In 1865 he was one of the proprietors of Burgess, (T. B.) Prendergast, (Archie) Hughes and (D. C.) LaRue’s Minstrels. In 1867, in conjunction with his fellow townsman, Charley Gardner, he organized Burgess and Gardner’s Minstrels. In 1864 he was associated with J. H. Haverly in an organization bearing their name. In the Summer of 1867, Burgess and (Ainsley) Scott’s Minstrels had a brief existence. (Charley) Reynolds, (John D.) Newcombe and Burgess’ Minstrels gave their first performance September 24, 1862. On August 9, 1869, Mr. Burgess made his appearance with Sam Sharpley’s Minstrels in Boston, and the following month, in the same city, he joined Delehanty and Hengler’s Company. In the Fall of 1879 he opened with Joe Norcross’ California Minstrels. In 1875 he made his first appearance in England at Sam Hague’s Minstrels in Liverpool; subsequently he played a successful engagement with Moore and Burgess in London. Like most prominent performers Mr. Burgess has a specialty in which he was prominently identified--in his case it was “Nicodemus Johnson,” in which he danced with abnormally long shoes, he being the first to adopt the massive footgear. Mr. Burgess married Miss Edna S. Taylor May 20, 1862. In the passing of “Cool” Burgess, minstrelsy lost one of its most brilliant stars. “Cool” Burgess was born in Toronto, Canada, December 20, 1840; he died there October 20, 1905. HANK MUDGE (Henry Tyler Mudge) is one of the few old-timers left. Mr. Mudge, who ranked with the great clog dancers of his day, made his first appearance in minstrelsy with the Porter Opera Troupe at Hartford, Conn., in 1857. In 1859 he was at Captain John Smith’s Theatre in Albany, N. Y. Mr. Mudge avers that this Smith was in no way related to the party in Virginia that was smitten with the charms of one Pocahontas. But to continue; in 1860 he joined Sam Sharpley’s Minstrels, and later went to Boston, where he became identified with the famous Morris Bros., Pell and Trowbridge Minstrels in that city. Mr. Mudge was associated with A. C. Stone, and as Mudge and Stone were rated as two of the best clog dancers in minstrelsy; likewise when with Hooley’s Minstrels in Brooklyn, N. Y., did he do a great dancing act with Archie Hughes. In New York he played successful engagements with Wood’s, and Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels. October 11, 1866, Mr. Mudge with a party sailed for Hong Kong; October 16, 1866, Mr. Mudge arrived in New York. This might possibly strike the average observer as a quick trip; but the fact is that owing to the peevishness of old ocean, the minstrels floundered around on its huge bosom for several days, finally landing them where they started. In five days the party recovered, and on October 21 they again set sail; this time for old England, where they arrived in due time, and after engagements on Erin’s Isle, Hussey, Sweney and Felton’s Minstrels opened in London, England, December 5, 1866.