United States Mail

United States Mail is a sketch in one scene by Charles T. White (best known as "Chas.", "Charlie" or "Charley" White, 1821–1891)[1].

Also found as The United States Mail in South Africa (See Bosman, 1980).

The original text

Described as an Ethiopian sketch or Negro farce for 3 performers in various sources, it is a Christy's style piece written for his own use by the early blackface minstrel performer. Published as no 85 in De Witt's Ethiopian and Comic Drama.

Performed on 19 January 1857 by White's Serenaders.

Performance history in South Africa

1868: Performed by the Young Men’s Institute Amateur Christy’s in either the Mutual Hall or the Cape Town Institute and Club, Cape Town. (Billed as a "Negro farce")

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_%22Charlie%22_White

W.J. Mahar. 1999. Behind the Burnt Cork Mask: Early Blackface Minstrelsy and Antebellum American Popular Culture. Volume 442 of Music in American life. University of Illinois Press, 1999

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik.

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