Some of his principal engagements were with the minstrel organizations of Morris Brothers, Pell and Trowbridge; Kelly and Leon’s; Emerson’s and Sam Hague’s. His last appearance was probably with the Criterion Minstrels in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 5, 1887. Japanese Tommy was born in Brooklyn, N. Y.; he died in New York City, July 9, 1887; age about 50 years. PROF. E. J. CORNU, the well-known and efficient musical director, came to the United States in the late 60’s, and at once associated himself with Hooley’s Minstrels in Brooklyn, N. Y. When the company went to Chicago, opening there January 2, 1871, Mr. Cornu went with them, and was with Mr. Hooley several years. Mr. Cornu had been engaged by Mr. Hooley when the latter was abroad, for Hooley’s “Opera House”; Mr. Cornu being under the impression he was to be associated with a regular opera company. When he found he had to put cork on his face, for a long time he was inconsolable. Prof. Cornu was born in Brussels, Belgium; he died in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 28, 1889. TOMMY JEFFERSON, an old-time banjoist and minstrel performer, who was with Kelly and Leon’s Company in Chicago in 1869, as well as many other like organizations, had been retired many years from the profession prior to his death at Seattle, Wash., November 1, 1897; he was 70 years of age. JAMES ROOME was a fine banjoist and good general performer. He played with various companies, notably Ned Davis’ Minstrels in 1867. He was born in 1837, and died in Brooklyn, N. Y., February 3, 1885. CLARK M. GIBBS was long recognized as an able black-face comedian. His earliest professional appearance was with a circus when he was eleven years of age. He had been associated with some of the best minstrel companies, and worked with several well-known comedians in acts, notably Cool. Burgess and Lew Simmons. He was twice married; a son, Clark Gibbs, Jr., who was also in the profession for a time, is in Trenton, N. J. Clark M. Gibbs was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, March 6, 1837; he died in Trenton, N. J., August 20, 1901. IRA PAINE, the famous sharpshooter, played several minstrel engagements as a ballad singer, notably Carncross and Dixey’s in Philadelphia in 1862, and the San Franciscos in New York, in August, 1869. [Illustration: A PROMINENT BOSTON COMPANY; 1859. LON MORRIS J. T. TROWBRIDGE JOHNNY PELL BILLY MORRIS] [Illustration: A FAMOUS NEW YORK ORGANIZATION; 1865. BILLY BIRCH DAVE WAMBOLD WM. H. BERNARD CHARLEY BACKUS] He was born at Hebronville, Mass., February 17, 1837; he died in Paris, France, September 10, 1889. W. W. PIERCE (Billy McMahon), was a well-known young comedian of promise. In the Spring of 1860 he played an engagement at Bob Butler’s Variety Theatre in New York, where he made a pronounced hit dancing the “Essence of Old Virginny.” He died in Herkimer, N. Y., January 2, 1864; age 27 years.