New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-06
WORK OF THE ACTORS FUND.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY.
..vrcHxs By A. NJ. PALMfR, COLONEL lNeERsoLL
AND DION BoUcIcAULE

The seventh anniversary VI INC ao'oh' uhu
,.sociation was celebrated yesterday at the Mad
;.op squa.. Theatre. in the presence OF an audi
.nce that completely filled the theatre ana IN
olnded nearly every well-known manager ac'or ana
S..rsss now in the city. There were also several
Ae' .sirsnt out-of town managers present. Earlier
= the afternoon business meeting had been
ia az the rooms of the Fund.- where all the
1ssc.rs Of last year were reelected The " COM
es,no,a,tve exercises consisted Of selections
~ ,hs combined orchestras of the Casino and the
s9.s;sor Square Theatre under the direction Of
T~ank Howson, a song ty Miss Lillian Russell.
- addresses by A. NJ. Palmer, president of the
md Colonel Robert G. Ingerson and Dion
Boucicsult.
NJ palmer began his speech by stating that
~. annual meetings had hitherto been poorly
.,,snded and of strictly business character,
-. with the hope Of attracting greater interest
49, *ho Fund and its work, it had been determined
~ .nnmemorate this and future anniversaries
-, roeetines at which there should be addresses
and music Mr. Palmer then continued:
mar. IN this days proceedings simply call your
,,an "a the work accomplished by our Fund since ts
pastioa and give you brief account OF the things
.nishei BY your board Of trustees during the past
~ The record have to present Is one Of progress
increased usefulness In all the departments OF char
-. I.hor to which Fund is devoted reespitu-
-, a the work done by the association since Its foun-
80 an wears ago shows that there has been paid out
It,, burlals medicines, hospital charges AMI other
w. .nenses the OF 1888 SO, or an average
,s1ks7s IS each During that period there has
49,. aa into cur treasury the Of s14a30 10 or an
% of ga ss3 SO for each year. The number OF per-
o1 whom relief has been afforded during this time Is
/, 400 and tho number buried Is 332
MANY BRANCHES OF USEFULNESS.
49,. ,esdlpe room at No. las Fifthave. has been main
,es with gratifying success and the dramste agency
49, been established under auspices when
shoun insure Its success with correspond
,re benefit TO its patrons and the Funa,
ra.sdsr,hy more than one-thrd Of all
- money sccruing to us from benefits this year was
go nv the unselnsh but effective efforts OF three
women, Agnes Booth Mrs Languy and Mrs Leland
Following this let me call your attention to o most
,ssing feature Of work in which women are also
rea and which has been inaugurated during the past
scar refer TO the appointment last winter OF CON-
,,tae OF members visit the sick under our care ms
committee consisting Of Mrs Carl Haswin, Mrs Antonio
pastor Miss Alice Brown Miss Agnes Proctor MISS
ussn ottolengui Mrs Carrie Jameson, Miss Blanche
49,, Mas Adobe Clarke and Mrs Louisa Eldrdge,
have since appointment made regular visits 70 all
the invalid under the Funds care In New-horK
and Brooklyn and In many cases RAVE supb'4ou 'A' ".
rents with needed delcaciesL
One Of the greatest Americans and one OF the greatest
.c,ors who ever lived Edwin Forrest IN that memorable
will Of his beQuestng magnificent property 70 the Use
NJ the profession he loved well, makes use OF these
words They my executors) will also remember that my
brothers and sisters often unfortunate ana
thst ,c has been either 70 elevate them in
thar profession or provide for their necessities under
sickness u other mlsfortunes" AS look back my
friends over been accomplished by US In the past
SIX years. help feeling that we have done much 70
remove the cause which led aud Justly led TO the great
setcrs complaint We have done more. Not only does
cur association stand ready with purse and willing
hand provide for the necessities OF actors and actresses
other misfortune but It also provides as
you seen, for all persons under Ike
who are in any way connected no matter how humby'
viii the business OF amusements And only does 1t
Do this 1t charges Itself with the duty Of providing by
every means It's power for the elevation, the INTEL
lseusl Improvement and the happiness OF all members OF
the profession who may cone within Its influence
have said operations broad BY one Of lite un-
written but new imperative laws they are also Sc
ere It's list OF benenciaIes is unknown at this moment
even to many its trustees Its extended help is
an display o. the uberay Of one man or
Of OF 1t is the help extended by the entire
orgsnzed profession America to Its own unfortunate
members in the strict fulmen Of wellrecognzed duty
1t is charity 1t Ii all mems charity
pray that you will regard it. that VIII so cherish It.
and that Its blessed will long sickness or
pain, poverty endure.
COLONEL INGERSoLLs BRILLIANT TALK.
Mr. PaimePs address was loudly applauded
and be was frequently compelled TO wait, while
reading it, till the applause had subsidized On
rising to speak, Colonel Ingersol was enthusl-
astically greeted and his remarks were accom-
panied by strong currents Of encouragement or
laughter. Among other things he said:
Now I am going 10 say a few words, because have
the chance Orthodoxy the enemy of the thea
ire as every comfort and every Joy Ortho
doxy piles the Alps ant and then says Why don't
you play The orthodox idea is that this world is kind
Of where you getting ready for play In
some other country. Whatever il pleasant orthodoxy
suspects Is wrong. 1t Is like the In field who
picks weed of it. finds It sweet says IN bet
It's poison" and throws away. Now. whatever tends
people happy is moral Happiness Is the end
Of life virtue the means TO that end Laughter born
Of good nature is the wonderful music that ever
reached the OF Our fathers were oaroariansi
they only wanted essentials Followers OF all the arts
vsgabondS and the vagabonds had TO seek patrons
and awn and crings Now they need 10 please only one
patron the public. great actor stands as high to-day
IS great man in any other walk OF life The greatest
genius this world has hiss been lavtshed upon
the stage. and do not silude only To Shakespeare
But the profession that can count Shakespeare In us
should feel that it optrsnked by other
In his brain all thoughts Of the past and the seed
Of all thoughts Ia the future.
Mr.. BOucicault spoke very briefly, but made
several happy hits He read letter from a
pretended third party who signed himself
'Nihilist,' because be bad nothing There are"
said Mr. bouccault, pretending TO read the words
Of his correspondent three characters who have
always been associated with impfovidence-the
author, emlnentiy; the actor, eminently the
hishmsn, pre-eminently. But when all three
are Joined IN the presence Of one man the result
Is awful thought that | might be of use in
standing up before you to-day as terrible ex
ample 10 the same way that wretched creatures
are eAhlblted at temperance meetings. But there
are various kinds Of thrift. One is to save your
money and leave it to be fought over by your
5eirs- Another way is TO spend it yourself and
oeiy the law aud the race Of lawyers. II
got, to this Fund, l daresay Colonel Ingersoll
woulo prove thai l was crank and he could
set lots OF people, who have played under my
ge-management TO confirm his view. Our
mocern aeto~ save money, and like Shakespeare,
wien neh De had no fear Of Donnelly, become respect
ble. Meipomene now gets her dresses made in
farls, and her sister is worth milliOns