New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-09
THE VASSAR ALUMNAE.
ANNUAL LUNCHEON AT THE HOTEL
BRUNSWICK.
MR.. cLAprs VIEWS OF THE DRAMA-sPEEcHEs

the Hotel Bruins wick yesterday Afternoon. Inc
gathering Of members and guests was as large as
could easily be accommodated In the ballroom.
There Were OF course. not many men present per-
haps n dozen in all Dut they treated better
than the women are who and then attend me
dinners given by the alumni associations OF men
colleges When women are allowed to come at all
TO such meetings II is REGARDED as great concession
that they are permitted to sit In the gallery ana
hear the speaking. On this occasion the men were
placed at the tables and were "a we'll used as any
body. one Of them. who was allowed 10 SPEAK said
that the men were now wondering what the New
Woman was going 20 do with them. II they suner
nothing than their few representatives. dii
yesterday. 1t is probable that the development OF the
New Man will be slower than that Oh the New
Woman has been.
The president OF the association, MISS Mary H.
Avery, was unable to be present on account OF the
recent death OF her mother and Mrs. j. Wells
Champney presided at the dinner. On her right sat
Bishop Potter and on her left Henry \. Clapp, The
dramatic critic Of THE Boston Advertiser Next
to ar Clapp was Miss He,o.se H. Jersey the
newly elected president Of the Associate A!umnn'
Among others who present were Mrs. Henry
\ Clapp. Professor f.. G. French. Professor Henry
Van lngen. Professor Achsan VI. Ely ex-pres'deh'
~ the General Association Mrs Helen II. Backus,
Mrs Ellen H. Richards Mrs. John T. Williams
Mrs William c. Brownell. Miss Helen Dawes
Brown president OF the Women's University Ciup'
Mrs Charles VI. Pratt. Mrs. q. o. lrasK' MIS-
Bourne Mrs William 4. Thompson. MIS-. H. =
Folger Mss Louise Lawrence. Miss Ada Laumer'
Miss Elizabeth r. Coffin. Miss Emily L. motifs
Miss MARGARET Person and Miss Mary y sanders
After the luncheon Mrs Champney made short
address Of welcome and letter was read from
Dr. james NJ Tayior the president OF the college.
who * now In Egypt. Mrs. Champney then IN
troduced Emily James Smith dean Of Barnard Col
lece who made short and pretty and Witty
speech in which she compllmented the alumne on
the fact that they represented the Oldest OF the
women's colleges Of America. and on the influence
Of Vassar On the establishment and prosperity OF
other colleges Ior women.
MR.. CLAPP OK THE STATE OF THE DRAMA.
The principal address of the occasion was that OF
Mr. Clamp who had been asked to speak on the
condition OF the drama In America MI Clapp' al'er
saving that there had been orderly and steady
advance I'm any Of the fine arts and after conceding
that tho APPEARANCE OF great genuses could not be
directly related to any outward conditions con-
tended that il was neyerthcles plain that tne HHe
arts largely viewed in all the ages had been Closely
and synpathetically bound to the spirit OF thcir
several times and to the taste. temper and desire OF
the patrons and public 10 whom they made the''
appeal lie then said in substance:
II this o.. true OK all the higher arts II is partcu-
LARRY rd esp.clAlly rue Of the dramatic art as *
rs KS expression in the theatre. The theatre has.
ana as things are to-day. must have suppose
No. Ears ana brains only FOR the moment. FOR the
aus. nj th. cVenlng the size and temper Of the
ar'li.nc. and most OF all. the present fuIness OF
ih,. ea4n-hox The theatre being thus drp"hd'ht
mon if4 PATRONS has passed In the English speak
inl. countries through peculiar experience II mas
ups.d almost completely ont OF the control ana III
r1,rre ~ the higher and more cultivated classes
Of h. community upon the breath OF whose favor II
lived through several centuries. and has become me
ra,o-itc frond and pur, eyor OF he great mass OF
fat-iy well,to-do and d-c.ntly educated, but not
n1nf cn,a,rniy m great crowd has sole
.-.f 4frr ID. "a .
