The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-23 00:00:00

hope to master the difficulties of his art; and when his
mental faculties have obtained their full meridian, his
hhysical powers are already on the decline, and warn
him that he can no longer execute his own conceptions;
i e must leave the field to younger candidates, and retire
nto solitute and oblivion—too often with but little to
console him in the memory of the past, no comfort in
the privations of the present, and scarcely a ray of hope
from the darkness of the future.—(Cheers.) The great
moralist, Dr. Johnson, tells us, and justly, that " Youth
is the season of enjoyment„ the utmost that
age can hope for is ease. Aye, gentlemen,
but let us contemplate age without ease—age with its
natural accompaniments of disease and pain and
decaying faculties—age without the friendly hand to
smooth the pillow and. the consoling voice to assuage
the anguish—age bowed down by penury and indigence,
with cultivated mind, polished manners, and habits of
refinement, linked to squalid beggary, racked by the
agonizing doubt that the scanty pittance of to-day may
cease to be forthcoming on the morrow—(Hear, hear)—
aye, that the dismaatled garret may not yet be ex-
changed for the still more dreaded poorhouse—this,
though a harrowing picture, is no creation of the fancy,
but a stern reality too often exemplified in the fate of
the superannuated actor, whose only refuge from suca,
complicated misery is a nameless grave.—(Cheers,)
Let us endeavour to reverses the gloomy picture; be, it
our task to step in between our aged brethren and their
prostrate helplessness; to bring back hope to the de-
spairing heart, to substitute contentment fc r repining
and competence for destitution,; to effect this, let U 3 press
forward the growth of this fund with active zeal and
untiring energy; let us set an example of liberality
in our own contributions to foster and enkindle libe-
rality in others.—(Loud cheers.) In such a cause the
smallest offering has its full weight and value.; indivi-
dual efforts, though weak in themselves, prodtece collec-
tive strength, and as the union of labour speedily rears
a stately edifice, so the combination of many small
sums soon amasses a mighty capital. t:Chis inst itutionmay
yet be considered in its infancy, and alread y there are
five annuitants supported by its resources ;and secured
frown want; like the disbanded soldier on his pension,
they rest from toil in humble but honourable retirement.
—(Cheers.) There are many more hands extended to
us in supplication, many other voices someding plain-
tively in our ears—(Hear, hear)—they have powerful
claims, and we are bound to entertain them. Whatever
may be the professional jealousies of actors (and from
what profession or what pursuit in life are such jealousies
excluded?) they are ever found ready to assist their
poorer brethren. Those who are now dependent, while
they had means, and the appeal was made, gave cheer-
fully; in their own hour of need let us remember this
and cheerfully requite them. We cannot, it is true,
bring back the manly vigour, or restore the faced loveli-
ness—we cannot check the unspsiring scythe of time—
call up again the form that delighted the eye, the voice
that chcrmed the ear, or the inspiring energy that com-
manded the applause—(Cheers)—but we can make glad
the spirits that are now depressed in sorrow—we can
repay them something for the many hours o recreation
that soften the corroding cares of life—we can give peace
and calm repose where'there is doubt, and gloom, and
poverty--we can cause the flush of joy to mantle once
again on the pale cheek from which it appeared to be
for ever banished. Above all, let us remember that in
thus este blishing an asylum for the worn out members
of the stage we advance the importance of the stage
itself ; and while we advocate the purest doctrine of
Christrian (Amity we give new strength and value to the
noble sciences we study to illustrate, and which the poet
of hope thus beautifully eulogises, in reference to one of
its most state ly ornaments:--
e ; was the spell o'er hearts
Vhich only Acting lends,
The youngest of the sister Arts,
Where all their beauty blends ;
For ill can Poetry express
Full many a tone of thought sublime,
And Painting, mute and motionless,
Steals but a glance of time.
Bat by the mighty actor brought
Illusion's perfect triumphs come,—
Verse ceases to be airy thought,
And Sculpture to be dumb."
(Great and prolor tged cheers.) I now. gentlemen, con-
clude with request ing you to drink "The health of the
Secretary, Mr. Cullenford," to whom the institution is
so much indebted; together with " Prosperity and rapid
success to the General Theatrical Fund."—The Hon.
Gentleman resumed his seat amid the enthusiastic ac-
clamations of the 'company.
Song by Miss Ransford.
Mr.CULLENFORD, in responding to the toast, said he
could not but feel most deeply the absence of Mr. Buck-
stone, to whom they had been accustomed to listen with
so much pleasure on former occasions, and who would
have returned thanks for the toast in much more elo-
quent terms than he (Mr. Cullenford) could hops to do.
