The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-08
AMONG THE ACTORS.
Their Island Home in the
Sound.
Tho 'Multum in Parvo" Club-How They
Banquet on High Island-Descrip-
ton Of the Club House and
Grounds-Who Were There.

urounoS-Wno were There.
| There seems to be no apparent reason why an &C
tor should not enjoy himself IL s true tnat he plays
most of his time, but still he Is unreasonable
enough to call 1t work. It Is fictitious realm Of
painted canvas and "garish gas" In which he
moves. and While there h. is not himself at all.
One day king another q slave the buffet Of the
caprcious spirit which reigns
BEHIND THE SCENES,
he nles gladly when opportunity OFFERS to where
real pleasure may be wooed. There Is no doubt at
all but that, even in the babyhood of the drama,
the actors were the same jovial crew as they
at the present day. Could we take the historians
dark lantern and nasn it across the cemetery OF
the centuries we would see the man Of the mask
but little different from our own hero Of the sock
and buskn. Even those gentlemen who ap-
peased the clamorous claims Of Athenian land
ladies by their efforts in the
GREEK CHORUS
had taste for pleasure and satisfied 1t when OPP
pOrtunty offered. Picnics to any one OF the isles
OF Greece, with which "burning Sapph0" had
something vague to do, may have been the order
OF the day. There, reclining upon the ground, en-
gagged in eating figs or playing primeva draw
poker the Athenian actors may have delctOusly
rounded holiday. They talked. as they do now,
Euripides or the ne west screaming farce from the
pen OF Aristophanes. 1t was Greece and 1t was
long ago, but they were men and actors and the
clan has changed but little.
But whatever the custom OF the murky past we
can speak with certainty of the present. There ex-
lists in this city to-day
GUILD ACTORS,
bound together by the silken tie Of pleasure After
the season is over. when the footlighrs are out.
when the theatre ls deserted and the stage Is
maze Of phantOms; in fact, when Summer blazes
upon the scene. they unrurl their banner and
begin their campaign against dull care. For the
nonce Duty exits and Enjoyment enters. They are
known as the
"MULrUM IN PARvO' CLUB,
which has been In existence about four years,
having been established by Mr.. Harry Cunningham.
Their club house Is on High Island, In Long Island
Sound about seven miles from Fort Schuyler, audit
il also much in little" On Sunday the season Of
1873 was inaugurated in manner which was at
once imposing, and, at the same time, perfectly
regardless OF expense.
When the steamer Seawanhaka left Market
street wharf, on Sunday morning at nine O'clock
she carried with her, among others, group OF
twenty or thirty peculiar looking gentlemen.
They were costumed in picturesque manner,
RED AND BLUE SHIRTS
blooming Out prominently. SOME H1u HSuIH8 IOuS,
while others had bottles. which contained proba-
bly, the bait There was also collection Of baskets
and hampers and variety Of other miscellaneous
traps. A spirit OF joty OF bubbng merriment
seemed to pervade the party. Their conversation
was OF grandfloquent nature, consisting chiefly
OF choice selections from the dramatic poets, given
with much junction. In word. they were the
"MultumA," en- route for their native heath,"
their island home.
The club disembarked a. the City Island landing,
preparatory to taking their boats for
HIGH ISLAND,
situated about half mile distant. An oppor.
There wsre Messrs Harry VfS reden
secretary, S. s. Fitch Treasurer), william Gun.
Charles T. Parsloe, Harry Fisher, Governor George
Johnson tof Alaska), Mat Snyder, Charles Norris
chestra leader at Nblo's, John Bennett, Mr. Beck
Drank Lesie'sl, ~ Carpenter, BENJAMIN F por.
Fouche George Farren. John Pullman and William
H. Manley.
Hardly had the landing been effected when the
report of q cannon was heard, and, looking up,
the boys saw the yacht Nautilus bowling down
upon the dock dying the nag OF the Nautilus Club.
he had sent regrets in choice Persian 1t was used
to convey several other heightened guests from the
@ was 1ne randy sc ysc
in a dugout; but the appearance OF the long CO.
lumbad amidships, and the manly form with blaz-
ing TORCH frightened the great Feeney OF. Then
three other boats, pulled by kings, knights lovers
and first murderers, put Off for the pratical craft;
to put back and seek the shelter OF the shore,
where the water was still.
The launch Of the remaining boats was the next
thing, and the five beautiful barges dying the Club
colors, were soon anoat Mr.. Shiel Barry, finding
some dficulty in launching his own dinkte he was
seated in 1t, and the whole establishment was given
to the waves amid the cheers OF
THE EXCITED POPULACR
and the thunder Of q nine-inCh cannon on q sl0op
hard by. II s due to Mr.. Barry say that he bore
himself throughout the trying ordeal in most sat
short pull across the ripping water brought
the notlla to the pebbly shore OF High Island,
which, out OF compliment to the great poet whose
genius inspires these men, should be called Avon
Isle, or by some other pretty name OF dramatic
significance. The Nautilus was already at ancnor,
and when che Club had assembled upon the float
her occupants landed. In quaint old Knicker-
booker style the Governor bade the guests "wel-
come to Elsinore," and said, in voice husky with
emotion, ave shall teach you to drink deep ere
you return" Just as the old man had got as far
as mot that l love Gotham less, but love High
Mr.. John O'Neil whether half acre patch in
his pantaoons carried that famous "rent the
ever Mr. oSellis classic features was superb
This sldeshow Knocked all the eloquence out
OF the Governor and he sat down.. The
island itself is worthy OF aggressive description
1t sweeps away from the shore into lofty ridge
on the top OF which is the club house. Upon the
mall IN front Is tent flying the ensign of France.
All around the edge OF the island nature gives EVIL
dence of her rude handlwork. Huge bouders are
are canyons and gulches, and miniature lakes OF
rain water One pauses In awe he treads these
dangerous passes, and inadvertently thinks Of the
Modocs and
THE LAVA BEDS,
half expecting to see some OF the Shack Nasties
emerge from their retreats. But they did not
emerge. At first, as the lotilla drew near, 1t was
thought that one occupied this wild and roman
tic isle. But in an instant there flashed upon the
eyes OF the approaching company, from the cor
ner OF the house, strange apparitOn. 1t was OF
human shape and carried before it a blazing shield.
"Hai ha |" said Matthew snyder, as he caught
crab, otis Zamiel, the red hend OF the haunted
glen.n But 1t wasn't; II was
BROWN, THE COLORBD COOK,
busily engaged in Furnishing q coffee pot.
A stroll through the island gave one an idea Of
its topography and resources. No gold mines have
been discovered yet although the members are
hopeful. or the interior no one thoroughly knows,
IL never having been fully explored 1t is naturally
n<loJ H. lad