Delaware tribune, and the Delaware state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1877-18??, 1877-08-16

attendance from surrounding parts. The
general depression In society, however,
dsvitAlizsd the scheme from the very
start. There II no modification in failure
under such circumstances; II Is not failure
at all - the word is generally applied; it is
simply following the course Of every other
monied enterprise, big and little, in the
knd-fn Hfne whom firm stand still Is
thought to be excellent progress.
Inn sIH1SfrtoN otrtoon
now is about this: September and. October
will bring an increased attendance; not an
overpowering one, but much better than
anything heretofore, and the chances are
al in favor Of the strict Sabbath party
moving ont Of the Board Of Directors, and
/ giving the show the benefit Of Sunday
receipts. With these chief reliances, and
the money pledged by the exhibitors, the
Main Building will be kept open until cold
weather. It would have been closed then,
in any event, for there is no way of heat
ing the immense structure. Expenses, II
" believed. viii be fully met and debts
l paid, even II NO money Is made-and for
the spring, reopening will, doubtless,
depend on the contingency Of an improved
condition Of the finances and business
temper of the country.
MORE ABOUT THE "ACroRs' HOME"
When Edwin Forrest left the whole of
bis large fortune, with the exception Of
few small personal bequests, to found a
retreat for aged or otherwise incapacitated
actors, he scarcely imagined that the
scheme to which he had devoted 30
much loving and anxious thought would
como to nothing. Or IL he had admitted
to himself the contingency Of failure he
certainly would never have supposed it
would overtake the Actors Home through
lack Of funds I have never had much
faith In the practical working Of the Home
on the basis laid down by Mr.. Forrest, for
reasons that have in other times been fully
set forth in this correspondence, but some
facts which have recently come to my
knowledge show . strange state of
affairs in what ia perhaps the most
unique Of All American charities. The
real and personal estate left by Mr..
Forrest amounted to, considerably over
million dollars. The mansion at Spring
Brook-the old Cope place, on the Tren-
ton pike just outside OF Holmesburg-was
ready for residents, under the will, for
four years before the first of the old actors
was received. The plea was that the es-
tate had to be settled up, and that the will
gave the executors every discretion as to
the time when the charity should become
operative, but the wishes of the testator
were 40 clearly expressed, and it would have
taken 40 little out Of such an amount as
the tragedian left to relieve various cases of
suffering which were announced in the
period indicated, that theatrical people
were much seandalized by the tardiness of
the executors. More than this, person
who had formerly been an employee of
Mr.. Forests, was having comfortable
home at Spring Brook, and with CON-
Portable 'salary" in addition to his oed
and board, and this person was not named
in the will, while the legatees-the old
actors--were kept out in the cold.
NO FUNDS.
Well, after this singular delay the Home
was at last opened; 1--WE inmates were re-
oeived and then the remaining applicants
and there were a number of them
were informed that for the present the
houvs WAS clossd against further aoces-
sions TO the family on account of want of
| funds You will agree with me that this
l 10 = RAs1AuA n&Mtc Va tAAAAHo 40 ACkheAAk W
the management Of the estate, or else
that bad faith is kept towards the class Of
people to whom Mr.. Forrest left his
impersonal bequests. II certain
actors had been named as the
recipients of certain sums in this will, the
executors would have been compelled to
hand over such sums; as it is, the profess
| asn,. s,. sr co~knsv,
tions, the legatee, and that fact gives
boundless excuse for subterfuge and delay.
As at present administered, the cost of the
Home is, at the outside figure, 5000 a
ysar, 90 that We are to conclude-a logical
that $3, ,OOO year would be Mr.. Forests
income If he were now living! As low a
rate - three per cent. on his fortune would
amount to $50, 900 year; one per cent.
would still yield $40, 900 year. leave
these things to speak for themselves.
THE INMATES OF THE HOME.
You may be interested in having few
particulars concerning the present small
family at Spring Brook. There are
three men and two women. The best
known, though not in this section, of
the men is Mr.. j. NJ. Thoman, identi-
fed mainly with Boston and New England;
he was mainly prominent as low come
dian, though he has had round of all
kind of theatrical work; Thoman is O
little, springy, irascible fellow. He affords
strong contrast to the other men, Mr..
G. G. Spear and Mr.. William Lonas, who
are both broken-down, melancholy old
men. Spear, Known far and wide in the
profession as "Od Spude:e," though why
have never heard explained, comes Of
good family, and his brother, Col. Sper.r
was one of the best known men in tn
army in the days when q colonel wf.s of
good deal more account than major-gen
eral became afterwards. sod Spudpe
had money of his own, once lost it
lost his wits, too, and for some time wa
in An insane asylum. He has a painful
history. He was an actor Of old mel
long before he grew old himself; b. wa
best known in the Washington, Baltimor
and Southern theatres. Isoraas is al
Englishmsn, his American theatrical lif
having been principally passed il
Philadelphia. He never 90
beyond the Second Hesvies," Su S
he was man who could always be trusted
which goes far more than brilliancy YER
often In the theatre. He had the erea
misfortune to close all his fingers som
years ago, through frost-bite and subse
J qusnt amputation. The ladies are Mrs
Burroughs and Mrs. Wood The forme
was favorite in the West FOR many years
in al kinds of parts, changing tn
Juveniles" in her youth to, "old women
In her age. OF Mrs. Woodh professiona
Life know nothing. INDEX.
a Autnal "Don's Mention It."
Il A regiment quartered at certain tow
In Scotland had among them an exper
gymnast, who taught his brother subal
, terms how TO walk across the barrack.roor
, on their hands. While engaged one oven
/ {uo tho door ov,aoaI ond AZ, Oa1z-.p