About twenty-five years ago Mr. Parker became general agent for the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, in which capacity he traveled for several seasons. Lew Parker was born in Savannah, Ga., May 12, 1849. WALTERS and MORTON formed a partnership at East Saginaw, Mich., where they first performed August 12, 1872. As an acrobatic song and dance team they were ranked with the best. They played engagements with Arlington, Cotton and Kemble’s Minstrels in Chicago in 1874; subsequently with Neil Bryant’s Company. Early in 1876 they were with Kelly and Leon’s Minstrels, where they continued about two years. In the Summer of 1876 they separated briefly, Mr. Walters joining Andy McKee August 28, that year, for a few weeks. Subsequently they came together, and continued until July 25, 1877, when they last performed jointly in Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Walters’ first appearance were with circuses; in 1864 he joined Rumsey’s Minstrels. After separating from Mr. Morton he formed a partnership with Mark Hughes, making his last appearance with him at Cincinnati September 15, 1877. J. W. Morton formed a partnership with Billy Ashcroft about 1870, doing black-face song and dances for about one year. August 11, 1876, he became one of the Big Four, and continued as such about five years, part of which the Big Four Minstrels toured. Later, Mr. Morton had his own organization. [Illustration: HARRY WOODSON ARCHIE WHITE CARROLL JOHNSON NO DEARTH OF “DARKYS” HERE.] He subsequently went to England and Australia, and formed a partnership with Tom Sadler. In 1890 he was conducting a hotel in New Zealand. Charley Walters was born in Cardiff, Wales, May 17, 1849; he died in New York City January 31, 1878. J. W. Morton (Sheppard) died March 30, 1907. WELCH and RICE were two of the best exponents of neat songs and dances in minstrelsy. About 1863 they attracted the attention of Jake Budd, who adopted them professionally, and named them Johnny and Willie Budd, the “Empire Boys.” They had appeared before the public individually prior to the above event, each with Sanford’s Minstrels in Harrisburg, Pa.; Johnny Rice was with Charley Petrie before joining Welch. With Jake Budd they played several seasons with Skiff and Gaylord’s Minstrels, and Buckley’s Serenaders. They then left Budd, and opened with Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, March 6, 1871, and continued intermittently with that company about six years. They were with Haverly’s Minstrels in the Spring of 1878, and in the Fall of that year they were members of the original Mastodons, with whom they went to London in 1880, where they separated. Mr. Welch embarked in the hotel business in England for awhile, but later returned to the United States, and assumed the management of Callender’s Minstrels for the proprietors, Charles and Gustave Frohman. Mr. Welch’s last engagement was with Dockstader’s Minstrels in New York, April 29, 1887.