Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1916 — War Hits Burnt Cork. [ARTICLE]

War Hits Burnt Cork.

Black face comedians of the American stage have found their labors greatly increased because of the war. There is scarcely a minstrel man—or woman —in the country who is not hard hit, for before the war there was available a carbon burnt cork which made blacking up a job of two or three minutes. All that was necessary was to rub cold cream on the face, and then rub on the face blacking. After the show the black could be rubbed off Just as quickly as it was put on—a smear of cold cream, a towel, then soap and water, and the minstrel’s face was Its regular color. Now, however, the importation of this cork has stopped, and the minstrels have to make their own blacking. The carbon burnt cork was better for its purpose than any known substitute, and in its absence the black face actors have to soak nu merous corks in kerosene. These are then charred to a powder.