The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-07
THEY'LL ALL BE THERE.
DISTINGUISHED ACTORS AND ACT
REsSES TO HAVE BOOTHS.

SQUARE Garden for the Benefit of the
Actors gund-They Hope to Clear at
Least $1Oo,ooo-such People as Mr..
and Mrs. Astor and Mr.. aud Mrs. Bel.
mont Take a Live Interest 10 its Sue
cess-AmonR the "Profession" Who
viii Give Their Assistance Will Be
PATTI, jefferson and Booth.
NEW YORK, April 2.-The public Of to-
dsy is constantly on the lookout for some
thing that is new.
1t wants something that is unique, that is
original and that is entertaining.
That something will be seen in Madison
Square garden, New York, during the week
beginning with May add ending with
MAY &
On that occasion will be held grand fair
for the benefit of the Actors Fund of
America, an organization that has for i.
object the aiding OF sick or INDECENT players
whoever they may be, and the burial OF
dead ones. Up to the present time it has
expended upward of $3.50, 900 in this WORK
and it is now spending 1928, 900 year 10 tho
same way. There is no actor so great thai
he may not fall upon misfortune
has become poor and needy, or a sick
chorus girl who has always been poor ard
needy, all have a common share in this
fnud 1t helps them in misfortune, IL will
hurry them with respect and decency when
deaths curtain falls before their gaze.
Somuch for the Actors Fund of America
Now as to the fair.
The actors Of America have never before
combined in an effort Of this kind. We
have seen great performances in which a
number of famous actors and actresses
have figured together, but there has never
been anything like this proposed fair, in
which the greatest actors and actresses of
this day will appear together in the largest
building of its kind in this country continu-
ously for one week IN way altogether
original and unique.
II is somewhat remarkable, too, that this
is the first real attempt on the part of the
actors and actresses OF America to tnaugu-
rate any great entertainment for the benefit
of the poor and weak among them. or
course there have been individual benefits
for needy actors and actresses and for the
Actors Fund.
but put alongside this the fact that in a
single year the theaters of the United States
raised for public charitable purposes $400,.
600 Then remember the many occasions
when the news of some great disaster swept
over the country the actors were the first to
offer help. 1t was so at the time Of the
Charleston earthquake, the Jamestown
flood and times without number. 1t has al.
ways been the same.
Whatever our faults may be, my boy,
we amt bad hearted"
So spoke an actor long ago, and he spoke
Sruly.
Perhaps that is why there has been so
much interest taken by the Now York pub
lie in the projected fair.
-. y.NN = 4, -,
other good one, came from a woman. 1t
was the wife Of famous manager who was
the author of the suggestion of the Actors
fair in New York city that would raise
enough Of money to enable the fund
already in existence to carry on its
work of charity in satisfactory
way. The idea became popular at once A
meeting was called. A. b. de Frece, who
managed other fairs for various purposes,
was called upon to submit plan and
scheme for the proposed enterprise. He did
so and the plan was adopted. The whole
matter was then put into a substantial
shape.
A. NJ. Palmer, who is also president of
the Actors Fund of America, was mado
chairman OF the fair committee. The other
officers selected were Frank W. Sanger
treasurer; Daniel Frohmao, secretary !;
Charles w. Thomas, and A. B. de Frece,
director general
This was speedily followed by the selection
of a ladies' executive committee, and that
stands this way: Mrs. A. NJ. Palmer, presi-
dent; Mrs. Edward E. Kidder, first vice
president; Mrs. c. c. Van Brundt, second
vice president; Miss Georgia Cayvan, secre-
tary Miss Emma Frohman, corresponding
secretary, and Miss Alice Fischer, recording
secretary. This has since been supplemented
by a series Of committees Of ladies, who Will
90 the main work Of the fair, with the
cooperation of the fair committee and
Of the director general. Among the chair
men, if s1ch you may call them, OF
these committees are such well-known
g.ish actress; Nine. ModJeska, Mrs. Kate
Rankin, Miss Dora Goldthwait. Agnes
Booth, Isabelle Evesson. Estelle Clayton,
Rose Eytnge, May Robson, Mrs Mortimer
Brown. Mrs. j. D. Townsend and Mrs. E.
b. kldder. There are any number of en-
ergetic ladies who will help them.
IL is the ladies who have done the work
90 far, as they will to the end and it is thOy
who will reap great credit if the fair is the
success that 1t now seems certain to be.
50 much for the organization and intent
OF the Actors fair. and here the most signif1-
cant feature Of this appears,
In all the past, from the time of Shakes
peare down, that class of the public that
forms what is generally known as the best
eoCIoly, mas Deen Wiling enough 10 applaud
The actor when on the stage, after the fash
Ion of the times as they were. But on the
street the actor was at the most but pat
Ionized The drawing rooms of the great
Knew him not at all unless he happened to
be called there to amuse those who could not
otherwise amuse themselves. The actor
was preached at and prayed at in and out
OF season, and as for the actress-well,
enough is said. There was small mercy in
deed for her when off the stage.
No one who has read Dickens, the first
writer who successfully bent his great ener-
giles to beating down this line between act
ors and actresses, and other men aud women
OF brains and good conduct. will forget one
chapter in Nicholas Nickleby." 1t is that
which describes Miss Snevellicoi, leading
lady in the company Of Vincent Crammles'
aud Nicholas and the Infant Phenomenons"
s:ttlng out to secure promises from lovers
Of the drama to patronize Miss SnevelliccTs
benefit and of how they were lectured in
one place, frowned down in another aud
gwen short change in another.
But times have changed The experiences
Of The ladies who have been working to make
Tue actors fair success prove this without
adoubt. To make it a success it was neo-
eSsary to learn first If the public would sup
port 1t, is they thought the object worthy.
20 the director general sent letters out to
e,eyen distinguished citizens of New York
STATE requesting their Endorsement OF the
scheme as set forth.