The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-31

ETC., ETC.. ETC.. ETC., Etc.
THE DRAMA IN ENGLAND.
Speech of the Prince of Wales in Aid of the
EnRtIsh Theatrical Fund.

EnRtsh Theatrical FUND.
The twenty-fifth anniversary festival of the
Royal General Theatrical Fund of this charity
was held May 16, at st. James Hail. London,
the Prince of Wales in the chair. The company
was very noble and distinguished.
His Royal Highness, in proposing the Queens
health, reminded his audience that Her Majesty
had always patronized the drama and was a
patroHess of this particular fund.
The Prince, in response to the toast for his
health proposed by the Duke of Sutherland,
said:-My old friend who proposed this toast
said that the Princess and myself have patro-
nized the drama. rejoice that have had the
opportunity ever since my childhood of going
to the theatre and witnessing most excellent
plays, and the performance of perhaps some of
the best actors that exist, many of whom l see
here this evening Not only have the Princess
and myself derived the greatest pleasure and
amusement at the different theatres we have
visited but we have done so because it is our
wish to encourage noble profession. Cloud
cheers.)
His Royal Highness, in proposing ''Prospe-
rity to the Royal General Theatrical Fund"
said:-When / look around me and see this
numerous assembly have no doubt that you
feel deep interest in this excellent fund. What
charity could be better than this? When one
thinks how much amusement and pleasure we
have all derived from going to the theatre, does
it ever occur to us how hard is the work aud
drudgery to the actors and actresses? Does it
ever occur TO us that at all times and seasons,
whatever may be the trouble or sickness from
which they are suffering they must be in their
places! 1ney are 1Orce0, so 10 speak, TO aD
pear before us, although their hearts may be
very sad The actor who perhaps, acts a comic
part may have lost the nearest and dearest re-
lation. (Cheers) Let us think of this, and also
that when the actor has passed q life of
hard work, when he is no more fit to
act without some help there is nothing
left but destitution. Would you have them
starve? 1t is to provide against that calamity
that this excellent fund was instituted, and what
makes the charity still more meriterious is that
the actors themselves have formed it. The
charity was founded in 1889 by few London
actors, and in 1858 it was incorporated by royal
charter. Its chief objects were to raise a fund
Tor providing annuities for the aged and decayed
members, and in special cases to grant tempo
rary assistance TO the families of deceased
members. Any member of the profession, in
cluding pantomimists. chorus singers and
dancers, may be entitled to the benefits of the
fund on payment of small annual subscription,
according to specified scale; No member has
claim to the charity unless he has been sub
scriber for seven years. Since the opening of
the charity 322 members of the profession have
been admitted to its benefits, siXty-one have been
granted life pensions ranging from $50 to 600,
and general expenses have also been paid, and
assistance afforded to many families. The total
income last year was 9131O; the expenditure,
91614. The receipts of 1869 exceeded those of
1876, when the accounts commenced by GS05.
] sincerely hope that you will come forward in
the most liberal manner, and endeavor to make
up the $500 which is deficient, and which was
drawn from the reserve fund. (Cheers.) have
name of one of our Oldest and ablest of actors,
Mr.. j. b. Blackstone. (Cheers.) l have had the
pleasure of knowing him from my childhood,
and do not hesitate to say have often laughed
and roared at his performance. Cloud cheers. J
Mr.. Blackstone, who was loudly cheered, said
Your Royal Highness, my lords, ladies, aud
gentlemen, 1T is with great pleasure that rise
on this important occasion to reply to the toast
of the evening. Since the first dinner of the
General Theatrical Fund in 1846 now four and
twenty years ago, we have been honored by the
presence of many distinguished charmen
| elected from the ranks of literature art, and,
may say, politics. In literature our first chair
man was Mr. Charles Dickens following him
came one that l am sorry to name as the late
Mr.; Thackeray; then Mr. Tom Taylor, Mr.
Houghton, and that statesman and novelist
Lord Lytton, with eminent members o
both houses of Parliament. Among artists
| presuming that the actor is considered as be
longing to srt-we have had Mr.. Macready
Mr.. Charles Kean, Mr.. Phelps, Mr.. Charlie
Mathews, Mr.. Alfred WIgan, Mr. Boucicault
and Mr.. Benjamin Webster From the city W.
ex-Lord Mayer, Sir Benjamin Phillips, with Mr.
Stow and other gentlemen of position, but to
night we may say, with the chairmanship of tn
| Prince of Wales, we have Crowned the edidce
cloud cheers.) That his Royal Highness is
constant and warm supporter of the drama i
evident from his frequent visits with the Prin
cess to all the London theatres, and his read
appreciation of every worthy novelty; thi
taste for the drama may in som
measure be attributed to his earl
introduction to dramatic art at Windso
Castle where, on having the honor of az
! pearing there by invitation of her Majesty an
| the lamented Prince Consort, l have frequeptl
seen his Royal Highness, with his brothers an
sisters, seated at the feet of their father an
mother, witnessing with delight the variou
representations. One can only think of thos
days with feelings of regret; for with the deepl
depored loss of our chairmans illustrious fathe
the English drama was deprived of its be;
triends and supporters, as the encouragement
i-iven from such quarter silenced the ignorar
md intolerant, who are opposed to all rationi
and instructive recreation. (Hear, hear, an
cheers.)