His debut as a minstrel was made in 1859. In 1871, Hart, Ryman, and Barney’s Minstrels were organized. Subsequently he was with Emerson’s Minstrels in San Francisco, and with the San Francisco Minstrels in New York about six years. He left the above company with George Thatcher, and opened Thatcher and Ryman’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, December 20, 1880, as a permanent organization. In 1882 he took a minstrel company to Australia, remaining about two years. He later re-engaged with Emerson’s Minstrels, and in September, 1887, with Wm. Henry Rice and John Hart, organized a company bearing their names. Mr. Ryman’s late years were with dramatic companies. Add Ryman was born in Ohio; he died (suicide) in New York, June 27, 1896; age 59 years. SID C. FRANCE, famous for many years for his drama “Marked for Life,” in which he enacted a black-face part which was the principal character, was born in Landsport, England, October 4, 1838; he died in New York, May 25, 1895. THE NORTON BROTHERS made their first appearance as the Norton Family in Roxbury, Mass., in 1848 or 1849; accounts vary. Wash. Norton subsequently went with Ordway’s Aeolians in Boston, where he remained a long time. November 14, 1859, Wash. and Tim Norton opened at Bryant’s Minstrels in New York. When seventeen months later, Jerry Bryant died, it was Tim Norton who took his place; Wash. having left New York about a month previous for England, later visiting Africa and Australia; in the latter country they declared he was the best burlesque dancer that ever visited their shores. Wash. returned to the United States in 1866, and remained six years; he subsequently made two other trips to foreign lands. The Nortons were good comedians, and great dancers. Tim Norton died January 25, 1862, in New York, age 24 years. John Norton died in Philadelphia, Pa., January 24, 1868. Wash. Norton was born in New Orleans, La., February 22, 1839; he died in Shasta Co., Cal., November 16, 1899. DAN. SHELBY (Macher), who was the well-known manager of the Adelphi Theatre in Buffalo, N. Y., and the Academy of Music and Columbia Theatre in Chicago, at various times, began his professional career in Paris, Ind., in 1853; it was there he first blacked up. He played several minstrel and circus engagements until 1865, when he launched Shelby’s Minstrels; in 1868 he again put a minstrel company on the road. Mr. Shelby was subsequently a clown in a circus. Dan. Shelby was born in Gettysburg, Pa., January 1, 1838; he died in Wilkesbarre, Pa., February 4, 1895. FAYETTE WELCH (Patrick Walsh). The career of this once celebrated comedian which was suddenly and violently ended, commenced about fifty years ago.