the banjo, we" ;up and diown wit'i the rest. Sharpley, proprietor of a, very famous f.TOupa, of whic'i he was what is called " end man," made a large fortune, a»d lost it all m speculation. Swaino Buckley, of Berkley's Serenaders, ,the Serenadsrs, the inventor of- burlesque \ opera, grew very rich, get through his money, '• once more grew rich* and d«d m penury. Ephraim Horn did yvecisely whatfso many of his predecessors had don.«. Manning, of Emerson and Manning's Comp- ■ -, ,18 another example ; and yei> another was ■ Morris,. a favorite negro, comedian. Delahunty, the composer of some songs that were very popular a few yeara ago, including " Shoo Fly." which was heard at every street corner, likew'^e fo^owerl m the ' well-known track. The ' New York Times ' thus proves, to use. its ow.n words, that. " nearly all the. ways of the Ethiopian minstrel seem to lead to prodigality, dissipation, and the need of sepuU ural beno.rolence."