New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-06
THE pLAYFRSD CLUB 3.

The gift by Mr.. Edwin Booth of handsome
house TO the newly organized CLUB OF Inc
Players' is something more than memorial
offered by an affectionate son to the memory
of his father, and testimonial OF goodwin 10
his fellows in the theatrical profession. Inc
purpose of the distinguished actor who has been
chiefly instrumental in organizing this club,
and whose generosity has placed it upon an
enduring basis for all time, was as far-sighted
"a il was liberal As he intimated in his ad-
dress to the members, it had long been MS
desire to do something for the profession be-
yond mere aims giving. Much has been done
through the development OF the Actors ruho
and other organizations to care for unfortunate
Members of a too careless fraternity but there
is surely work of higher order than this TO
be ACCOMPLISHED for the people of the stage,
and Mr.. Booth showed wise discrimination,
as well as kindliness, when he determined to
devote his efforts to a. project which should eA-
ert an educating, stimulating and elevatlng
effect upon the profession.
There are other clubs in this city having
large admixture of theatrical membership, the
Lotos being the most conspicuous; and Inc
Players" is not the only club supposed TO Dc
devoted to the stage. But it is unique, for this
city at least, in its character and purposes.
II begins its career with valuable dramatic
library and a large collection Of portraits and
other much-prized relics Of the stage The
example already set by the gifts Of actors,
managers and others will, no doubt have the
result of bringing steady accessions to the
treasures of the club, both by personal gift ana
bequest. until it shall become in time the CHIEF
dramatic repository Of this country. IL may
be that the preparation of 4 history OF the
American stage will be undertaken through
the efforts of "The Players" The influence
of all this work can hardly fail to be beneficial
to the profession at large Actors, managers
and dramatsts will be encouraged to take their
art seriously. This will be a storehouse OF its
best traditions for the instruction Of future
generations.
The social influence Of such an organization
must be very important part of its work.
One of the great evils of the life of the stage
is it's social responsibility, its deficiency In
social standards. This is unhappily accentuated
by the present conditions of the actors life.
The combination system has carried him back
TO a state something like the yagabondage OF
former days The actor who plays the same
| part WITHOUT Unc NGlduOIl Vi d Noiu loi oO'Ni"i
seasons in succession, and lives each week, per-
haps, in different city, is in danger OF beng
reduced to low level of intelligence, if not OF
morals, simply by reason of the sheer vaculty
of his existence. Participation in an organiza-
ton Of this kind will furnish the actor who
needs it with mental stimulus, and should also
impress upon him a sense Of me al and social
responsibility which ought to be greatly to his
advantage. He will be brought into contact,
not only with leading actors, managers ana
writers for and about the stage but also with
numbers of men of prominence and ability
whose only interest in it is as students ana
spectators On the other hand, the latter class
will meet face to face the men whom they are
accustomed to see behind the footlights, or
whose work makes itself felt there, though they
may not be seen themselves. The result should
be quicker sympathy and better understand
ing, not only among all branches OF the the
atrical profession, but between the mimic stage
and that greater stage beyond, where the men
and women are simply players. The disun-
guished actor and kindly gentleman who has
created all these possibilities, and has done so
with such characteristic modesty and dread OF
ostentaton has built for himself, we hope an
enduring monument.