When Julian’s Serenaders opened the famous Eleventh Street Opera House (then known as Cartee’s Lyceum), in Philadelphia, December 4, 1854, he was a member of the company. His next prominent engagement was with Matt Peel’s Minstrels. Here he made a big success as “Old Bob Ridley”, a character portraying the aged negro, which he did with remarkable fidelity. Afterwards he was on the steamer “Banjo”, which plied the Mississippi River, giving entertainments on board, stopping at the various towns on its course. This engagement gave him an opportunity to study the negro at close range, which he was quick to take advantage of, and it served him in good stead during his entire career. Returning to New York, Birch and Cotton’s Minstrels played a successful engagement at No. 444 Broadway; and in 1862 they went to San Francisco, this being Cotton’s first appearance there. He remained under Tom Maguire’s management for three years. With Joe Murphy, Cotton and Murphy’s Minstrels were organized about March 1, 1865; the organization continued two years, when, Murphy retiring, it became Cotton’s Minstrels. In 1870 he joined Manning’s Minstrels in Chicago, playing an extended engagement there. Later Arlington, Cotton and Kemble’s Minstrels were launched in the same city, and met with such success that a theatre was built especially for them. Accordingly, Myers Opera House, Chicago, was opened with this company September 23, 1872. Early in 1875 he was with Billy Emerson’s Minstrels at Hooley’s Theatre, Chicago, and that same year, with Dave Reed, opened the Twenty-third Street Opera House, New York, which had lately been vacated, owing to the death of Dan Bryant. The company was known as Cotton and Reed’s Minstrels. A short season of management at Wood’s Museum, Chicago, not proving successful, with his wife and daughter he produced and played for many years “Faithful Bob”; later this play was known as “True Devotion”. In 1878 he returned to minstrelsy for a few months, forming an alliance with Cal Wagner, known as Cotton and Wagner’s Minstrels. In 1886 Birch and Cotton’s Minstrels again took the road; following this, he played a few seasons in California with a repertoire company. Engagements of late years were character parts in “The War of Wealth”, “The New South” and “As Ye Sow”. Ben Cotton was thrice married. Ben Cotton, Jr., who is dead, and Idalene Cotton, who is the wife of Nick Long, are his children. Ben Cotton was born in Pawtucket, R. I., July 27, 1829; he died in New York City, February 14, 1908. ANTHONY NISH was well known for many years as a minstrel “leader.” His first theatrical appearance was in the 50’s, with Parham’s Minstrels. July 11, 1857, he sailed for England with Raynor and Pierce’s “Christy” Minstrels, opening in London, August 3, following. He continued with this company for a lengthy period, later organizing a troupe of his own. He finally returned to London, and was with Moore and Burgess’ Minstrels for many years.