The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-25
THE GREAT FAIR IN NEW YORK.
Thousands OF Dollars Being Collected

Thousands OF Dollars Being Collected
for Orphans of Actors.
New YORK, April 4.-No coming event
in the city OF New York has ever cast such
a wealth Of sunshine before it as that of
| the great fair of the women's executive
committee Of the Actors Fund Of America,
to be given at Madison Square garden May
| 2, and to continue ak days only. 1t will be
held principally to raise money TO endow a
home for the orphans Of players, the sur
plus TO go into the fund for the relief of
men and women In the profession who are
in great need and to bury the dead actors.
The fair is held In New York for no
other reason save that 1t ep-
pears to be most convenient Ii is
a fair such as has never before been
| attempted, and differs from all others In
many respects. The Actors Fund of
institution, but Is precisely what its name
implies, and covers the whole United States
with its benefits. Every city IN the land
has at least one physician who, in the inter
est of the fund, deVotedly cares for the sick
actor who is unable to employ physician.
Every city also has one or more managers
for the fund, whose duty it is to keep a
watchtul eye upon the members OF the the
atrical, musical and circus professions In
order that no worthy sick, disabled or Inn
poverished player may want for care, SYM
pathy and the necessarieS Of life.
Therefore this, the first appeal Of the
fund TO the people Of America, comes with
great force andlwhen backed with the men,
cries, constantly freshened by recurring in
stances OF the liberalty of the people Of
these professions toward all other charities
it is not surprising that the liberal responses
OF some cities have been all that the hearts OF
the projectors OF the fair could desire.
sel, - \
siasm that is unbounded and will not brook
restraint, nearly l 900 women have actually
thrown themselves into the cause and for
seven weeks past, devoted their time and
energies TO the collection OF money and
goods for the fund and the fair. OF these
many are of the best society, who have, for
the time, become absorbed In the work
Every actress in New York is working en-
| Enthusiastically and devotes every moment Of
waking time, when not occupied upon the
stage, either to raising money or goods,
making articles which will be saleable,
every stitch interviewer with her
| fervent prayer for the success of
the fair, or in managing entertainments at
theaters or in concert halls. the financial re-
suits from which will serve TO swell the sum
to be raised for the fund. Occasionally a
worker stops to ask what the women of
| other cities and towns are doing for the
| cause, for New York gets only her pro rata
| Of the money, but she passes on and in her
| energy and absorption Of mind in the enter
prise soon forgets the desire for encourage
| ment from sister cities. The faithful and
| devoted earnestness of these noble hearted
| women has been rewarded, mostly by the
merchants of New York, by the payment
OF more than 10000 $50 900 of which is in
cash. One store is filed from cellar to roof
| With goods for the fair and as much more,
| at least, is needed for the purposes of the
women. There is great need for more than
/ double the amount of money thus far
| raised and while the city Of New York has
| been well covered by the women workers,
their energy remains uudiminished, and,
| although failing to find other worlds to con-
! quer, after six weeks successful campaign,
they are busily occupied in picking up the
loose threads dropped in their previous
| work.
| But the spirit Of self-sacrifice and devo-
| ton 70 the cause ia not confined alone to the
| women on and the women who love the
stage, for all men Of the profession are do
| ing their utmost for the fair, and many
| prominent actors have contributed largely
of their means, the list being headed by
Edwin Booth with 81, 500. Every theatrical
manager in New York is earnestly engaged
in promoting the cause, while sensible of
the fact that his theater will De COMPARE
lively empty during the week of the
fair and the patrons Of his house
swallowed up in the enormous NAV of
the great Madison Square garden. Not
| withstanding this fact the managers have
| subscribed literally and those of some
| fifteen thesters are also bearing the entire
expense Of the gorgeous fittings Of the gar
| den, which will aggregate nearly $4,000.
| This has been done and other expenses re-
| duced TO "a nominal sum, in order that, un~
| like many other charities in which so per
| cent. of the money contributed is spent for
| collection and distribution, nearly every
| dollar collected will 60 to the actor and
| orphan. There are no salaried officers in
| the Actors Fund OF America and the patron
of the fund may be assured of the destina-
| tion OF his contribution ard realize the good
| which every dollar will accomplish for the
| worthy recipient of his favor.
| In reference to the salaries of actors,
A. NJ. Palmer, president of the Actors
| Fund and manager of Palmer's theater
| New York, aud several combinations, from
| many years Of experience, remarked that
| actors rarely get more than $50 a week
that the usual salaries run from $25 to $50
aud the seasons twenty-six weeks. He said
that an actor thus employed considered
himself very fortunate, notwithstanding
the drawbacks repeatedly met with, such as
having to pay many expenses out of his
own pocket such as sleeping berths
on long jumps, occasional meals and
other necessaries, to say nothing Of the too
frequent loss Of salary through bad business.
MIR. Palmer remarked that the actor must
make himself presentable upon all occasions
| and this necessitated his being well dressed
at all times, so that, with family to sup
port as is often the case it is not to be eX-
| pected that his savings can be large, but