Very early he saw his name on the billboards, he said; and in 1865 he won a diamond studded cross containing eleven stones; the contest was at Bryan’s Hall, Chicago; among the competitors were “English” Tommy Peel, Johnny Boyd and Alex Ross; all passed away. But I’m ’way ahead of my story. His first regular appearance was with Billy Wray at Beller’s Music Hall, Detroit, Mich., playing “Young Scamp.” He was with the Mrs. Matt. Peel’s Minstrels in 1861. Leaving them he joined Booker and Evart’s Minstrels at Jackson, Mich., taking the place of the famed Dick Sliter, who had just died; this was May 21, 1861. Subsequently he joined the DeHaven and Hutchins Show, touring Europe; other circus engagements were the John Robinson Company and Mike Lipman’s. In 1870 he joined Cal. Wagner’s Minstrels at Syracuse, under “Jack” Haverly’s management; three years later Haverly started his own organization; but Mr. Brown remained faithful to his first love; and subsequently he toured with his own organization. One of Mr. Brown’s feats in his earlier days was to do a jig with a glass full of water on his head, without disturbing the water--or his head; later on he danced with a plough on the same place where the glass was wont to rest. In 1878 he married, and a couple of years later he settled down in St. Louis, Mo., where he resided until his death. Ben Brown was born in Chicago, March 17, 1846; he died in St. Louis, Mo., June 10, 1910. NEIL BURGESS, who won fame and fortune as Aunt Abigail in the “County Fair,” was a black-face performer for several years. In 1875 he made a brief tour with Neil Burgess’ Minstrels; they closed at Brockville, Canada, June 14, that year. Neil Burgess was born in Boston, Mass., June 29, 1846; he died in New York, February 19, 1910. JOHN PRENDERGAST was a clever song and dance performer, and the first partner of John Hogan, with whom he played a season’s engagement at Bryant’s Minstrels in New York City. He joined Hogan in 1865. He died in Pittsburg, Pa., August 15, 1869; age 23 years. GEO. THATCHER has just rounded out forty-seven years of active theatrical life; for it was in September, 1863, that he made his first stage appearance, doing a jig (wonder if he can do it now?), and appearing in black-face; this was in Baltimore. Subsequently he came near being a Dutch comedian. [Illustration: HARRY ROBINSON’S MINSTRELS. Middle 70’s.] A year later Mr. Thatcher’s hopes of being a great song and dance performer received a severe jolt; Billy Emerson was the unconscious cause. Realizing that Emerson excelled him so far; Mr. Thatcher in his next engagement told gags between songs that he sang, and claims that then and there he originated the monologue.