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Rose Eytinge

Mrs. Florence
Mrs. B. Macauley
Charlotte Thompson
Lotta

Maggie Harold

Mrs. Chas. Walcott
Kate Claxton

Lillie Glover

be critical, he will discover flaws in

If one is disposed to find it an easy task to these lists; it may be said that, strictly speaking, Charles Fisher, Mrs. Gilbert, Nelson Wheatcroft, or Mrs. Vincent are not natives of this country, but on the other hand, Herman Vezin was born in Philadelphia, and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Langtry is a naturalized American citizen, and Mrs. John Wood achieved a high reputation in this country before returning to England, as in a measure did Charles Wyndham.

Since the time these lists were prepared, death has robbed our side of the column of some of its brightness and strength; Lester Wallack, John T. Raymond, W. E. Sheridan, Mrs. Vincent, Mrs. Chanfrau and Lillian Olcott have passed away, leaving a gap that will hardly be filled.

do not, therefore, offer the above as an attempt to show the present status of the American stage, but merely as a suggestion, hoping that it may induce some one to take up the matter, and compile such a list, which cannot fail to be of interest now, and of great value as a matter of future record. Norman Jefferies.

"THE PLAYERS."

OPENING OF THE NEW CLUB HOUSE PRES

ON

ENTED BY EDWIN BOOTH.

N New Year's Eve., the handsome Club House, No. 16 Gramercy Park, which was bought and reconstructed by Edwin Booth at a cost of more than $200ooo, was formerly presented by him to the organization of leading actors who have resolved themselves into a 66 club" to be known as "The Players." The present number is not completed. It will be limited to 500; 250 resident, and 250 non-resident members. These names are now on the list:

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Mr. Booth's presentation speech was as follows:

Gentlemen: Although our vocations are various, I greet you all as brother Players. At this supreme moment of my life, it is my happy privilege to assume the character of host-to welcome you to the house, wherein I hope that we for many years, and our legitimate successors for at least a thousand generations, may assemble for friendly intercourse and intellectual recreation. Especially for the worthy ones of my profession am I desirous that this association shall be the means of bringing them, regardless of their theatrical rank, in communion with those who, ignorant of their personal qualities, hidden by the mask and motley of our calling, know them as actors only. Frequent intercourse with gentlemen of other arts and professions who love the stage and appreciate the value of the drama as an aid to intellectual culture must inspire the humblest player with a reverence for his vocation as one among the first of "fine arts"—which too many regard as merely a means to the gratification of vanity and selfishness. Such is the object of this club.

For many years I have cherished a hope that I might be able to do something for my profession of a more lasting good than mere alms-giving, but could not determine what course to pursue. Our several benevolent institutions for the relief of poor and disabled actors (foremost among them the noble Forrest Home), great as their good work is, do not afford the social advantages so necessary for what is termed the elevation of the stage."

Not until after many conversations with numerous friends of the theatre on this subject, and while discussing it with Messrs. Barrett, Daly and Palmer (a club of this character being suggested as the best means to the good end), did I resolve to act, to do my utmost in furtherance of the scheme proposed. This is the first step toward the accomplishment of our purpose. To our treasurer, Mr. William Bispham, we owe

the wise selection of our house, to Mr. Stanford White, its admirable reconstruction and embellishment, while to the poet Aldrich we are indebted for the choice of our appropriate and comprehensive titlethe world being but a stage where every man must "play his part." Mine, just now, as the New Year dawns, is a very happy one, since it permits me to present to you, by the hands of our vice-president, Mr. Daly, your title deeds to this property.

Having done so, I am no longer your host. I resign the role with profound thanks for your prompt and generous cooperation in a cause so dear to me, so worthy of all well-wishers of the theatre and of the Player who "struts and frets his hour upon the stage."

Though somewhat passed the season, let us now fire the Yule-log, sent from Boston by my daughter, with the request that it be burnt as her offering of "love, peace and good-will to the Players." While it burns, let us drink from this loving-cup, bequeathed by William Warren of loved and honored memory to our no less valued Jefferson, and by him presented to us-from this cup and this souvenir of long ago-my father's flagon-let us now, beneath his portrait and on the anniversaries of this occupation, drink To the Players Perpetual Prosperity.

After the toast Mr. Booth turned and lit the Yule-log in the great fire-place. It was the first fire started in the house. The log which was about three feet in length and one foot in diameter, was cut from the trunk of a gnarled and aged blackgum by special order of Mrs. Edwin Booth Grossman. The great seal of the order, in papiermache, was inserted in the ornamental brickwork under the mantlepiece. seal represents tragedy and comedy. Immediately above it are these lines of warning, which all are expected to heed:

Good friends, for friendship's sake forbeare
To utter what is gossip heare

In soceal chatt, lest unawares

Thy tongue offende thy fellow-plaiers.

The

In behalf of The Players, Augustin Daly accepted of Mr. Booth the deeds to the property. He said:

Mr. Booth and Fellow-Players-My position at this instant is doubly embarrassing. I am not a maker of speeches, or, at least, not a deliverer of speeches, and I have been requested to make a response which might well call forth the most brilliant effort of the most brilliant talker. Alas, I am everything but brilliant and everything but a talker. But this truly royal present which Mr. Booth has made to his brother players, in that princely, yet truly modest manner which is quite his own,must be accepted, and I have been requested to accept it, and I do accept it on behalf of my fellow players; not only in behalf of those who are in the flesh and about us now, but those who are in the shell of time, that far-reaching caravan, the unborn generations of players who shall be privileged in the happy hereafter to assemble under this roof!

