The Penn's Grove record., 1884-01-12

One of the most famous %conyiyial as
sociations of the last and present cen
fury is the Beefsteak Society. We read
of a Steak Club in the Spectator, in
April, 1712, Steele speaking in terms Of
the greatest affection of Dick EastcOurt
the provider of the club, and who also
so eloquently records his death inavery
touching manner. This club, however,
was not the same as the famous society,
established a few years later, though it
may, perhaps, have been in some meas
ure suggested 10y the former. The
'Society '(forthe members disdained to
be considered a club originated, as is
well known, in Rich, the manager Of
Convent Garden Theater, cooking and
eating his breakfast in the presence Of
a distinguished visitor, Lord Peterbor-
borough, who was so charmed with the
odor of the simple fare that he begged
to be allowed to join; a further supply
of steak was sent for, ana a few bottles
of wine from a neighboring tavern gave
a zest to the feast. On going away at a
rather late hour the old Earl propos ed
to Tenew the meeting, and on the fol-
lowing Saturday Peterborough returned
with three or four friends, ''men of
wit and pleasure about town." and so
joyial was the meeting that it was
agreed to form a Saturday Club, to as
semble in Rich's room, the fare to he
restricted to beefsteaks, port wine and
punch. The Steaks" 0 0 became
fashionable, and the greatest lords, as
well as the most intellectual men, were
ambitious Of belonging to such an Illus
trious association. The meetings were
at first held in a room over Convent
Garden Theater; but when the house
was burnt down in 1903, the members
met for a time at the Bedford, and then
in apartments over the Opera House,
now the Lyceum Theater. Here again
they were burnt out; but, strange to
say, the original gridiron of the society
according to some, Rich's own grid
iron) was saved from both fires.
Churchill and Wilkes, in the last cen
tury, were made members of the Steak
Society; but the former made himself
SO disagreeable that he resigned to avoid
expulsion, and the latter also fell into
disgrace on account OF his Essay on
Women" George " was a member
when Prince Of Wales, having been
elected in 1875; and various dukes,
royal and not royal, have felt proud OF
presiding in the chair. Very naturally
considering its origin, the ''Sublime
Society" as it was sometimes called,
enrolled many actors in its lists, and in
the club books occurs the entry: 81.
Kemble, expelled for his mode of con
duct" He had probably been giving
himself Pompous airs. His predeces-
sor, Garrick, a more genial man, was
very much liked, and one night when he
had to play Ranger at Drury Lane, of
which ne was the manager, he stayed so
late with his brother Steaks that he kept
the stage waiting. He was sent for,
and arrived hot and b|reathless. 81
think, David" said Ford, one of the
patentees, considering the stake you
and l have in this house, You might
pay more attention to the business. .
"True, my good friend" replied Gar
rick, "but | was thinking of my steak
in the other house" Another good
thing was said by Garrick at Il of the
club dinners. lie had made the re-
mark that in order to prevent irregular.
tiles at the theater, he always made a
point of ticketing and labelling everyday
that was to be returned, so that it might
Re found in a moment. GA fig fol
your Hypocrisy" exclaimed Murphy
across the table. you know, David.
you mIslaid my tragedy two months
ago, and 1 make no doubt you have lost
it." eyes" replied Garrick; ''but you
forget, you ungrateful dog, that l off
cred you more than its value, for yoU
might have had two manuscript fares
in its stead" We cannot dismiss the
Steaks without mentioning old Captain
Charles Morris, the bard of the club.
who wrote Indifferent poetry (called by
courtesy ~Anacreontic), brewed the fin.
est of punch, made himself univer'
sally beloved for his good nature and
joyous spirits, and who died in 1888, al
the patriarchial age of ninety-two.
The old room of the Beefsteak Club
at the back of the Lyceum Theater. has
been recently fitted up as dining-roon
by Mr.. Henry Irving, and no doubt il
days to come the history of the present
room Will add much interesting matter
and many brilliant anecdotes to the
dramatic and literary history of to-day,
The present Beefsteak Club in King
William Street is only a namesake anC
not a lineal descendant of the old insti'
tuition
Salaries of Poet Laureates.
When James l appointed Ben Jonsor