San Francisco Minstrels

     “The San Francisco Minstrels are sweeping everything in the way of burnt cork, in this city.  They commenced the week just past to one of the biggest crowds possible to crowd into that building, and hundreds were turned away unable to obtain even standing room.  During the week the attendance was big each night, and on two other occasions the house was packed like sardines in a box.  The company is one of the best ever seen in this country, and they work together very harmoniously.  There are four managers and they all [illeg.] to please the public and to make everything agreeable behind the curtain as before it.  The programme last week contained nothing new, but it was so well carried out that it pleased and gave as much satisfaction as if every act had been a new one.  ‘Beautiful Isle’ was sung by Wambold in his own happy style, and Ira Paine’s rendering of ‘I’ll sail the Sea Over’ was capital.  One of the principal features of the first part was Bernard’s burlesque opera singing in imitation of Grau, which was excellent and obtained a good round of applause, and was deserving of it.  Mr. Bernard must have visited Milan and studied the principal artists, his business is so capitally done.  Birch and Backus were encored in their songs, each one three times, and still the audience asked like Oliver Twist for more.  Backus’ imitations continue to be given to the delight of all.  His imitation of Maggie Mitchell is decidedly the best.  Billy Birch continues to give his stump speech, but there is a little too much nigger about it to please the tastes of the majority of the frequenters, especially the ladies.”