New-York daily tribune., 1857-04-21
THE DRAMATIC FUND FESTIVAL.

.
The Ninth Annual Dinner of the American Ora
matte Fund Association eaten with tho customary
bonors last evening al the Asor House
Jas T. Brady Esq, the President Of the AssOca-
ton. presided. On his right sat the Rev. H. w. Bel.
lows, of the Universaist Church in Fourth avenue.
People were wondering what he would say after the
warning of Fanny Kemble Mr.. Chas. A. Dana sat
next Mr.. Bellows, and Mr.. Richard o Gorman on the
left of the President. Many of the principal actors of
the city present.
When the cloth was cleared, Mr. Brady and
called attention to the fact that Mr. Bellows pres
ent lCheersl He was not, he said certain that this
was not the first time that clergyman had lent his
presence TO similar occasion; but whether II was or
not he was that after such precedent IT could
not be the last. The Puritan spirit which was horl-
fled at the drama he thought was like the old Puritan
spirit which Macaulay had said hated bear-baitng,
not 20 much out of sympathy with the poor bear a.
because they hated to see people enjoying themselves.
Mr. Bellows could not of course speak at length To-
night but he had been invited To give discourse be-
fore the Association. and he had kindly consented to
speak for the benefit of the Fund. He had no doubt
that the Fund would then receive an accession iar
larger than ever before.
The first tsast-"The President of the Ihlted
States" was then drank.
To the second-"T The City of New-York.' Mayor
w OO0 was on tlt ploSldihhO i"i " 'N'f 'NN
was not present and when Mr. Brady said that he was
very sorry that he was absent people laughed
aloud. and somebody whispered Chinese Rooms"
An excellent Glee Club sang spirited song
Mr. Brady said that the next regular toast would not
be left without response. 1t was Shakespeare, and
Mr. O'Gorman was present and would respond.
Mr. OGorman commenced by allusion to the
yicsitdes of the life of actor and went on to give
n description of the meetings at the Mermaid three
centuries ago. He gave rollicking sketch of Ben.
Jon,on and the men around them and the tall, hand
some man that was called William Shakespeare.
There strange stories were told and believed tor ge-
ography was but little known, and If captain came
home and said that his vessel had been wrecked on
the coast of Bohemia, every insurance Office pad up
promptly without asking any Questions. 1t was IN
those days when II was effemnate 10 drink
small beer and every quart pot did hsla
quart. Sir Walter must have been there some
times and taught old Ben. to smoke tobacco,
and while they were meeting, Hendrix Hudson was
searching fOr new way TO Cathay, aud finding our
river. Here, too came the originals OF Bardoph ana
Pistol and that fascinating old sinner JACK fai'tail;
But if the originals of ROsalind, and Beatrice and
Poria and Harry Percy might be English, no.
where hut near Venice could he have found the plot
ting malignity of lago, or the conhding heauiohg'
passionate daughter of the Capuets The poet, now
ever not confined 10 the present; his VISION went
back To the realms of antiquity; penetrated To the
realms OF wizardry where it cuminaed rs his as and
greatest work, the Tempest. There IN Prospero
he had represented HIMSELF with that lie dropped the
book of his deeper than ever plunmet sounded
but Ariel his bright spirit had risen and hoated all
over the world into the hearts OF all men When the
Old Island should be forgotten, and her Iraialgars,
her Watcroos and her Inkermans, she would be re-
membered IN her brightest sou. Could the choice be
placed before the English people to lose their poet or
their Indian Empire they would say that one wave ot
Prosperos wand was worth all the treasures won ny
Give and Hastings.
Mr. Brady then said that the appeal in behalf of the
Fund would be made by the Rev. Mr.. Bellows.
Mr.. Bellows was received with prolonged applause.
HI, said that he considered that their friend who had
inst addressed them and whose melodious voice
still sounding in their cars had really spoken indirectly
more powerfully and efficiently than anybody who
could follow him, however direct might be his ain
could hope to do. Shakespeare himself wrote whole
volume in behalf of the Dramatic Fund Society and
their friend had repeated it highly enlbellished in
! very compendous abstract of him whom we thought
| Incapable of being abstracted and whom we
| would not wish to see condensed. He had
| SON, times thought that the final cause OF
that persecution of the Green Island by our indugen
mother was To expel certain gentlemen anu dr'ethem
over tO us, whom never could otherwise have got
possession of; and he, who not born to hear Cur
ran and Grattan had almost ceased 10 regret H. since
lie could hear such worthy descendant OF theirs APP
pause. Mr.. Bellows felt very much honored by the
Kind. altogether too KIND. notice when their fres
dent had been pleased 10 take Of hi. presence. lie
was sory that he had found it necessary 10 give him
Mr. Bellows the benefit of that foil which consisted
in slight stroke at the Puriians He had very high
respect for the Purtans indeed deep aud profound
that all the he might feel for good Old Ire
land who represented rather the other side OF the
queston not only her children but her grand-child-
| rem that lie could not for one moment
parlvze his tongue when it was necessary
TO say word in defense Of those old noble creatures
| io whom our country owed so much. They we're
actually good enough TO bear 10 be criticised and he
thought we did them greater honor than when
We pointed out their faults. With that qualification he
should be very happy TO adopt all that their excellent
President had ntimated when he thought necessary
To elevate him upon the corpse of the Punans. They
were not dead yet however. He wanted also, TO dis
claim any very special credit in placing himself here
representative otthe clerical profession for he sup