The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-12
Fifth Anniversary Dinher or the American
Dramatic Fund Association.

AuIlvcf3oTy ONMhef OI the American
Dramatic Fund Association.
The American Dramatic Fund Association on New
York celebrated their fifth anniversary evening" b
banquet at the Astor House. Some three hundred per
sons sat dowp to dinner-Ogden Hoffman, Esq, pre-
siding. Among the invited guests we noticed the Hon
Z. B. Hart, Col May, Commodore Levy, August Belmont
Professor Mapes Alfred Bum, &c. The President was
sipported on his right and left by M. James Waack
ard coones stebbns Behind the chair, surrounded by
d-apery OF the stars and stripes, stood full length
ircscs painting OF Shakespeare leaning column from
whc1 hung scroll inscribed with the words He was
net fora day, Dat for all Fne The ornamental con
econe1y on the fables Comprised bust of Shakespeare
Richard H., Othsio, Shylsck, Payd pry. Tomple q
liberty, Thespian Temple, and yhakspearc's house
After the cloth removed number of ladies were
admitted aid took seats at the of the head table
Ti,en the notis doaine sung; after which the
chairman proposed the 6rst regular toast
Bana, Hail, Columbia"
Ihe second regular toast was
The Governor Of the stat. Of New York.
Tho third regular toast was
The city Of New York.
Received with enthusis sna all standing.
Glee by singing club-"Aynh Won Dunk
Recorder THOU responded to the toast. He aad-A.
thousand recolections make the city New Yor: to me
emphatically dear / am native of New York. Here
was born reared educated aud live am proud of it,
as Deing IN my judgment the queen city Of tie New
world made up as it is of every element OF greatness
wealth industry, enterprise and liberty 1t is city
whose commerce extends to ala parts of the wor and
whose financial operations stretch to every
ner Of the earth For its literary and intellectual
earth. The drama in New Yc4& stands high in the
lofty usefuiness for which it is Justly admired.
The history Of the drama in this locality deeply inter
estg and even at the present day this Institution elbows
high sense Of humanity and benevolence The city of
New York unites in itself the widest range of great ee-
great vehicle for the elevation OF the mind and the
provement cf the heart II the great school of eo
and elevated and when see the members Of that pro-
fesson uniti2g to mitigate suffering think they de-
serving of the highest degree of respect
The CHAIRMAN then ushered in the fourth regular toast
with few remarks He said, hc did rot know whether
the navy represented here nobut there
halo about her that recollection of brilliant achievements
which would prevent her being stranger your board
know that she aided the gallant men who onquered
Cruz whence they marched to the capital of the
y crushing in their progress the young owres Of the
country. will give you, therefore,
ece1ed Air by the he Land of
Ioodle
Major SPRAGuE responded Il may we'll say this oc-
cason, that allthe worlds stage aud the actors.
here whou. part and Without prompter a stiI
l must must cypress cypress my my. acknowledgements k for the
profession introduced oeca ZION of this kind,
we may feel complimented~ at the association.
! might feel lonely but that l. familiar faces
around me- waking within my heart the generous
impulses Of my youth. ! see around me mess whose
talents the stage elevated my mind and led into
the paths of patriotism and virtue The characters which
they have portrayed have led the hayward ind to vr
tue and pointed from nature to natures God. In
cuson. Major Sprague proposed
The Dramatic Fund Association"
Colonel MAY was next called on to respond he chair
man introduced him one who needed no euiogy for
his nan had become here US ''household words. Z"
Colonel MAY sadThe last seventeen years of my life
have been devoted to service quite different from that
zee nere.the ion.leT service OF my country. Speech
making one but will give sentiment -
,a.s Srayyo, ii ts,nt hrs' W appfes'e''hu pro-
I'SS ain s.n,rSa asash, nona., o ,h.,e s tho N
yery happy terms
The fifth regular toa was then proposed by the Chair
man. prefacing it by some remarks He said: deem It
to explain why occupy this seat when there are SO
many intimately connected with the association to
fill the place But was invited and thought it nv
dety 70 come because know IT was the greatest desire
=, % one s .t oou oeas IN ny epe; ;s " proVe .ne
piustei''. VI .ne assoea.on ieel do u Nois nonor
as m N pun sns % ha
wished attest by presence honor and respect with
puIcv to make mr nubc uressSon Of faith and TO
clare that those who act part the stage and
private ue are worthy Of the spect and honor OF tie
highest OF the land believe that the actor is entitled
Tsh sss ha Ssi
souI Without the actor there would have hon M
N onJ ,dorn la ,vnrid .rS - =; ~
actor who wes into life the seaneus of the character
OF the great dramat 1t is profession which has been
illustrated by Garrick and Siddons Such ii the pro-
ession which has given birth to the association whose
festival this day celebrate IL the sigh.
of which the gods most approve is the great
struggling with the storms Of fate, who can be
deserving our pity than the moor actor
to enact his part while the whole world Is In arms
against him is II not hard to see such one in sickness
and in poyerty without friend to cheer and TO
him-perhaps without friend to close his eyes2 To do
that this association has been formed 1t is to be 10
eyerv wol down tor what The Frederic md
the noble hea Sir Robert Brambe were to the unfor
tunate Beverly 1t to aid their efforts that they call on
us. 1t is to show that we respect and regard them
They appeal for our gratitude by every recollection
our boyh avs for who does not recollect the delight
with which he witnessed the first play? II calls upon us
break doa the partition wall which the selfish and
ignorant would erect between the actor and his fellow
men This association il triumphant and will hope
gain strength to night. will therefore ask you to
join me- with heart, soul, and spirit. in drinking
Prosperity to the Dramatic Fund Association. Glee by