Originally sung by Frank Lewis. There is not a man in the whole Minstrel Band, Who would ever go back on a friend; Tho’ dark be his face, yet the black can’t efface The kind deeds which through life him attend. I hear the trumpet sounding, sounding, In notes loud and clear through the land-- I list to its voice, and it bids me rejoice; Then hurrah for the Minstrel Band! Then hurrah! then hurrah! Then hurrah for the Minstrel band. I will speak first of one who we loved in the past, He’d a heart that was noble and brave-- Nelse Seymour, who never refused his last dime, If he thought you from hunger would save. I hear his praises sounding, sounding, In notes loud and clear through the land-- The tall Son of York, he died at his work, And the pride of the Minstrel Band! And the pride!--and the pride! And the pride of the Minstrel Band! Brave Unsworth, he stood like a Minstrel so true! ’Till defeated at last by grim death; And Budworth, alas! broke his old banjo string, Which he loved ’till he parted with breath, I hear their dirge now sounding, sounding, In notes loud and clear through the land, They lived and they died with the boys that they loved, The dear boys of the Minstrel Band! The dear boys! the dear boys! The dear boys of the Minstrel Band! But now I must speak of the Prince of them all-- Who is that but our own gallant Dan! Let every one mourn, for our Chieftain is gone-- Dan Bryant! the Minstrel and Man! I hear his praises sounding, sounding. In notes loud and clear through the land. He lived and he died, both our glory and pride; He was King of the Minstrel Band! He was King! he was King! He was King of the Minstrel Band! NOTE.--Between February 2 and April 10, 1875, Nelse Seymour, Jim Unsworth, Jim Budworth and Dan. Bryant passed away.--AUTHOR. WILTON LACKAYE, one of America’s foremost actors, played Uncle Tom, in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” at the Academy of Music, New York, commencing March 4, 1901. There is no truth in the report that Mr. Lackaye is to head his own minstrel company next season. BILLY BENSON (James Corrigan), who was a clever female impersonator with various minstrel companies, died in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 29, 1900. ARTHUR CHRISTIE was an exceptionally clever song and dance performer and comedian, and one of the Christie Brothers. He played successful engagements with the minstrel companies of McNish, Johnson and Slavin’s; George Wilson’s, Duprez and Benedict’s, and Rice’s World’s Fair Minstrels in 1890. Mr. Christie died in New Castle, Pa., April 12, 1899.