The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-10
LITERATURE AND DRAMA.
What Men Of Letters Are Doing for the
Literary and Dramatic World.
Where Actors Make Themselves at Home
Mr.. HowelIs' Recent Work-Edgar
Faucets Last New Novel.
Correspondence Of the Indianapolis Journal.

correspondence Of the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK. May Ibid you ever go to din
ner at the Lambs Clubi Within easy hearing of
the chimes of Trinity Chapel, in Twenty sixth
street, there is pleasant and spacious but un-
pretending house, occupied by an association Of
gentlemen chiefly connected with the stage: and
here, at four several times during the winter a
banquet is prepared for the members and their
friends In the intervals the house is simply
quiet and pleasant clubhouse. to which members
repair for rest, or refreshment OF congenial chat,
in the midst of busy professional engagements.
But when the stated dinners come a transforma
ton scene is exhibited. A table is set out run
ming from the front to the back of the long par
lors and around that board, decked with silver
epergnes and flowers, a company assemblies
composed of the best among the actors and
singers in town, with asprinkling of persons who
are counted as friends of the drama. Why they
are called the Lambs do not know, unless it is
because their amusements are so innocent and
their spirit is always frolicsome aud springlike.
On these occasions, at any rate the actors throw
off the various DISCUSSES of the stage and appear
simply as sheep without wolves clothing. The
dinners take place on Sunday night. because that
is the only time when actors have an evening
free. had the good fortune to be present at
the last dinner of the season, and it was
pleasure to see how we'll the men who spend their
lives in entertaining the public know how to en-
terrain themselves and their guests. We listened
to rectations by Mr.. Mantell and Mr.. Tearle, to
songs by Digby Bell and Mr. Hopper, excellent
mimicry by Marshal Wilder the humorous i'm
presentations of Dixey, and many other capital
performances There is no other club in the
country that can provide an evening of such
varied interest and one feels here, with new
force, the generosity of the dramatic profession,
which is not only always prepared to contribute
to any charity, but finds time to regale its own
members with the best of it talent The club
has only two officers, ''The Shepherd and "The
Boy" Brilliant and handsome Montague was
the first shepherd; after him Lester Wallack
held the crook of authority then came Harry
Edwards, who combined with his quality of actor
and assistant manager distinct scientific repu-
tation as an entomologist, and is also the author
of many excellent essays in prose and verse.
Lester Walack is now tina shepherd again; and
az saw him there at the head of the table,
splendidly handsome, with a magenta ribbon
around his neck and medallion of the golden
fleece attached to it, there could be no doubt that
he was as young as any one could wish him to be.
II never had but one illness in my life" heard
him saying to friend, land that cost me $50
GEO." Indeed. there is just one thing that actors
cannot afford and that is to be laid up with sick
ness That they are willing to afford almost
anything else for any deserving cause we have
incessant proof When we think of that ought
or To oh +xv -
dennnciations of actors that are now and then
Numbered from the pulpit For myself did
think of it the other night within sound of
Trinity Chapel bells.
concerning one Of the chief opponents Of the
stage, who enjoys wide fame as preacher.
When this same preacher. who is so hot against
theaters was engaged to deliver series of lee
lures in England he made a contract for 800
night. The engagements were all made. but the
series had hardly begun when the great moralist
struck for $500 a night. His manager, not
wishing to disappoint the public acceded to this;
but the reverend lecturer soon afterwards
struck again and demanded $500 night, not
Withstanding the contract he had signed His
manager compromised for $3.50 per lecture, but
was careful to have a new contract signed on
this basis, with all the seals that the United
Kingdom of Great Britain could supply. The
lesson of this incident is not that the pulpit is
worse than the stage. It is simply that the i'm
morality of bad faith is not confined to any ono
PROFESSION. a sharper IN clerical dress be
just rs bad as the theatrical lamb whom he
abuses.
Mr. w. D. Howels has been with us during
the last few days 1t is very seldom that be
comes to New York, and he would not have
come now but for the Authors Readings"
very. successful. and yet there were literary
people who disapproved of authors APP
pearing in public to champion their
own cause and raise money to agi-
bot eo, rsv,t. 4;n,, II
they said, are private persons, who ought not to
show themselves. And yet Thackeray and Dick
ems did not hesitate to read in public on both
hemspheres for the good of their own pockets.
The attitude of these sensitive grumblers, who
complain that there is no international copyright
but are unwilling to do anything for it, reminds
me of young lady who used to wait an hour or
two for somebody to open the door because she
was afraid that the effort of turning the knob
would spoil the shape Of her hands Why
shouldn't there be better understanding be-
tween authors and readers? The best way to
procure it is to have them meet l have heard
it said that the public disappointed with
authors on personal acquaintance. 1t is Just as
true that authors are disappointed with the pub
lie when they become acquainted with it. But
was speaking of Mr.. Howells Is not curious
that he should now be regarded as a typical
Eastern man when originally he came from the
WestY Boston, which we speak of as the literary
CENTER is now largely depending on imported
talent T. b. Aldrich, born in New Hampshire,
made his literary reputation in New York,
where he lived for many years. John Boyle
O'Reilly, is, so to speak, an Irishman from Aus
tralia. Mr.. Howells born and brought up
in Ohio. At present they are all referred to as
Boston writer's, and Howells is considered as
typical of the East Certainly he is a great
favorite both in the West and the East and
see no essential difference between him and the
cultivated Westerner. It is time that these ar
bitrary distinctions should be abolished and that
we should be national rather than local Mr.
Howells, at home, lives on Beacon street, close
by Oliver Wendell Holmes, in house which ne
has lately bought. 1t is not an artistic house.
but it has an elevator that perhaps suggested \
his latest farce, which depends upon
that useful contrivance It-that is
the households out over the Back bay, which
is mentioned so often in his writings and
commands view Of the towers and spires of
Camhridpe where he lived so long while editor