Georgia Minstrels

“The performance of this group of minstrels, composed of the genuine Ethiopian article, is agreeably disappointing. The general belief has been that the negro is devoid of artistic sense and incapable of placing his native humor and instinct for melody of voice and movement in a pleasant and attractive setting. In many points these minstrels excel the darky imitators. They have a wealth of plantation sayings that you look in vain for among the many pretentious delineators of negro character. There are only one or two fair voices, and the singing, except of the downright plantation funny songs, is not of great account; but the little extravaganzas in the evening’s performance are very rich in their fidelity to real negro life as it was or is to be seen every day down in Georgia. The little hall was filled.”

“Callender’s Georgia Minstrels closed their brief season in this city at Robinson Hall with the performances of Saturday evening last. Their success was pronounced, and had not the hall been previously rented to other parties, we doubt not that their season might have been continued for a number of weeks, with profit to themselves and gratification to the public. An entire change of programme was given during the closing week, which proved quite as attractive as any hitherto presented.”