New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-30
HOME OF THE PLAYERS.
EDWIN BOOTHS GIFT TO THE CLUB.
1T WILL BE OPENED TOMORROW NIGHT AND
MR.. BOOTH, MR.. DAILY AND MR..
RARRFTT WILL, SPEAK.

BARRETT WILL SPEAK.
with the opening Of the club house OF The Players
tomorrow night dream that Edwin Booth mas
cherished for years win be realized. At quarter
past II o'clock I'm graceful speech. he Will present
TO his fellow members Of the theatrical profession the
contamination Of hope that has filled big niche IN
his heart ever since born there. in 1870 or 80
This hope for meeting place where the foremost
actors, managers and dramatic writers Of America
should be brought together in organization Tor
their common good and the higher elevation OF the
stage The world al large Acknowledges that the
stage IS great and wholesome element OF our life.
Booth and The Players intend TO keep great and
wholesome.
The Players Club has been spoken of
and written about until people believe
that TO be the name Of the organiza
tlon whereas it incorporated unser the title Of
The Players The gem of a home that Mr. Booth
is going TO give the club is a Gve-story brownstonc
front No 16 Gramercy Place, adjoining the Samuel
j. Tilden house on the east. The facade is exceed
lngy plain, yet the house is undoubtedly the first in
the street TO attract attention, account Of wide
portico enclosing the first and second floors and ex-
tending the entire front While there are no
evidences Of an attempt style, the Composite order
OF architecture-whch covers multitude of sins
prevails in the general treatment of the exterior
Mr. Booth paid 81 600 for this building and turned
II over TO Messrs. McKim Mead d White the well
known architects, with carte Dlanchc 10 IL tnc
most comfortable and complete clubhouse In every
respect that It was in their power TO design a
small army OF masons, carpenters plasterer, painters
and decorators have been at work In the interior
for several weeks remodelllng reconsructing reno
waiting and reurnishng until the out side walls have
not the rcmotcst idea how grand their inside ar
rangements have become The work was far from com
pletion last night, but 1t viii probably go on today
tonight and to morrow and be out of the way OF
tho borisa that q begin this evening al
IL O'Clock sharp The entrance Is on the ground
floor which is slightly below the level OF the side
walk. marble stairway leads TO the upper regions.
The most conspicuous objects to be seen on the
second floor two monster hre-proof, fale-loch
safes that reach almost to the ceiling and are
several feet deep trunk filed with precious me
mentos of departed Hamles, Brutuses, Richards and
Richeieus was carefully slowed away in of them
last night All the priceless relics Of the past which
Mr. Booth Mr. Barrett Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Palmer
Mr. DAILY and others have given TO the club are 70
be locked up in these safes every night IL the
house burns they at least, being saied, VIII p'
saved On state occasions they Will be brought
forth to be gazed upon with awe by youthful trageu-
ans and comedians of the future.
Tho house. thoroughly equipped, has cost MI
Booth over 100000 In addition TO 1t he has gwen
TO The Players his library, Of the finest collections
of dramatic literature IN the United States, If not IN
the world, and innumerable stage relics when money
/ could never buy because their uupnca'es ="
not exist Augustln Days generous gifts
include many rare prints. books and pictures. Among
them arc thirty volumes containing bills of plays from
the time of Garrick down 10 the present day, ana
portraits of the famous acos-Gcorge Frederick Cooke
the elder Wallack, the Booth family, the Jehefson
family and Others too numerous TO mention. MP
DAILY got the books Of an old collector In London
Nothing so complete in ifs way has ever been seen
by any living actor. great quantity OF other rare
and valuable things has come from other sources
but to give list of the articles and donors would re-
quire columns Besides many have not been r-
ceived yet. The house committee. with Manager
A. NJ Palmer as chairman. and the Committee on
Literature and Art requested the glvcrs 10 walt awhile
thcy were ovcrrun with work and would like to have
the things come in by detachments. 1t VIII re-
quire a month or more to set everything to rights
The Players became an organized body and an in
stitution last winter. being regularly Incorporated
under the laws OF the State of New-York There
were five prime movers OF the club-Edwin Booth
Lawrence Barrett Joseph jefferson. A. NJ. Palmer
and Augustin DAILY Mr.. Booth once entertained the
idea Of identifying the new association with the Acts $
Fund but after consulting with Managers Palmer and
DAILY concluded that # would be advisable 10 make
The Players entirely separate and distinct society
The matter informally discussed al breakfast
at Delmonico's by seventeen men representing the
drama, literature, the press, the law and the army
An ORGANIZATION was tUfcltu anu CONSTITUTION
adopted. Edwin Booth chosen president, Au-
gustln DAILY vice president. William Blspham treas
uer, and Laurence Hutton secretary. These directors
were elected Edwin Booth, Lawrence Barrett, Joseph
jefferson, A. NJ. Palmer Augustin DAILY, Joseph +.
DAILY. stephen H. Olin, Laurence Hutton and William
Bispham
The membership IS limited TO 5OO-250 resident and
ESQ nonresident members. There are at present
lao names on the roster, including the leading lghs
OF tho dramatic world this side Of the Atlantic.
No man. not a American citizen IS eligible TO mem
bciship lie may be born abroad If he likes, but he
must take out naturalization papers before he can
become Of The Players Character, not rank,
Is the qualification for membership. The club has
put its foot down on feasting and tay' There VIII
be no public receptions to native or foreign actors.
So says the constitution Once year there will BE-
a good Jolly dinner for members only. That + all
TIE constitution provides that majority Of the
directors shall he actors or men connected with The
theatrical profession IL IS the hope of the manage
mcnt 10 bring into the fold all The leading actors
OF America. A man must be man IN order 10 run
the gauntlet Of admission. The rihrlh are not
likely squeeze in IN important business matter
before The Players is the appointment Of historian
Quired compile history OF the drama I'm America
the letters duly will be the collection and preservation
Of dramatic literature II every description.
The house is 10 be warmed Tomorrow night by
members only Mr. Booth viii present the building
TO the club. Augustin DAILY viii accept II In behalf
speech Then everybody Will got acquainted nth
everybody else, something Will be eaten, sOmething
will be mOistcncd. and about or or O'Clock
everybody will be creeping I'm at his own front door
with latch key.