The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-02 00:00:00

ME ROY AL DRAMATIC COLLEGE.

An event occurred yesterday at Maybury, near '
Woking, which may not improperly be considered •
as constituting an era in dramatic annals. The
foundation stone of an institution which is intended
to afford a home for needy and distressed actors,
anda school for the instruction of their children,
was laid by the Prince Consort in the presence of a
large assemblage, comprising not only a majority
of the celebrities of the theatrical profession, but
many representatives of the literary and fashion-
able world. It has often been suggested, especially
in past times, that actors are a reckless and spend-
thrift race, possessing no forethought, and making
no provision for future wants. Such a charge,
however, is hardly justified, for there is no special
body which has made greater efforts to meet th•
necessities of its more unfortunate members, There
are, we believe, no less than four associations or
" funds" for the relief of distressed members of the
theatrical profession, and now it is intended to
create a home for the needy and incapacitated
actor who can no longer contribute to the amuse-
ment of the public.
The occasion was celebrated by a fete in the
grounds of the intended College, one principal fea-
ture of which was a fancy fair, the stalls of which
were presided over by the following ladies :—Mrs.
Billingham, Miss Bufton, Mrs. Fitzwilliam, Miss
Herbert, Miss Katherine Hickson, Miss Kate
Kelly, Miss Marston, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Mrs.
Alfred Mellon (late Miss Woolgar), Mrs. Leigh
Murray, Miss Murray, Miss Neville, Miss Oliver,
Miss C. Saunders, Miss Amy Sedgwick, Miss H.
Simms, Mrs. Stirling, Miss Swanborough, Miss E.
Thorne, Miss Marie Wilton, Miss Wyndham, Mrs.
C. Young.
It will readily be understood that the appearance
of so many public favourites in new characters pos-
sessed great attractions, and, judging by the crowds
of the sterner sex which gathered round the fair
boutiquieres, their benevolent_ efforts on behalf of
the institution must hare resulted in considerable
advantage to its funds. But while the ladies of
the profession gave their active services in aid of
the cause, the male representatives of that body
were not inactive. It was announced in the pro-
gramme that " Old English Sports and Pastimes"
would take place, under the superintendence of
eminent comedians. The " old" English sport
which alone was indulged in was the new favourite
of " Aunt Sally," which afforded ample occupation
and amusement to the visitors. Mr. Buckstone was
most successful in attracting custom at " three sticks
for a shilling," and his gains were so large as to
attract the envy of Mr. P. Bedford and Mr. Toole,
the joint proprietors of a similar establishment, the
latter gentleman meanly seeking to draw away his
neighbour's patrons by the declaration that a-Mr.
Bedford's distance was two inches shorter, and the
prizes real 'bacco.boxes contributed by Mr. T. P.
Cooke." Mr. Compton and Mr. F. Matthews also
superintended " Aunt Sally " establishments, and
with quaint drollery succeeded in persuading
visitors, including ladies, to indulge in the athletic,
but not remunerative game. In addition to the
many well-known characters who took an active
part in the entertainments of the day, hosts of
others familiar to the public behind the footlights
made their appearance in full daylight, and the
ordinary visitor was continually startled by a ring-
' ing laugh or sonorous voice which he was not
accustomed to hear, except within the walls of a
11 theatre. The dey, however, had been marked for
a gala day by members of the theatrical profession,
and they certainly endeavoured to realise as much
enjoyment as possible within the limited space at
their command, for a majority of them were com-
pelled to leave at an early hour in order to prevent
disappointment to London audiences.

The bands of the Grenadier and Coldstream
Guards and the Hon. Artillery Company were. also
in attendance during the day,
The Dramatic College, as has been already men-
tioned, is intended for the benefit of decayed actors
and actresses, and is to be erected upon a site of 61
acres of land, situate at the western verge of Wok-
ing-common, and about a quarter of a mile distant
from Woking station, being a free gift from the Lon-
don Necropolis Company. The building is to be
erected after the designs of Mr. W. Webbe, which
were adopted after competition with many others.
The building, which is in the early Elizabethan
style, will contain 20 houses, each accommodating
two inmates upon separate fiats. At each wing will
be a school-house, with playgrounds' attached, and
in the centre a large hall, with library and sculp-
ture room. An arcade will be carried along the
whole front of the edifice, affording easy communi-
cation to the inmates, and a promenade in any
weather. The material used will be red brick, with
stone dressings. The first brick was laid by Mr. B.
Webster, the Master of the College, on April 23,
and the foundation stone was yesterday deposited
in its place under the supervision of the Prince Con-
sort.

