His black-face career dates from 1876, at which time he entered the variety business, doing a monologue successfully for two years. In 1878 he made his first minstrel appearance with Harry Bloodgood’s Minstrels, doing an “end,” and as comedian, the tour was a brief one, and returning to New York he resumed his variety engagements until 1880, when he joined Snellbaker and Benton’s Majestic Consolidation, under canvas. In 1881 he opened the American Theatre, New Haven, Conn., as a variety house, remaining until January, 1886, when he went to Koster & Bial’s, 23rd Street Music Hall, New York City, as stage manager and producer. In November, the same year, he made his initial bow at Carncross’ Minstrels in Philadelphia, and continued there until April, 1891, at which time he went to Moore and Burgess’ Minstrels in London, England, and played a year’s engagement. In May, 1892, he joined Haverly’s Home Minstrels in Chicago, and stayed there until the company went on tour in November, 1893. Then came a riotous round of vaudeville, solid until 1906, when Al. G. Field showed him a handsome parade suit and the diagram of the Field private car--and something else and--well, the season of 1906--and 1907, saw Mr. Eldridge back among 11.45 boys for a period of about ten months; since then, vaudeville. Mr. Eldridge was married some years ago to Louise Sanford, from whom he subsequently separated. Press Eldredge was born in Philadelphia; guess when. GEORGE HORN, was sometimes called “Eph. Horn, Jr.” He was a comedian and very well known in Philadelphia, where he died June 28, 1904. BURT SHEPARD, recognized as a clever female impersonator in his early career, commenced professionally with Haverly’s New Orleans Minstrels about 1874, and continued with them three years. In 1878 he became a member of Sweatnam’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, and at the close of the season joined Billy Emerson and the Big 4 Minstrels; season of 1879 and 1880 was spent with Carncross’ Minstrels in Philadelphia; he then joined the Thatcher, Primrose and West Company, and was with them practically from their inception to their dissolution; later he was identified with Thatcher and Rich and Harris’ “Tuxedo” for two seasons. 1892-93 saw Shepard and Billy Rice’s Minstrels, while a year later Burt Shepard’s Modern Minstrels took the field. In 1895 Mr. Shepard was with Cleveland’s Minstrels, where he officiated in the middle, in addition to doing a black-face specialty; season of 1896-97 was devoted to vaudeville. In 1897 he went to England, and subsequently to Paris, South Africa and Australia, all the time meeting with unqualified success with his monologue and parodies at the piano. Burt Shepard was born; of that I am sure, but just when or where, he neglected to state. FRED B. MALCOLM, the “male soprano,” and an exceedingly clever one, was a protege of the late Jessie Bartlett Davis, and acquired his early musical education from E. L. Bartlett, father of Mrs. Davis.