New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-01
PLAYERS WE'LL BESTOWED.
OPENING OF THEIR NEW CLUBHOUSE IN
GRAMERCY PARK.
MR. BOOTHS GENEROUS L1BERALITY AND HOW
IT WAS REcEIvED-A CHARMING SURPRISE
BY HIS DAUGHTER AND Mr. BARRETT
RARE AND PRICELESS RELICS

MR. BOOTHS GENEROUS LlBERALi1h AND hoW
IT WAS REcEIvED-A CHARMING SURPRISE
BY HIS DAUGHTER AND Mr. BARRETT
RARE AND PRICELESS RELICS
OF THE STAGE.
As the now year Joined the old and ourneyed
ward with the caravan OF time, Edwin Booth saw the
Players we'll bestowed The club house. No. 10
Grameicy Park sheltered them for the first time last
night and 1883 and 1880 were being welded to-
gcthe, or, In other words Just about midnight, the
gver gave and the recipients received one OF the com
pleest little houses that actors were blessed
with Everything done quietly and in order
The occasion one of dignity. The opening ceie-
monhs of the bcstowal somewhat
formal, but long before the night gave
place to morning the Players a
happy family. The hour was necessarily late, be-
cause many members Of the club were Obliged 10
amuse the public before they were allowed to amuSc
themselves Actors left the stage between 10 and ii
O'clock and the company was gathered together
little before IL.
Mr.. Booth arrived with the deeds to the property
IN his hand and proceeded 10 the main hall and loung
Ing room the first floor, where the Players awaited
him. There delay. After a brief exchange OF
courtesles he began In grave voice, full of feeling
the presentation address, I'm the course of which he
frequently interrupted by the applause which his
words called forth. His turning over 10 this organ
cation Of the foremost actors managers and dramatic
writers of America a house upon which he had eX-
pended not less than 100000 was one of the most
graceful and gracious acts of his life His address
follows
Gentlemen: Although our vocatIons are various: i
greet YOU all as brother Players At this supreme
moment Of my life. it Is my happy privilege TO as7ie
the character Of host-o welcome you 10 he houSd i
wherein hope thai for many years, ana our icGli
mate successors for at least thousand seheia ions;
may assemble Tor friendly intercourse ana ope ot mV
profession am dcsrious that this ASSOCIATION shall "
The means of bringing them regardless oil 'her ,nca'i
81 NIX I'm lui " %,
their personal qualities, hidden by The MASK anu NOTIFY
Of our know them a, a oS S and poes
sions who love the stage and appreciate the Naiuc o.
spirc the humbest player with reverence for HIS w
cation among the first OF " fnc arts.cMhich
too many regard as merely means 10 the W t
club 49,.
might be able to do something for my profession OF
more lasting good than mere aims giving, bur couli
determine what course TO pursue: our seNe ,,
benevolent institutions the relief of poor and dis
abbd foremost among them the hOOie foil1sl
Home, great as their good work is do not afford The
social advantages necessary for what termed the
Not until after many conversations with numerous
friends of the theatre on this subject and while ais
cusslng it with Mcssrs. Barrett DAILY and Palmer "a
club OF this character being suggested as the best
means 70 The good end did resolve TO act to do my
utmost in furtherancs of the scheme proposed This
purpose. To our treasurer, Mr.. William Bspham' we
owe the wise selection of our house to Mri sianio9
White its admirable reconstruction and emDelshmcnt
while The poet AldIicb we arc indebted ior lhe
choice Of our appropriate and comprehensive tlne.,he
world being but a stage where every man must play
his part" Mine just now, as The Ne" Year daWhs
very happy one since permits ms TO prcse nav 70
your title deeds to this property. ,
The h soe with d pyof1nnd thanks for Your prompt and
generous cooperation In cause so dear 10 me- 30
p PSry Who n an struts and cs his hour upon the stage
though somewhat past the season. let us now MI, h,e
The request that it be burnt her offering Of love
peace and goodwill 10 the Players" Nhc u pu I
lam Warren of loved and honored memory our
less valued Jefferson, and by him presented 10 usiom
aacon|iet us now beneath his portrait and on The an
nvcTsarics of this occupation, uilhh 10 inc riaScrs
Perpetual Prosperity
LIGHTING THE YULE-LoG.