Shortly after four o'clock his Royal Highness,
accompanied by the Hon. Gen. Grey and Lord de
Ros, arrived from London, and was received at a
temporary platform erected for the occasion by a
guard of honour of the Hon. Artillery Company. A
procession was then formed by the Master and War-
dens of the College, who introduced his Royal
Highness to the tent 'where the foundation stone
was prepared for deposition. Mr. Webster then
read the following address :

" May it. please your Royal Highness—The Mas-
ter, Deputy-Master, and Wardens, and the Presi-
dents, Vice-Presidents, and subscribers of the Royal
Dramatic College, humbly beg to express their deep
sense of gratitude for the high honour conferred
upon them and the histrionic profession generally
by your Royal Highness graciously condescending
to lay the foundation stone of an institution about
to be erected for the providing homes and pensions
for aged and infirm actors and actresses, the great
boon of schools for the education of the children of
actors and actresses, and a central hall for the col-
lecting together everything relating to the drama,
either in works of art, literature, records, and orna-
mental or other relics of the past and future. The
noble patronage of her most gracious Majesty and
your Royal Highness has been the. great cause of the
success of this institution, establishing for it an im-
portance in the eyes of the country, and stimulating
the public to substantially recognise its human-
ising utility. The London Necropolis Company,
in the most generous spirit, presented to the
College the freehold of this large plot ofland, an‘d
by the liberality of various persons, 10 houses ha •e
already been given and the money in hand,
irre-
spective of large subscriptions to the end in view;
and gifts of two more houses, there is reason to be.
lieve, are contemplated. Six deserving recipients
are already :relieved from want and misery, and
thankfully enjoying the fruits of bountiful donors,'

and the Council are anxious to immediately elect
six more, if their present funds so permit, and eight
more afterwards, if the generosity of the public
keeps pace with their demands. The schools are
of immeasurable importance, which they trust must
be felt by all classes in this age fraught with the
blessings of education. Your Royal Highness, by
your presence this day, has given an added lustre
to the drama, and another proof, if such proof were
wanting, of your constant zeal for the onward pro-
gress of art and science in this country, and your
encouragement of its literature, of which the drama
is its brightest part—a drama that, with Shakspear
and other kindred spirits, stands pre-eminent
throughout the world. Our constant prayer will
be that the reign of her Most Gracious Majesty, in
conjunction with your Royal Highness, may be as
lasting as it is glorious and unparalleled."
The PRINCE CONSORT then read his reply, as
follows :—Gentlemen,—l beg to thank you for the
address which has just been read. I have accepted
with much pleasure your invitation to take the lead-
ing part in the ceremony of laying the first stone of
the future Dramatic College—a project in the suc-
cess of which the Queen has marked her hearty in-
terest. I believe that that institution, if established
and conducted (of which I cannot entertain a mo-
ment's doubt) in the spirit in which it has been pro-
posed and commenced, cannot fail to confer a lasting
benefit, not only on the dramatic profession itself,
but on the public, which is so deeply interested in its
well-doing and respectability. It is to that profession
that we are accustomed to look for amusement in those
hours which are properly given to recreation after the
various labours and duties of the day, from which
perhaps none of us are exempt. And the importance
cannot be overrated of endeavouring to combine
with such amusement that instruction and mental
improvement which every well-regulated mind
must derive from the actor in his attempt to give
life and reality to the noble conceptions of the
dramatist andpoet, or to inculcate some high moral
lesson, by interesting our best feelings and sym-
pathies in the love of virtue and the detestation of
vice. The more we can do to elevate the character
of the dramatic profession, from which we expect
so much, the more confidently may we hope to see
our wishes realised; and the public therefore have
a higher interest even than the actor himself in the
success of an institution which we trust is to have

that effect. The establishment of a central hall, to
form a dramatic library as well as museum, and to
he open to the profession generally, will act as a
common bond of union among its members, the
consciousness of which is well calculated to increase
their own feelings of self-respect, and, as a neces-
sary consequence, to raise their position in the
social scale. May God's blessing ever attend this
work.

His Royal Highness then received the silver
trowel from Mr. Webster, and, after a prayer from
the Rev. Mr. Sumner, proceeded to spread the
mortar and to perform the other mystic ceremonies
peculiar to such occasions. Everything being
found satisfactory, the stone was lowered into its
place, and his Royal Highness took his departure
amid the loud cheers of the company. The officials
and the elite of the visitors proceeded to a neigh-
bouring tent, where a handsome collation (provided
by Messrs. Staples) was prepared, and several
toasts were given ; after which the out-door enter-
tainments were resumed and continued until dusk,
the visitors being conveyed to town by frequent
special trains. The success of the fete, which was
complete, was attributable in a great measure to
the untiring efforts of Messrs. W. R. Sams,
Churchill, and Jerwood.