In the middle of the 19th century American minstrels raised funds for individual players by holding benefits. The practice was widespread, with informal features that typified these special, dedicated performances: they were public, usually advertised in the newspapers; they appeared to arise spontaneously, and were not the contrivance of the player, him or herself; and they were often accompanied by a public exchange of correspondence that was then included in an advertisement for the benefit.
The written record of the benefit puffery is a fragment of the public face of minstrelsy. But occasionally there were other opportunities to direct a public missive to a reading audience.
Credits
Eric Metcalf