New-York daily tribune., 1857-04-21

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The income of the fund from subscriptions and inter-
est on investments is s6ll5 p. We have paid during
the past year to the aged the sick and to the widows
of deceased members, 1881 so and have added to
the capital of the fluid 1892 90.
Donations Of tie Ereniag-J. n. Genin, 800; y.
!. Lcader, 400; James Wallack, So Barney Will
lams, $25 Mr.. Young, $25 aud Others to the amount
of 500.
Mr. Brady gave the next regular toast" The
Press"
Mr.. Charles A. Dana responded He said that
though there had been festivals largely attended
than the present, none could leave behind 1t more
pleasing recol ectiOns than that which was passing
away. This fes,a al had been marked by an unparal-
eled spectacle and he desired to express his appreca
ton Of that manly courage which stood up in the face
of attack and dared to ayow its convictions He was
sure it would be beneficial not only to the members OF
the dramatic profession but to the clerical profession
and the entire community. IL would tend to give
a truer tone 10 public sentiment and to elevate the
intellectual culture of the country. IL was not onlythe
entertainment of intelligent opinions IN ones closer,
but their honest, manly uterancc and support before
all the world which above all things 10 be honor
ed The press into intimate relations with all
II was its province To representsomemes, perhaps,
ment Az long rs it faithfully represented the public
feeling it powerful; but, let 1t undertake 10 go
counter to that and s power was gone. Actors per-
hnp, than any others, were brought into direct
connection with it. But, however much they might
prize the laudation which greeted them in the morning
in the journals, n nothing, 1t II was more than
an echo Of the public feeling; however keenly they
might feel n criticism, it nothing. if II was not
Just They all remembered the late failure OF an intu-
entail journal in an endeayor TO aud actress into
popularity. She played, he had been told, to 8u-
diences of not than siXty-six hundred. so,
teo he remembered another occasion in which jour
nal of considerable circulation in this city IN long
series Of very sbywrtten articles undertook to con-
vince the public that actor OF great popularity was
not such nm actor as they had right to demand and
he was able to say that those articles produced not
the slightest effect upon the numbers enthusiasm ot
s audiences. The real interests Of the press and the
real interests Of the profession were one ana the same
II was for their interest that there should be in exist
ence an honest, faithful and independent criticism
because il was evident that members of the profession
were cheered and melted to higher efforts by the ap-
preoiaon of the public manifested through the press.
He thought that they had led to remarkable I'M
proyemeit in the style of dramatic performances in
this city within the last ten years, to 90 back no ur
ther There was now much more regard manifested
for the properties with which pieces were put upon the
stage: thev were invented with much more critlcai
observation of the unity of time and place OF hlsou
cal accuracy i'm customs and scenery than they were
then. He thought too, that there was an endeavor
N much more perfect representation ot pieces IN eV
ery part. There was a higher demand on the part 0
the uublic and higher endenvor on the part Of the
profession He knew that they were constantly stln
uatcd by the approval OF the public It was noble
nride and ne trusted that they should be enabled ten
years hence to record similar encouraging improve
uent and that the motto of journals and actors-of the
tbeater and the press-migh be the motto OF our own
noble State, Higher and higher
Miss Susan Pyne then sang song, and another to
al encore Volunteer toasts aud songs continued TIL
an early hour.