New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-07
DINNER 10 NR. I0OLE.
WELCOME TO NOTED ENGLISH COMEDIAN

DLNNER 10 MR. IOOLE.
wrynoMr To A NOTED ENGLISH COMEDIAN
Mr.. John Lawrence TOole, the Engiisn ooi,e
40, ,ras entertained last night at dinner nj lne o'
Cpnh Some seventy-hve guests attended, amons VIZ
49,, At, rIovd OF waacks Theater, the represen'a'.'
., Ar tohn Lester wsllaok, who was detained W !.
u ma .,rpst,n DAILY of the Fifth Avenue Theatei
a. Inn II Ford, manager of Baltimore ana "asnin
con thearers Mr.. William Stuart Joseph 1ehei'o
charles Gayler. John T. RAYMOND John mo|uo0
Charles Brookos W. S. Andrews anu iI'
number OF actors and lovers OF tno uis"
Brief speeches OF welcome we're mace Dy 'ne ie0u'
Ga NV Mr. John Broucham, the First Vice-Presiden'
Che Club Mr.. ToOle responded III WHY "nu -,
,neecb. after which there were speeches DS JOSH
Jefferson. William stuart A OaAe' A"-'
Isaac H. Bromley. and Others
so,cs ware sung and dramatic limitations gwen
x,ss-s Joseph jefferson j. L. Toole, ana DINERS al
vh festivities were prolonged until long AFTER tnlunlgn
o,,ors Uer,, read from Mark Twain, Jno Lester WI
Iaor VIM. Warren. Vim. Henry Hurlbert, ana others.
In the course of the entertainment. witty and br
,iant speech was made by Mr. William Winter, which
concluded by reading the following poem;
JOHN LAWRENCE TOOLE-A WELCOME
lLoros GLIB, Aug. c, 1874
The odor that all sense delights
Enchauts us most on summer nights;
AND music Natures kindest boon.
Breathes gentlest underneath the moor:
For Summer night and moonlight give
Quiet aud grace. in which we ice:
In which alone the inner soul
Finds II not words at least control.
Aud, for a moment, lifts us FAR
Toward realms where saints and angels are,
So Friendships soft and tender voice
Sounds ciearest when our hearts rejoice;
For. when true gadness thrills the heart,
Selfish and sordid cares depart,
Dizziness retires-lnd in their place
Comes the rich glow Of peace and grace.
And then we see each other clear;
The voice within the voice we hear;
Aud deep thoughts surge TO eve and cheek
Nor words smiles nor tears can speak
The Old IOye-litties that we're sung,
The whispered VOWS, when We were young,
the sIken touch Of fragrant tress,
The maldsu's awful oveliness.
Starlight aud sca-breeze. beach and spray.
Tie sunshine OF some sacred day.
a mother kiss on lip and brow.
The tones OF loved Ones silent now,
The light that never more will CLEAN,
The broken hope the vanished dream
All these come thrOnglng through the brain,
TILL half with JOY aud half with pain.
Our souls break loose from common things
And eOar alo:t on angel wings;
Out Of the tumu!t and the glare,
The fretfui striie. the feversh care
TO that great lite OF peace and grace
Which waits this suffering human race;
That larger life than sigut or sound.
Wherewlth GoTs goodness folds US round
This is the magic. tins the power
That thrills, and crowns the festal hour.
IL
IT'S Summer. and the moon is bright,
And perfect gladness rules this night;
And through our rapture. gracious, free,
silver voice across the sea
In tender accents whispers sweet:
"Be kind TO him VIZ ON you greetI
"By England's fireNGe altar-StOne
al His name is priced. his virtue known:
"To Eaglaud's Leart his fame is dear;
"To him she gives her smile, her tear;
She loves MN for his rosy mirth
" She loves him for his manly worth
She knows him bright AS morning dewi
She knows him faithful, tender, true;
d" Her hope comes with him, DER the deep
+" With HIM TO smile, with him TO weep;
All. give HIM friendship that endures,
"And take bin from her heart 10 yours!"-
That voice is heard. BY deed and cheer
We give him loyal welcome here!
In arts fair garden, where we stand.
We take hun 10y the strong right hand;
Iu friendships cup the pledge we drain,
And bind nm fast with friendships chain!
Honor the man, whateer his stage.
Who yields the arts to cheer the agei
II.
And OBJ. my friends IL L might say
ITO point and close this humble isyl.
What other voices nJat 20 me,
Across another. darker sea
What words OF cheer are waited through
NV fancy's realm, 70 him and you;
Some muse then. indeed, might flow,
Should make your hearts and pulses glow
For then would ring out rich and deep,
The royal tones some who sleep
The brilliant aud the wise, too soon
snatched from our side. IL manhoods noon;
Ere OeuiJs half her vigil kept;
For whom our hearts, and Morning, wept:
AID these a welcome without STINT
Ny feeble words can Ouy hint
Would give THIS friend and cOmrade, come
So far from kintTed and from home.
But this denied, prattie on
The echo. when tue mueiC's gone
With yet. the hope that words well-meant
May fad grace, for good intent;
With you. companions tried aud dear;
with him, the guest that's hoDored here.
Nor will think he view, with -corn
These rhymes OF welcome. lOWly born;
These wild wood roses faint but sweet