It was impossible for Mr. Buckstone to be present that
evening; it was utterly impossible that Mr. Webster 11
could so alter his arrangements as to permit of his at- 1
tending the festival; but he had to thank that gentleman
for allowing so many of his colleagues and himself to
be present. It was not the only favour they had been
in the habit of receiving from Mr. Webster. From the
first institution of the association up to the present
time he had ever been ready to assist them in a
pecuniary point of view, and in personally identifying
himself with them; and he (Mr. Cullenford) was proud
to have it in his power to acknowledge his kindness.—
(Cheers.) It was fortunate for him (Mr. Cullenford),
and perhaps more so for them, that his duty might, on
that occasion, be compressed into a very few words ; it
was merely to give a statement of the figures and facts
in their financial account. lie had placed before them a
balance-sheet, which would show every item both of re-
ceipt and expenditure for the last year, and therefore he
eed not trouble them with reading those separate
figures. He might, however, remark that there were
five annuitants on the funds of the association; they
had other charges specifically mentioned under proper
heads; and after being enabled to do that, he
was happy to say the result of the year
just passed had been, after having met every
charge, and every demand, they had been enabled to
inerense the fund by 5431.—(Cheers.) He trusted that
would be as gratifying to them to hear as it had been
for himself and his colleagues to experience. Their
honoured Chairman had, in terms that he (Mr. Cullen-
ford) would scarcely trust himself to characterise, pleaded
before them the case of the aged, helpless, and infirm
members of , the profession. He would not for one
moment suffer any sentiment of his to have the chance
of marring the effect that he was sure the eloquence of
the chairman had produced.—(Cheers.) He had related
their wants and their woes, in terms so beautiful and
touching that he (Mr. Cullenford) would not trust him-
self to add one word to them ; but, for himself, he
thanked them cordially for the honour they had con
ferred upon him, and upon the institution since its com-
mencement. No exertions should be wanting on the part
of himself or his colleagues to merit a continuance of
their favour, and they would be always ready to be at
their post, and to render a clear statement of their gains
and losses. He most respectfully and gratefully
thanked them for the honour they had conferred upon
the institution.—(Cheers.)
Madame Dulcken (solo on the piano)—" The Carnival
de Venice."—( Encored.)
The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, the next toast is one
almost equally important and immediately connected
with the last—" The Trustees of the Fund."—(Cheers.)
I see at once, I shall be anticipated by the gene-
ral feeling of the company in the name of the dis-
tinguished gentleman, one of the trustees now
present--(Cheers)—a name which so naturally associates
itself with this toast—l mean Mr. Charles Dickens.—
(Loud cheers.) Any attempt on my part to pass an
eulogiuxn on the merits of a writer so well known and
so universally admired as Mr. Dickens would be
presumptuous and idle as " a twice told tale."—
(Loud cheers.) While his name is on our lips, the
many children of his rich and varied fancy rise up in
review before us. His vivid creations, always true to
nature, and ever tending to improve, while they amuse
—(Cheers)—untainted by :mistaken philosophy or
morbid discontent. reconciling every condition of life to
the wise decrees of Providence—(Cheers)—and teaching
us all to be both better and wiser, if we choose to profit by
lessons so agreeably conveyed the sparkling wit,
blended with the natural pathos, affecting the heart by
turns with " wholesome mirth and salutary woe." All
these beautiful characteristics of this great and accom-
plished writer are acknowledged by the world at large,
and while they endear to us the man, have
stamped his works with the seal of immortality.—(Loud
cheers.) But it may not be so generally known that as a
trustee he has laid this fund under heavy obligations.
From its earliest establishment to this present hour his
active exertions have tended to advance the interests of
this institution; and I believe I am speaking the senti-
ments of the committee at large, when I say to him
is due much of the present prosperous condition and the
flattering hopes by which this institution is encou•
raged.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, I request a bumper to
" The Health of the Trustees and Mr. Charles Dickens:-
-(Great cheering.)
Drank by the company standing, with three times three.
Mr. CHARLES DICKENS, in rising to respond to the
toast, was welcomed with a burst of enthusiastic accla-
mation. He said— Gentlemen, I hope that you will not
object to a trustee with a cold, however naturally you
might object to a cold trustee.—(Laughter.) I beg, in
behalf of my absent colleagues, to return you their
thanks for the honour you have done them, and on my
own behalf to acknowledge the honour you have ren-
dered me. lam well assured that I express the feelings
of my absent friends, no less than my own, when I con-
gratulate the General Theatrical Fund on the brilliant
assembly by which I am surrounded, and on its being
presided over by a gentleman who has a triple claim on
its consideration and respect.—(Cheers.) I do not
mean to say. gentlemen, with good Mrs. Malaprop,
that our chairman is like Cerberus, three gen-
tlemen at once—(Laughter)—but I think I give
utterance to a statement that will meet
with the general response of this company
when I hail him as gracefully seated in his right place
tn-night, not only in consideration of hie own talents and
his public position, but in memory of the genius of his
immortal When—(Lama cheers)—and in consideration
of the many fender and sweet remembrances which all
England must associate with his accomplished wife.-
- ( Tremendous cheers.) Gentlemen, it like some of those
trustees, on an infinitely larger scale—(Laughter)—
some of those legislative trustees who occasionally re-
fresh us with their odd vagaries elsewhere,—if, like
one of those, I might espy "strangers present"—(cast-
--ing his eyes to the ladies' gallery)—(Laughter)--though
Heaven forbid that such sharpness of my
sight should be attended with the disastrous House of
Commons' consequences, and by the withdrawal of the
fair ornaments of oar society; but if, with the pro-
verbial clearness of vision of our Irish Members—
(Leughter)—l might espy strangers present," I would