ARTHUR COOK, the well-known minstrel tenor who made popular “Ring the Bells Softly,” “Essie Dear” and other favorite compositions, came to America about 1853, and was prominently identified with such well-known minstrel organizations as Bryant’s, in New York; Carncross’ and Thatcher and Ryman’s in Philadelphia; Hooley’s in Brooklyn; San Franciscos in New York; Primrose and West; also with Edward Harrigan, “The County Fair” and “The Man From Boston.” Arthur Cook was born in London, England; he died in Boston, Mass., November 1, 1893; age 50 years. BILLY MCALLISTER’s career began at the age of sixteen, singing in concerts. In 1862 he joined the Fuller New York combination Minstrels as a comedian, and as a comedian no one has ever been able to justly gainsay his right to that term. In 1864 he organized the Cross, Fay and McAllister’s Minstrels, and until 1870 he was associated with various companies; in the fall of that year he joined Cal. Wagner’s Minstrels; Mr. McAllister demonstrated his versatility with this company by performing at various times the duties of balladist, interlocutor and comedian. In 1872 he was with Harry Robinson’s Minstrels, and most of the period from then until 1880 was identified with his own companies. Commencing in that year with I. W. Baird’s Minstrels, he remained two seasons. In 1882 he became a member of Haverly’s Mastodon Minstrels, and in 1883 Robinson and McAllister’s Minstrels took the road, but gave it back the following year. July 30, 1885, Mr. McAllister opened with McNish, Johnson and Slavin’s Minstrels in his native city, at the initial performance of that company; early in 1886 he joined Carncross’ Minstrels in Philadelphia, sitting opposite to Lew Dockstader. Mr. McAllister has been a prominent citizen of Troy, N. Y., where he has been engaged in business for more than twenty years. Billy McAllister was born in Paterson, N. J., March 15, 1843. FRANK BELL (Peter Jaggers), best known as a unique stump-speaker, made his first appearance in Olean, N. Y., in September, 1864, and shortly after joined Wood’s Minstrels in New York, as a clog dancer. Subsequent minstrel engagements were with the original New Orleans Minstrels, Simmons, Slocum and Sweatnam’s, Armstrong Bros., George Clapham’s Minstrels, Barlow, Wilson, Primrose and West’s, Haverly’s, Harry Robinson’s, and Lester and Allen’s. The crowning success of his career was with “Way Down East,” in white-face, playing the constable, and singing “All Bound Round With a Woolen String;” Mr. Bell also played a character part with Otis Skinner in “Your Humble Servant,” in 1910. Frank Bell was born in Thurle, Can., September 17, 1843. MAJOR (John E.) BURK, known far and wide for his famous gun drill, has been with many prominent minstrel organizations in the United States and England, usually appearing in black-face, the act seemingly being enhanced in appearance at least, by the addition of burnt cork.