The toast was drunk with right goodwill, and as
Mr. Booth TUNED in the direction Of the large fire
place in the main hall the Yulc-log blazed up IL
was the first fire started In the house and chcerly
it burned, shedding a comfor able winter glow OF
welcome over all The log, which was about three
fec. in length and one foot I'm diameter, was cut RON
the trunk of enarled and aged blackgum by special
Order of MIS- EdwiIa BoOh GrOssman, and arrived
in New-York yesterday by express fiom Boston Be
fore the fireplace stood heavy wroughtiron fender
and a creaking crane, from which hung useful
looking pot. The great seal OF the order, In PAPER
machc, was inserted in the ornamental blickworh
under the grand old Italian mantclpiece, with its
Empire brackets and Japancss surroundings The
seal represents tragedy and comedy Immediately
above II are these lines of warning when ali are
expected to heed
Good nicnde FOR flicndship's sake forbeaIe
TO utter what IS gossip hcaIe
In soceal chat, lest unaw ares -
Thy tongue otfcnde thy fcllowplaieiS
MI. DAILY ACCEPTS THE PROPERTY.
In behalf of The Players, Augustin DAILY accepted
OF Mr. Booth the deeds TO the property. Ills REMARKS
fitting tribute the generosity OF the sNer' iouio
an echo in the heart OF every listener This is what
he sad:
Mr. Booth and Fellow Playcrs-My position at TINS
instant is doubly embarrassing am not MAKER q
have been requested to make a response whch migh
we'll cali forth The most brilliant effort OF the mos
and everyfhing but a talkcr But this truly rOya
present which Mr.. Booth has made 70 ms Droener
which IS quite his own must be accepted and have
been requested 10 accept It, and do accept It Oh
tbose who are in the flesh and about us now, but
those who are In the shell! of time tat iaileachlng
caravan the unborn generations VI players VINO shau
be privileged in the happy hereafter TO assemble uuei
'nS dS nv has our honorcd host followed ont the
Instructions which, as Hamlet he has uttered to
Polonlus thousand and thousand ilmcS hhheH 10
ne hon ,'io afer his own honor and dignity.
As said before, gentlemen am not s,rca ma ser,
exceptional occasion. That justice. hoNwc'ef VIII
be done hereafter in the grateful recollection OF every
iaver on the worlds broad stage who crosses tIS
trcs hold I'm which will be cherished The remembrance
ol Edwin Booth, while stone STANDS upon ah9'n =,
TO ccal the loving COnpdnlOnsiNP "'N' a" '""'~N WV
gIyve ~ This noble Gift
congratulate you. gentlemen, upon me possession
OF tbs noble clubhouse which places The Players
upon solid foundation from the start conSiSt ,
late Nj Eooth upOA the inspiration which moved MN
10 demo, strate in this royal way that uuc generosity
defcrs MT its gifts" until the CONN anu ,nc siaNc
make ones worldly possessions personal t @
And consatulate the pubic at large OF thls glea, ara
grandly grwing city upon this monumental alS7lon
to It's representative notwithstanding me walls vi
which we hODc Immediately 10 dcmohslrale ,nt oT IT,
STABILITY of fellowship, as Shakespeare puts IL III
Z" Il cry OF payIs." a, ,, =. A,o
believe. gen lcmen that Mr.. Booth wishes to have
the privilege Of giving you the first toast toilsn pu
he cannot be oiiedcd If ask you all 10 dnuoPdoS
him and 10 wish, With a hurrah from your healt %
h, arts, long life ant every honor tn Eh"lh Looth
Who doubt lint every man sinang 10 MS iee'
and drank a hearty Aacn to all that Mr. baly saiu
Mr.. BARRETT SURPRISES THE COMPANY.
But Lawrence Barrett furnished the suip'ise OF 'lo
occasion Everybody kney he was TO iahc prom
incnt part in the ceremonies, but what mat par
would be none could hazad guess. speech was
cynoctcd by many. a letter sld "a poem ly none
Even Mr. Booth vas I'm the dark. lie ana III. Ear
rett after nearly three Eous OF shy