New-York tribune., 1868-05-11
TIE DRAMA.

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DRAMATIC FUND BENEFITS - MIR. EYTNGE's
| READING.
The second of the series of benefit perform
ances, in aid Of the Dramatic Fund given at stein
way Hall, Saturday evening by Mr. Charles Eytnge,
who read selections from Shakespeare, Mr. Dickens Mrs
Browning, and Mr. Whittier. AS the entertainment was
given for charitable purpose the attendance was small
Charity begins at home, and in such cases most people
usually remain where charity begins. This is especially
when the Dramatic Fund happens to require benefit
one reason possibly IS, that the Dramatic Fund Arrays
requiring benefits and that rule nobody connected
with the institution does anything toward making
them successful Generally speaking, all that is done is
done by Of the and gentlemen outside Of
the dramatic profession who have nothing earth to do
with the matter exeeptin far as they recognize the
claims OF benevoenCe. With the managers OF the affair
the theory appears TO prevail that bare announcement
that the fund needs money will suffice unite every
purse-srng In the land. This is gentle deuson HUI
nature, for the most part delightfully."- consti
tued that would much rather spend hundred dollars
for chicken ana champagne at DemonicOs, than give
five cents TO starving begger IN the streets great
deal Of unremng hard work is necessary induce peO
pic to support charity of any sortand especially Is 1t
necessary TO make them contribute to the Dramatic Fund
For reason another this society occupies vague
aud shadOwy position in the public mind Nobody knows
where it is nor where Fund Is. II has name but 1t
does not appear to have any local habation. Very dim
notions about IL in vogue. Mr.. Dayidge IL currently
supposed TO know great deal about It's affairs Mr John
Brougbam very justly thought TO be its only worker
one theory asserts that 1t Is established and maintained
solely in the interest Of snge aged and venerable actor
who remembers Garrck reads the "Bhagyat Geeta aud
draws the entire interest OF the Fund monthly The fact
is aud It is not the sOcetys fault that happen to
| know it that the Dramatic Fund Is a very worthy
institution obscurely aud cumsily conducted which aims
10 relieve poor players disabled by age or sickness ana
| left m want. Once, believe 10 was in fourshing
/ Ff,fo la4
pensoncrs have been able To draw only about 81 p
week Hence the necessity for these benefits and these
benefits of which the third takes place tonight at 'he
Academy Of Music might DO made exceedingly remuner
atve the people interested In the matter ana partcu
larry the members the Dramatic Profession would only
! privately and publicly labor m their Behalf In Mr'
Eynges audience on Saturday evening, we did not see
half adozen players The people who did attend It Is
safe to assume thher account OF the reader
than on account OF the charity No effort was made save
by three journalists TO interest anybody IN 'he
latter. I'm fact II Mr. Eytnge had read on his own hehf
and without reference the Fund dare say he would
have had large audience on two occasions previously
his readings at stenway Hall have attracted numerous
| assemblage. Those who attended on Saturday were
well rewarded Tho readers voice was, indeed, little
hoarse and was, therefore, heard to some dsadvant
/ age But ms selections well made, and exceedingly
well delivered The lyrics OF Mother and Poet" and
Barbara Freitchio-whch Mr. Exligge was the first to
read in public, end which have $40 agfed P the pro,
! Sfammes oi a swarm Of olocutonsts-began aud ended
the entertainment The latter made thrilling impres'
zion particularly where the burst OF rapid eoquence
with which this artist pronounces the anzas relative to
/ Rarbaras rescue Of tue falling banuer eliminated on
shoot n yoa viii this gray o1 head
b., spare your eounty's Gag, she s1id
The extracts from Dicken5-Dayid Copperhei's first
dissipation. aud David Copperaeds schoolbOy days
constituted the humorous portion Of the programme.
These Mr. Eytuge read on former OCCASION and We de-
scrbed tle effort at that time They more de-
ycrcd with just appreciation OF the delicously quiet
mood Of humor wherein Mr. Dickens has so
Kindly yet so truthfully depicted aud laughed
At tho vcniai follcs Of generous, eXubcrant
youth keen Of the ludicrous Is one OF Mr. Ey
ngc. chief qualifications for reading works Of this order
lie Is at All times, however. most admirable IN his inter
pretatOns of Shakespeare. From this author he read
scenes In KING John" and the first from Ham
lct"-in which Hamlet does not appear; and no again
evnccd positive and very unusual faculty Of discrmin-
alton In the portraitne Of character. His Fdconbdge
and his IIordo In particular WERE suggestive way,
presentations that would, upon the regular stage stand
In the white light Of complete accuracy symmetry,
and poetic fire. II particularly noticeable that he
expressed from the first word " the Hamlet selection
that mystc haunting OF supernatural surround
lngs with which that beautiful first scene IL
vital and 50 thrilling, aud which - always utterly los
upon Tho stage No man feels the tragedy of Hamlet
who dOes not dread the ghost In tho very st words OF
the piece The who's there g Of the midnight sentinel
cnwTaps shuddcng terror That makes the heatt tremDc
II was very gratifying to perceive the artistic sense Gt
sympathy with HoatiOs refinement oi nature ana Win
the exquisite poetry and the perfect atmosphere that
The first scene IN Hamlet one OF the perfect gems
Of English literature II is TO be hoped that Mr. Eytnge
will often De heard and IL Is much to be regretted that
NewYOrk has not In central location. small nnd ee-
CANT hail adapted for entertainments OF this delicate de-
scrlpuOn.
AMATEURS AT THE FRENCH THEATER.
| A fair amateur representation of Robert
sons comedy OF Caste was given. last Wednes-
day evening in aid Of the "samaritan Home for Aged
formers were members OF the PetPhloDramatio Asso
citation" The attendance was select and ample although
not oycrnowing and the performance was all that could
reasonably be expected OF amateurs OF some ability and
experience With the exception Of Miss Eto Robinson,
who played Esther Eccies, with grace and spirit the
performers were careful not TO rise above that mild
mediocrity which the professional" afford to con.
template with a smile OF goOd-naturcd appreciation The
performers however perpctrated none OF those Wild
a6snrdtcs which sometimes render amateurs excess
syey entertaining with the prOmpters occasionally
much needed assistance the representation passed OF
with ,moothness Miss Emily Dbblee's PoHy EccleS
received with dcmonsrave satisfaction MI O. W. Pad-
lon's capt Hatrtre conventonally cool and quiet
but deficient the requisites Of subdued humor ngh
breeding, aud nonchalant elegance OF manner Mr. j. A.
Philiipss GcTidge effective without eNaggerA
tor and Miss sophie RObnsons Mdrquise de ~ hdn,
and Mr.. Han, HOn Geo D1lroy we're lglry done, but
the Eceies Of Mr. n Hunt although much more prefer
tOus than the other performances, was less cIedaoS
being hard forced aud unnecessarily ISp1lsiye&, & no
daughter could ever have tolerated. lnuen ess S ioScu
such "A father. IL lacked. Also the mclowness abandoh
Which was very indulgent appnuded warmly, on every
available opportunity and appeared greatly TO enjoy the
Iis sncces We trust that the Home for Aged
Men" has pronted by this worthy effort In It's behalf
TIE DAVENPORT BENEFIT IN BOSTON.
An explanation appears to be due To the puDllc
from the managers Of the Boston Theatcr Friends OF the
eminent actor Edwin L. Davenport rendered him com
,mcutorv beneHt I'm Boston, last weekly way OF fare
well greeting TO artist and gentleman on the eve OF his
dcparture for California The courtesy, as our