J. A. BASQUIN, a well-known minstrel singer, who was also known at various times as J. J. Roberts and J. Waterman, was a prominent member of Buckley’s Serenaders in the 60’s and early 70’s, also with Unsworth and Eugene in England in 1868. J. A. Basquin was born in France; he died in Brooklyn, N. Y., January 27, 1872; age 42 years. JOHN SIMPSON, prominent for many years as business manager of Bryant’s Minstrels, in New York City, died November 15, 1881. WM. T. BRYANT (O’Brien), a brother of Dan, Neil and Jerry, a mediocre performer, was with Bryant’s Minstrels in New York at the time of his death, September 23, 1865. JOE BROWN, one of the world’s greatest jig dancers, made his first appearance at Albany, N. Y., in 1844. His first New York engagement was in the fall of 1852; August 3, 1857, he opened with “Christy’s” Minstrels in London, England, remaining with, them until about 1860, when he joined Nish’s “Christy” Minstrels, opening in Cape Town, South Africa, August 20, 1862. Prior to the opening he and the company were shipwrecked, losing everything except his clothes; a handsome silver belt he won from Dick. Sliter in 1856 was amongst the things lost. [Illustration: J. A. BASQUIN A. BAMFORD FRANK GIRARD BILLY BARRY “LITTLE MAC” BILLY RICE “MERRY MINSTREL MEN.”] Returning to England in 1863, he organized Joe Brown’s “Christy” Minstrels, visiting Egypt and India; returning to London, opened at St. James Hall, June 11, 1866. In 1868 he paid a brief visit to the United States, then returned to England. Joe Brown was born in Buffalo, N. Y., January 2, 1830; he died in Glasgow, Scotland, October 25, 1883. C. D. ABBOTT was a prominent musician of the early days of minstrelsy, when those performers were artists in their respective lines, and each one was a soloist. He died at La Salle, Ill., May 20, 1864. * * * * * WM. HENRY RICE made his first minstrel appearance September 19, 1859; “Daddy” Rice died exactly one year later. * * * * * BILLY BLAIR, the old-time general minstrel performer who was with Christy’s Minstrels as early as May, 1856, also many other organizations, was a good “Bob Ridley” and end man. He died in Brooklyn, N. Y., January 19, 1888. JOHNNY BOOKER (Sam. Roberts), was one of the early minstrel comedians and managers. In the middle 50’s he toured with Booker and Evart’s Minstrels; subsequently Booker and Sliter’s and intermittently with Johnny Booker’s Minstrels. In the early days he made famous a song that had great vogue called “Meet Johnny Booker at the Bowling Green.” He was a member of Dave Reed’s Minstrels on board the Steamer “James Raymond,” June 18, 1856. Among the notable minstrel organizations he was with were Hooley’s, in Brooklyn, N. Y., 1862; Lloyd and Bidaux’s, 1867, and Arlington’s, in 1870. Johnny Booker was born in Bowling Green, Ky., October, 1830; he died at Dayton, Ohio, October 25, 1898.