Mr. Lehr was thoroughly legitimate in each character he portrayed; he was the “darky” in life as well as color. Harry Lehr was born in Philadelphia, October 7, 1830; he died there September 10, 1881. DAVE REED. The career of this famous old-timer practically began with minstrelsy itself. He it was, with Dan Bryant, who did so much to popularize “Shoo Fly” more than forty years ago; and “Sally Come Up” will always be identified with his memory. But as a bone player, Dave Reed is probably best remembered; his imitations of drums, horses running and the like were wonderful; the art practically died with him. Mr. Reed’s career began about 1844 with a small traveling company. He played in and around New York for several seasons and later went West. June 18, 1856, Dave Reed’s Minstrels were the feature performance on board the steamer “James Raymond”, plying the Mississippi. Mr. Reed was with Hooley’s Minstrels in New York in 1861; subsequently with the latter in Brooklyn. He joined Bryant’s Minstrels in New York in 1863; he was there when Dan Bryant died, April 10, 1875. In between, about 1868, he was with Kelly and Leon, also in New York. About twenty-five years ago Dave Reed, his wife and four clever children made their appearance in vaudeville as the Reed Family; later they were known as the Reed Birds. He retired in 1903. Dave Reed, Jr., the popular song composer, is his son. Dave Reed was born in New York, November 18, 1830; he died there December 5, 1906. BILLY BIRCH was a name to conjure with for many years, especially in the Metropolis. He made his first appearance in New Hartford, N. Y., in 1844 with a minstrel show, as an amateur. His initial professional appearance was with the Raymond Minstrels at Stamford, Conn., in 1846. Subsequently he was identified with many prominent organizations until 1850, when he appeared first in New York with Fellowe’s Minstrels. When Wood and Christy were running two houses on Broadway, 444 and 472, Birch and Geo. Christy would simultaneously appear at their respective theatres in the first part, and would then proceed to the other theatre and finish their performance for the evening; this was about 1855. In 1851, with Sam Wells and Dick Sliter, he opened in San Francisco with Birch, Wells and Sliter’s Minstrels, and remained six years; under the management of Tom Maguire. August 20, 1857, Mr. Birch sailed for New York, and a few days later was wrecked off the coast of Charleston, S. C.; he finally made his way to New York, where he played a brief engagement with Bryant’s Minstrels, commencing September 28.