To
My Mother
(The Best I Ever Had)
This Book is Affectionately Dedicated.
THE AUTHOR’S FOREWORD.
There were several reasons which prompted me to compile this volume, the chief one being the fact that the subject in its entirety had never before been attempted; and whenever individual articles appeared, they almost invariably treated of old times and old timers alone.
A second reason, and one of equal importance, was that these contributions which appeared both in the various newspapers and magazines, were in the main written on hearsay alone without any apparent regard for facts.
No one is infallible, and if the data that appears between the covers of this book of living performers who furnished me with the sketches of their careers is incorrect, obviously no blame can be attached to the author.
But of those who are past, I have given the most careful search of the records that were placed at my disposal, and verified or disavowed all statements made to me, or have qualified by attributing them to those from whom they emanated.
In this manner I hope to perpetuate the names and fame in story and picture of these “Monarchs of Minstrelsy from ‘Daddy’ Rice to Date.”
New York City, Oct. 12, 1910. Edw. Le Roy Rice.