Likewise did he write the “Life of Jos. Jefferson,” the “Eugene Field I Knew,” and contributed several short stories to magazines. He is co-proprietor with Mrs. Wilson (formerly Miss Myra V. Barrie) of the Misses Adelaide and Frances Wilson. James F. Mackin was born in Providence, R. I.; he died in Sturgis, Dak., May 4, 1883. Francis B. Wilson was born in Philadelphia, February 7, 1854. BILLY GINNIVEN, the well known black-face song and dance performer, worked at various times with John E. Henshaw, Charley Gilday, and his wife, professionally known as Frankie Lee, whom he married about 1878. He died in Denver, Colo., January 11, 1879. PETRIE and FISH formed a partnership in 1876, doing a black-face act. In 1878 they were joined by Connors and Kelly, and as the Original Four they met with great success in the United States and Europe. They subsequently separated, Mr. Petrie doing an act with his wife in the variety houses, billed as Petrie and Elise, in “Passing the Toll Gate.” In 1896 Mr. and Mrs. Petrie, with their two sons, formed the Four Olifans, a grotesque act, which they performed successfully for several seasons. Mr. Petrie married Margaret Cockrell in 1880. Mr. Fish formed one of the team of Fish and Quigg, a “big and little act,” and was very successful after separating from Mr. Petrie. William O. Petrie was born in Lockport, Ill., in 1855; he died in Chicago, Ill., May 26, 1901. Fred C. Fish died in New York, December 8, 1900; age 40 years. [Illustration: BARLOW, WILSON AND RANKIN’S MINSTRELS. Frankfort, Ky., 25 Years Ago.] KEATING AND SANDS were one of the earliest and best of black-face musical acts. They formed an alliance in the 70’s, which practically continued until Mr. Sands’ death. They were said to be the first act of their kind to visit Europe; they played a two years’ engagement there with Hague’s Minstrels. Subsequent to the death of Sands, Mr. Keating worked with several partners, notably Harry Barton, Harry Leopold and Tom Ardell. He was also of the team of Keating and Harris. John J. Keating died in Boston, Mass., April 26, 1897; age 43 years. Edw. Sands (Stanstedt) was born in Boston, Mass.; he died there February 12, 1887; age 30 years. MURPHY and MORTON were equally as well known in black-face specialties as they were in white. They made their first appearance about 1874 with Tony Pastor in New York. They played the principal variety houses, and were with such well-known minstrel companies as Hooley’s; Thatcher’s, in Philadelphia; Emerson’s, in San Francisco; Hooley’s, in Chicago; Haverly, same city, and Carncross, in Philadelphia. About 1880, they joined forces with Griffin and Rice, and did a “four” act for about two seasons. All told, Mr. Murphy has spent about twenty years at Carncross’, and half that at Dumont’s Minstrels in Philadelphia. He has been also associated with Alf. Gibson, and produced Murphy and Gibson’s Minstrels in Atlantic City, N. J., for several years past.