Advertisement: Banjo Challenge from Frank B. Converse

“Banjo Challenge from Frank B. Converse—Having been insulted in the greatest manner by one of the Dobson Brothers, and bartered in a public bar-room to play with him then and there on the banjo to decide as to who was the best performer on that instrument and having no desire for bar-room notoriety, as is the custom of said Dobson, I refused to lower myself so much as to compete with such as him in such a place, preferring to  act the gentleman, which the said Dobson could not do.  I hereby challenge

ANY MEMBER OF THE DOBSON FAMILY

that pretends to play the banjo, to contend with me for $1000 a side, in any minstrel hall in Broadway, each party to choose a committee of two or three competent musicians, and they decide who is the most artistic performer for developing the music qualities of the banjo, for best harmony, musical modulations, taste, etc.  The entire receipts of the hall to go to the proprietor or to a charitable association.  I do not issue this challenge for any notoriety, for I am already somewhat known to the public at large; but I do it because I have been grossly insulted by one whom I consider beneath me in many respects, that go to make the man or the musician, and because I have been informed by said Dobson that he could excel me.  Now he, as well as the public, can have an opportunity to judge as to who is the best man. I have made it an object for these gentlemen to play against me by offering to play them for $1000, for if I should play against them for reputation, and should happen to lose, I lose a hard-earned reputation.  With them it is quite different.  I have therefore deposited in the hands of Frank Queen, Editor of the Clipper, a check for $500, which will remain for two weeks, and as soon as covered, I will make it $1000, and as I want no newspaper notoriety, but mean business, the said Dobson Brothers, one or all, can cover that amount, or any amount up to $3000, and have the matter settled at once.  If they do not accept this, let them forever hold their peace and never more pretend to be

‘TEACHERS OF THE BANJO.’

            The public’s obedient servant,                                    FRANK CONVERSE

531 Broadway

“To Mr. Frank B. Converse.  REPLY TO HIS CHALLENGE.

The undignified, ungrammatical, malignant, indecent, false and libelous language which characterizes the card of Mr. FRANK B. CONVERSE published in the Clipper of the 8th instant, precludes the possibility of a direct reply to the propositions therein enunciated, as we have too much respect for public sentiment and for our own position in society to indulge in epithets which have their origin in brothel houses, even to gratify the promptings of a waning popularity.  We have never been accustomed to low associations, and therefore have neither the capacity nor the inclination to select our diction from the vocabulary of filth from which Mr. Converse seems to have derived his inspiration.  We have, we think, an artistic name quite as extensive as his own, and we believe the reputation which we have honestly acquired…

                                                                                    [signed] Charles E.Dobson                                                                                                            Geo. C. Dobson

                                                                                                Henry C. Dobson