The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-04-11
GRAND DRAMATIC FESTIVAL.

matte Fund Association - Dinner a& the
meSropoaAtan Hogel - Speeches OF Aessrs.
nrssy, Meashex, J~sse DAILY. &c., &c.
Tho American Dramatic Fund Association celebrated
q eighth anniversary BY dinner at ths Metropolitan
iotel last evening.
This association h conspoed of ladies and gentlemen
.staehsd to the stage and Ia benevolent and mutua
protective association u fund amounts to about
81 00o its income about g. 000 and Its annual pay
osats about $s OoO Fash who IL member Of the
ssocahoo and who is by illness roapsosted fol-
sving the duties Of his vocation is titled to receive
10 per week. and after obtaining certain age he
tiled to pension of $500 per
We are gratfed to be able to state to those persons
mo are attached to the fond and absent from
lew York city that the festival was one Of which
hey may be proud The large dining saloon Of the No
ropoltAn Hotel had been appropriated TO the festivities
evening, and there splendid repast had been pre-
sred. The chair taken at seven O'Clock BY James
BRADY, Esq., the President Of the Associa on support
On the right by Judge Daily and the left by Thomas
fsaeis heasher, Esq. Sitting the chair we also
Sssrved Judges Insraham and Brady Richard OGorman
So; John B. Dillon, Esq; w. R. Blake Esq; Charles
Toward, Esq Benjamin jarvis, Esq John B. Burchard
"a Richard Busteed Esq, and many other well known
entlemen.
The saloon beautifully decorated by the artists OF
hs association Oyer the head Of the President was dis
iAyed tho arms Of Shskspere and above this ths por
rat OF Washington supported upon ,h side BY the
coal ensign. On side was the portIait Of shsks-
ere, and the other that OF Garrick Over the win
lows on each side of the placed shields bear
g the names of the greatest English authors and sctors:
beaumont and Fe:cher, colmAn, Byron, Foote, Dry
eu, Chattsrson Scott Milton John Howard Payne WI.
am Dunlop, Smoliett, &c, 60.
Ths tables we're very finely decorated and among the
rnaments, noticed Representations of Shaksperes
frtbplsce, the Globe theatre, and tabeaux from the
Merchant Of Venice" "a Midsummer Nights Dream"
The Tempest" and "rwelflh Night" The sentiment
the occasion could not have been better carried out
ham 1t was by the Aessrs. Leland on this OCCASION
bout $50 gentlemen sat down to one OF the most
pleudid dinners that w have seen served. The
ags du dwer included all the decaces Of the ssason
nd something The tickets for the entertainment
vre sold at Eve dollars each, admitting ths holder to
he dinner, and allowing him to in roducs lady Is
ting accompaniment to the dessert We have hssi-
ation in tay1g that every cid fall justice to the
fare pr vied BY the Brothers Leland and tnAt
vofJ one sgreed with this Chairman when he said that
his was most superb banquet. Alter tae cloth had
esn removed, Non No6is Domino was sung By the gee
Ths CHAn made few remarks prep aratory to the an
cuncement Of the frst least then great food OF
sht was let in upon the common place Of nsscunity,
the Introduction of the laoies for whom seats had
een provided in the hall.
Mr. BRADY paid ga efnl compliment to the retir ng
iestdent Of the Assucstion Mr.. Hofsuo G. SteSbins,
I'd said that he (Ar Brady hsd probably ested
e tie nost desar ano 1t man to be Constable Of
D. ws'ch." After few mere remarks in relation to
10 fund and graceful compliment to the ladies, Mr.
giaAy propose the frst regular toast
Tbe President of the United States Musio-"Hail coaum
Ne CaAn proposed the sesond regular toast
'ssciy s. z New Yor, Music. The ess Wa. saal e
The CHAn announced the third regular toa,.:-
Nfs ALLAN Irving sarg ii Adse from Dsesms,o an
usge DAILY made speech which would have been ex-
eaingy good In msgazil articles, but whioa
bred to prove that Shakspere profound classical
'holar, and perfectly conversan; with mo,ern Ian
Seeing that there Is bat Lit s evd ancs ss to the
rlvsts Life and attainmsnts Of the est drsmaHst'
aegs Days speech was somewhat fancfui Judge Daily
sended hiss remarks to siderable length proved
lat he had paid profound atten ion to the subject.