nht after night In one form or anothrr only tna'
aat!or are with this great class OF persons d. hV'"
INK IN comparison
4 CURE THAT WOULD BE TOO SLo"
who ,hen. can wonder that the managers OF
...,.res arc steadily influenced ~ the We'ahhS
cone temper AMI taste o, tbs huge BODY whose
-,tronage IL go steady and slr"? VINO can WON,
l.- tha, they are 80 little moved By the "''A'''
.-....,.ra os he small body whose favor seems so
q. fi.r The managers are simply men, VINO are
,l-uue ,hcr nvus Ike the rest of VI, M 0' -,
taat great bond wA o!nis mem go In Ainer-
.I ,no., .gli,ilv IN England. the spectacle
. to-day presented ~ ta'atr" "n.h Hs p,,,creI
displays the operation ~ an @DsoIn.,SS -" A., ,his
Las ol demand ana supply as an{ttnn't ,roa1iv
world display o. he arl,1s wnS" ,,rnishci
luyht ESQ is rarely ani gruISInsy supi..'rSh D.
20 what has happened as resuI ',,.,res bv,
som. d.rcrcnc. ~ opinion IN some hu"'c"'', -
,..r. Ulu T.. W,,le " such difference among IN"
arirnae 81 Nas~ar College hnu MI a. - -
'..aly unanimous N judgment wh.th mus ~, w.
,v. n, me Iay 20 BE- cheap. vulgar. thin. taWdry'
anil peculiarly void OF intellectual power anu III
The Evil being known the remedy Is TO be sought
al u scarccly needs b" sad to you ttat a par -
A remedy may be found in tn" CULTIVATION OF
higher more rchned and exacting TASTE IN me
community and In tho careful ana r9hscien..onS
ies,oNal bv all ihoughi'u persons OF their patron
... - rl,ys That eayrn VIII DO something with
tre lump In 100 years or perhaps In some hun
l,.I. Rrt sor such slow change We cannot
wait what Is demanded Is the establishment OF
some theatres one theatre IN some great ,iy
which shall be backed by Few rich ana public.
our Government viii admit Of no help from its
yyo,rs ar wied rs almost Incompatible orchestra
into existence by the simple power OF IL purse'
welded FOR the best. Why might not a like won
der he wrought FOR the theatre
\ BROAD AND IDEAL THEATRE.
Think 81 #. one theatre. equipped with choice
and admirable company and well supplied with
theatrical appliances In which only works Of merit
grave CAV lively severe. English. German.
French Spanish. American. and OF all the centu-
RIGS hat you will but always and only works OF
merit and ethcally sound-should Toe produced from
day to day No lad, no provnciallsn no iaVorltish
simply a scheme to produce ana - Keep on pro-
Iucini. the hesf works OF the dramatic authors.
Who can doubt what a power srch a theatre wo"Ns
presently become. that around IL cohSerEalor''S -,
acting would grow up. IN which the student cou!d
bee shown we'll rs told IN" best ana so'i' rno
done 20 compensate for the now seeming terrlnc
loss OF our stock companies schools or dramatic
art2 ,, -.
Suppose such theatre was severe utilh iV'
two or even five years upon the purses or us pun
lic-spirtcd hackers. would not It's cventuai su.c's
be- sure? our people are so quick 80 Eager. 80 80
responsive on the whole 20 ready Tor the pest, u
only the best be shown TO them. thar sooh wy ,
soon III. ideal theatre would prevail. ana even pay
its way The city in which 1t was 9S, ,n,n ii
would become dramatic mecca anu -, al, 40 ~
over The Ia nd pllprims and dcvotees would mock 10
pay their homage and deposit Their trDute no"ey
The high earnest scheme of lie 10 which you arc
ali committed Will find It's reflection here TO Keep
the people TO the best, to say" III. pot'-' ,'r
them all Of ne. from TN" power OF th'"' u JUL
meaner and lower Instincts
Bishop Potter was the next speaker HAVING oe'''
asked to make plea for the conservation Oh inc
purity OF tho mother tongue. ne made 1t most eio-
quently forcibly and convncingy. Keeping MS
hearers abundantly amused at the same time '"a'
tho English language and the duty of loyalty 10 the
best OF English speech Mary w whitney. pro
fca.nr astrnnnmY AZ Nassar spoke OF thc cOllul-