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Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1037, 28 January 1911, Page 13

There was a time when "tambo and bones" in a minstrel show could make a largo metropolitan audience sit' up and take notice with the "Why does a hen cross the street?" and other' "gags." But that was long ago, in tho primrose days of minstrelsy (says .tho New York "Tribune"), Most of the fatuous minstrels havo gone, as well as tho old jokes. Some interesting facts in connection with the decline of tho former American institution have become public in the matrimonial troubles of: Georgo H. Primrose, who for years had followed the burnt cork profession. It was seven years ago that ho played his last cngagemept at ths head of a minstrel troupe. Now he is appearing in vaudeville, but ho bewails tho scarcity of engagements. Primrose declared that it was no longer worth whilo for a man to own.a minstrel show. Tho last year that ho had a show on tho road, he said, it cost him 20,000 dollars, while a few years before that ho lost 25,000 dollars. Primroso has, therefore, been playing vaudeville engagement's, and he stated in his affidavit that ho has been receiving 600 dollars a week. But the engagements have been short ones. The 600 dollars a week was not so.much, tho former minstrel said, becauso out of that ho had to pay his own travelling expenses and hotel bills, besides paying tho salaries of several persons that he carried with him. Primrose said ho had lived extravagantly at home, spending 10,000 dollars a year. Paris is wondering if Sarah Bernhardt will bo decorated with of tho Legion of Honour on New Year's Day. Last year tho movement ended in failure. This timo a still moro determined effort is being made, some of thoso clamouring for this honour for tho great tragedienne being among tho foremost men and women of France. One wonders, save tho few who arc on tho iivsido of tho affair, why Mine. Bernhardt has not been decorated bofaro this, considering tho advocates she has. It was even said that both tho President of the Ropublic and tho Prime Minister are in favour of bestowing the little red ribbon so much coveted. Likewise, by diplomatic canvass it was shown that tho council of tho Legion of Honour was practically unanimous in its willingness to say yes. But ono black-ball suffices to bar the candidate. Mme. Bernhardt has ono enemy in tho council. For'thirteen years hut for this one man sho would havo been a member, of the legion. In spite of all pressure from high sources, this ono man remains obstinate in his refusal to honour tho jjreat actress.