The record-union., 1892-05-28


Teach out TO and know its metes and
boundaries. 1t is usually, and more
nonor to him for it, in a permanent and
delightful hullabaloo from the presence
OF many roistering aud gladstone chill
uren. 1t Is full OF strange and outrage
GUS pets. 1t IS buried in yines-all but
the Wlndows-and within it is a plethoric
conservatory of ofplants and flowers. There
are many and the best of books, not hid
den IN snowy cases, but within hand
reach IN every nook and corner. Bits Of
art work and dainty trifles, but most of
them tins family's handwork, orderleSs
but interesting, abound. There IS harp,
Zlther, guitar, violin or a not incl
ancholy" flute, and melody and song of
the homemade kind seem to break loose
here rather than come at ''the cue" and to
order.
Above all else there is a wonderful sort
OF all around housekeeping in these JOY
Gus little homes from participation in
winch no friend or guest is altogether de-
barred, and occasionally under no cir
cumstanceS absolved. II is as though the
effort, assumption and repression of the
stage-World found It's exact antithesis in
this most precious of haunts, and that all
those things in home-making and keep
ing which are regarded as irksome by
ordinary folk were TO these people the
acme OF pleasure and delight.
it to me. And so it is. With mingled
feelings of amaZement and delight, while
enjoying the most genial entertainment l
have ever elsewhere known, have as
sisted Lady TeaZle at dusting; a Juliet
at digging in the garden; Lear at leap
frog with his not ungrateful children; a
Portia at shelling peas; an OthellO at
mending kites; a Mrs. Malaprop in wash
Ing the lunch dishes; a Grave Digger at
mending his range; Cleopatra at pairing
potatoes; a Falstatf at making gooseberry
and damson jam; Bob Acres at grilling
chops, or Surface at preparing salads-tor
English actors are peerless as cOoks-a
Bill sykes at prayers; and Richelieu at
brewing such punches as, have been
told by those who slipped them, left, by
comparison, the nectar of the gods"
mere eight-penny treacle.
Ihe whole CoYent Garden region-that
Joyous region" as Thackeray called it
while not exactly haunt Of actors, has
been sort of actor-land for more than
80 years. 1t Is now as of old a region of
fine old inns, coffee houses, theaters,
clubs, printers and publishers, booksel-
lers and coStumerS. In these precincts,
between Covent Garden and the Strand,
| that greatest roaring tide of humanity in
all the world, and upon the Strand itself,
more actors will be seen coming, going or
loIterlng, than in any other district of the
| great city.
After his profession and his Jolly little
home, the strongest attachment of the
London actor is given TO his club. Every
one is member of from one to a half
dozen CLUBS; and these actors, as a class,
more than all others of the liberal profess
sions and arts, have inspired, developed
and sustained that spirit of genial associa-
ton Of men of talent which has given
London Its vast numbers Of most splen-
did clubs, around which cluster the most
precious of historic and literary associa-
tlons. 1t may be truly said that, from
Shakespeare to Dickens, not only the
| greatest actors who ever lived, but most
Of the greatest writers, have been spurred
and prompted into the effort and activi-
ties which gave themselves fame and the
| world its cleanest dramas and grandest
| literature from this source and out of this
| fruitful and fecund association.
Since evils" :" Buttons, +" Toms and
other famous coffee-houses and clubs of
the Queen Anne period, a history of the
| changes and habitues of famous London
| clubs, to which actors have given the
Of Englishmen Of letters and litera-
ture. The actors club haunts of to-day
chiefly comprise the Garrick, Green
Room, Savage, Arundel, Lyric and Beef
steak Clubs.
! The latter unique little club, which has
| us Hcule over 1OOlO lnGdIGc, SDfdllg out
| of the Honorable Society of BeefSteaks,
in the old Beefsteak-room of the Lyceum
! Theater, which still exists, and is used by
| Irving for his exquisite private dinner
| parties. The Beefsteak over Toole's is
distinctive in being "one-room'' club
and admitting no guests whatever.
The Arundel has $50 to 400 members
1t was once exclusively literary and ar
tistic. Ambitious solicitors and amateurs
of all sorts are now admitted, and its per-
| centage of legitimate actors is growing
smaller.
The Lyric has magnificent clubhouse
in Picadilly, and with its entire appoint
ments, including large theater and con-
cert hall, is among the finest buildings
for this purpose in the world. Italso has
an annex called the Lyric Club at Barnes
| on-ThameS, from which boat racing and
other river tetes can be witnessed. The
Lyric is a dramatic and musical club with
nearly 1900 members. Perhaps ten pei
cent. of these are actors. Lord Londes-
borough, Fred Cowen and Sir Arthur
Sullivan are members.
The well-known Savage Club, literary
| and artistic, which interchanges priviI-
eges with the Lotus Club of New York
has about 700 members. 1t had it's origin
twenty-four years ago in a public house
near Drury Lane Theater. Since then il
has wandered to HaxePS Hotel, thence
| Terrace, overlooking the Thames. About
eighty of its members, who are also
| members OF the GreenROom Club arc
actors.
The Garrick, in Garrick street, Covent
Garden, venerable, rich, stately, mellow
and grand, has no membership Limitation
as to profession. While, perhaps. uC
more than twenty-five actors are at pres
ent among its members, although al
| London managers Of any prominence are
upon its rolls. it undoubtedly possesses
the most valuable collection OF souvenirs
and paintings relating 10 the stage and its
most famous representatives of any asso.
ciatiOn or institution IN the world
But the GreenRoom Club, in Bedford
street, which had its origin about four.
teen years ago from disagreements in the
Junior Garrick and the Arundel Clubs. is
by all odds the real actors club of Lon.
don. 1t is already one of the wealthies
o. its small clubs, and owes its great sue.
cess to the administration of its honorary
Secretary, George Denacher gentleman
of ample means, genuine art lover with
boundiess sympathies for actors anG
their profession. Persons in all the lib.
eral arts are admitted to membership. bu1
no active manager can become member
unless he was formerly an actor of good
standing. Pinero and Lord Carton, Cira.
matistS, Farieon. the author and Charles
DlCh6lS, 6ullOI anu dlIllOT ana son Ol
the great novelist, are among its mem
| bers.
saturday Nights and SATURDAY.
House Dinners''-the latter splendidly
served at but three shillings and six.
pence-are the kindliest, brightest, mel
lowest and most genial occasions of ouI
time among men of heart and brains
Gathered here will be found such men as
Pinero, Saint Matthews, Irving, join
Hare, Royce Carleton, Kendall, Pau
Merritt, Wyndham, Charles Hartburv
Bancroft, Fernandez. Beerbohn Tree, TeC
Gardiner, and Henry Howe, the oIdes
actor on the English stage.