As

Most nobly has our honored host followed out the instructions, which, as Hamlet, he has uttered to Polonius a thousand and a thousand times himself; to see the players well bestowed; and truly has he used them after his own honor and dignity. I said before, gentlemen, I am not a speechmaker; would that I were, that I might do justice to this exceptional occasion. That justice, however, will be done hereafter in the grateful recollection of every player on the world's broad stage who crosses this threshold, in which will be cherished the remembrance of Edwin Booth, while a stone stands upon another to recall the loving companionship which actuated the giver of this noble gift.

I congratulate you, gentlemen, upon the possession of this noble club-house which places "The Players" upon a solid foundation from the start. I congratulate Mr. Booth upon the inspiration which moved. him to demonstrate in this royal way that

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true generosity defers not its gifts" until the coffin and the grave make one's worldly possessions personally valueless. And I congratulate the public at large of this great and grandly growing city upon this monumental addition to its representative institutions—within the walls of which we hope immediately to demonstrate the desirability of a fellowship, as Shakespeare puts it, in "a cry of players."

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At my request our poet friend, Dr. T. W. Parsons, has written some beautiful verses which I wish to be read and presented to my dear father on New Year's Eve, the opening of the Players' Club. But the matter must be kept strictly private, both from papa and from his friends, as it is my very earnest desire to have both the address and the accompanying wreath a complete surprise to him. As you are his trusted friend I come to you with my precious confidence, feeling assured that you will respect it and share with me a sincere interest.

Will you favor me by reading the verses inclosed within? No one else could deliver them so well, for they must be spoken with love as well as with elocutionary sentiment. Therefore I confide them to you and hope you will not deny I suggest that you quietly place the wreath upon the dear brow which I love so well and which so well deserves a crown of merit and of love.

me.

I am, dear Mr. Barrett, cordially yours,

EDWINA BOOTH GROSSMAN.

It was difficult to keep back many tears of emotion during the reading of this letter, and Mr. Booth's lips trembled perceptibly, after reading the verses Mr. Barrett crowned Mr. Booth with the wreath. That ended the ceremonies and then there was a general grasping of hands—and all went into feast around a generous board.

The decorations of "The Players" Club, are handsome and solid.

The dining-room is filled with curiosities and inviting conveniences. It is finished in old polished oak. The antlers of a monster elk spring from the wall over the fireplace at the east end. These were a present from Lawrence Barrett. On the encaustic tiles above the grate is this invitation :

Mouth it, as many of our players do

At the opposite end of the room is another fireplace like it, but with this invitation :

Sit by my side and let the world slide,
For we shall ne'er be younger.

A bristling boar's head, with protruding tusks, looks from a panel on one side wall. The centre chandelier, peculiarly constructed of stags' horns, was designed by Stanford White. It is arranged for both gas and electric lights. Among the decorations hang many framed and rare old play bills. In the lounging room are two oil paintings from the brush of Joseph Jefferson.

Sir Joshua Reynolds' celebrated portrait of David Garrick hangs beside Mr. Jefferson's work. On the opposite wall is a portrait by Gainsborough. Both of these were presented to the club by Mr. Booth. Another canvas is J. Alden Weir's portrait of John Gilbert.

A splendid collection of dramatic literature fills the library on the second floor. Here are 1,200 volumes presented by Mr. Booth, 2,000 presented by Lawrence Barret, and a large number of rare and priceless works from Augustin Daly, T. B. Aldrich, Stanford White, Lawrence Hutton and others.

The third and fourth floors are given over to baths and bed rooms. In the basement are billiard tables and the kitchen. A passenger elevator runs from top to bottom.

COMMANDS RESPECT EVERYWHERE.

(Boston Home Journal.)

With its issue of Dec. 22, THE THEATRE completes its fourth volume. THE THEATRE has been something better than a purely theatrical magazine. Its literary as well as critical quality have been such as to command respect everywhere. Its editors are to be congratulated.

THE WEEK.

MRS. POTTER AS CLEOPATRA.

ALL the beauties have gone into Shake

speare up to their pink ears.

Lady Macbeth's latest name is Langtry, Mrs. Potter is Cleopatra and Marie Wainwright is Rosalind.

These dramatic mothers are reconceiveing The Legitimate and looking at their ambitious work, are we not warranted in using Macbeth's words?—

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Bring forth men children only

For thy undaunted mettle should comprise
Nothing but males."

We have seen and admired Mary Anderson whose icy current and compulsive course, ne'er feels retiring ebb," but we hardly expected Mrs. Langtry to keep "due on to the Propontick."

Mary reduced Shakespeare to a dance. Perdita depended more on her limbs than on her lines. People crowded every night to see her "hands all round." They remembered nothing of the "Winter's Tale" but the gallopade. But Mary, so her paragraphers assure us, has a "white soul," and Mary seemed to think it resided in her white arms.

There had never been any special claim set up for Mrs. Langtry's soul, and there is some doubt at present as to whether it is mauve or magenta.

So we have to fix our attention mainly on her acting.

And that is exactly what I should have fixed any attention on at this time if it had not been for one incident that occurred.

The incident was Mrs. Potter, who rather fixed attention on Cleopatra. The delicious audacity of her doing it at all was very much relieved by the delicious audacity with which she acomplished it.

Now you wouldn't have thought of Potter as Cleopatra two years ago; would you? When you saw her read Ostler Joe over

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