Ae CHAIR amour ced the fourth regular tosst:-
kGAeridan and and the Later Drama.
AgnorA vHrr vERTTRAcH saeg the Bdndisi, from Lu-
vsia Bo,gia, 4" III syrto PER tece and Mr. Thomas
ranes Asagher responded 70 the inent in speech
much beauty and power.
Mr. MEAGHER referred u the las. moments OF Sheridan
ceeertou BY his titled friends and bis death In Do
srty snd remarked hcw grateful II would have been to
70 author Of the ch ,ol for Scanda kno. that mis-
. freedom Of whish he spoke out in Psrisment-asa
lcaFAhold word Mr.. Meagher concluded ~ follows:
~ a. the American stage is concerned, would de-
yaay say that it has been already too crowded
NJ trsnslations, adaptations and emendstions of a
hool which being alien the ch and habits of
people, only live suAerancs until suca time q
efica produces and el to write for the
meEioan stage works ra;y Of the sOtL We not
ithout such, and trust II may not be considered an
eess OF nationaty feel proud that among the FORE
~ Of them u . counryman OF Sh,r,dan--one, ho~.
who has had he better fortune to devote his talents
sS them liz. hsosrs spa has sons
mes violated, vi h most shocking okiessness the
uiti Of art and tortured history gladden. ths winter
Ascn, to make Christmas the more merry, TO his
stxons and suit his purpose But he has tied
crimes With such malicious grscs that must ques-
s o YER
include with ths sentiment
james waack and Bdwin FnrrestTbe oua an alien the
S S s ss e.
ID homage Of tho future Of America.
Mr.. Mesgher sat do wn amid ,ou1 cheers.
The President gave the next regular toast--
3 Ire Dramatic Fund.
The Glss Club executed In this most atroaous manner
Haii Smiling Morn
veal In behalf Of rhe fund.- cioeiDg BY quoting the
orda OF Dean Swift He who siveh the poor lsndeth
D: Lord-if you Ike the secuiiy, down with the
mt" (Loud laughter and applause
xbs company was next entertained with medley OF
kienal airs, performed by Mr.. James Meader, the
The PRESIDENT then announced the sub ycr pons which
"a been handed in for the dramatic fand. Mr. James
alack had eontrbetsd $40, and 3. T. Clarke $50 rne
Srstsry made statement Of the financial condition Of
- Association. During the year th,ro hsd, he said
On an increase of lo2 members.
vssted and In the hands OF he trustees S&ss 6O0
Nh IA Butchers and provers Bank subject tho
cfer Of trustees for Investment. 96I 40
e:ssved fund BuicheIs and DTovers $40 %
aah n hande u the secretary Observation-Disclosures. NW
oncy Of insurasce library and iture deposited
n Bucbers and DroverS Bank safe keopinQ 800 90
rreazs due By members in stsnd0g COL 81
Total. .e31 159 ~
FUND
From the following Sources
Sserp lon OF IS members 80 years OF at SIG
pr yesr......... ........:............. e525 90
~ per ysar. -. 2.Ioo 90
10 per year l7oO 90
teIost on Las IS
TU&al ,363 66
Increase OF capital since 3lsi Of March, 100 %
u conclusion, the Secretary snnouucsd the following
Inscriptions -
A. Narthsli, Of the Broadway theatre. 800
Ee Laura h6ebe. w
<. H. nry VOID 90
r. george Cnrfsiy Oo
r Sonn W Les or AZ
uaSs.
&. Wn a. fAiue... loV