Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-12-07
THE PLAYERS CLUB
Description OF that Unique Institu.
LONESOME Relics of the Stage.


Interesting than "The Players" on
cupied by the club was erected by
hundred thousand dollars, and was
presented by him to The Players in
1888. 1t is modest in appearance,
four stories high, with stone front,
and small, quaint windows in its up
per story. 1t is entered directly from
the street; on the first floor are the
offices, the bar, and the billiard room.
A short flight of steps leads to the
second or main floor of the club, and
here are found the reading, reception,
and dining-rooms. The walls of these
apartments are covered with rare
portraits of many of the great actors
OF the past, notably David Garrick
Macready, Lester Wallack, Burton,
and others.
A magnificent fuH-length painting
OF Edwin Booth, in the character of
Eichelieu, ornaments the wall of the
| eception-room--whil over it's broad,
hospitabie, and old-fashioned fire.
place hangs another portrait of that
distinguished actor which is remark
ably fine. The dining-room is small,
and somewhat dark; but its round
| and square tables are crowded to-
! gether in companionable way that
| bespeak a social and goodly COM
| pany. Here is another high, deep,
and antique fireplace, with it's heavy
bronze andirons; over it is an old
Fashioned Dutch mantel, below which
hangs number of pewter mugs each
engraved with the name of it's owner.
The walls of the dining-room are
covered with great number of en-
cravings and etchings of players,
eiaborately framed. A broad, wind
zng staircase leads to the upper floor,
where. IN a long, narrow, and some
what gloomy room is the library.
Here again is an old-fashioned and
hospitable fireplace bearing the ap-
propriate inscriptions: "My library
is dukedom large enough for me-"
Here are the books presented to tine
club by Edwin Booth, Barrett, snd
others-a library of one thousand vol
umes or more, all devoted to drama,
comedy, and the stage; a collection
OF dramatic literature probably une.
qualed. Beneath the book-sheIves
and enveloped in large brown-paper
covers, are the play-bills of "ye olden
time" Nothing in this collection OF
dramatic literatur is more interest.
ing or reminiscent than these same
old Play-bills of the Glofbe, the Co.
vent Garden, and the Drury Lane.
In the time of David Garrick the
play was advertised by means ot
Block Bills" or posters, thirty
inches long and about twenty-foul
inches wide, bearing at the head tn.
name of the theater; upon lines i'm
mediately following, without spacing
appeared the names of the PLAYER,
and the role assumed. Prior to Gar
rrck's time the block bill announce,
the characters, but not the cast O
the play, nor was the audience ia
vored with what we call a pro
gramme. The oldest of these bioc]
bills bears the date In 1743; the pla
, is Seduction"
: Another old bill announces "Ham
liet," with Mr.. Garrick in the title
role. This bill concludes as follows
s Doors open at quarter past five, y
, play begins at quarter to six. Co
save the King and Queen!" Two o
. more plays were usually produce,
S each evening. OF all the bills exam
n ined, none, save that of 'Hamlet,
bore the name of a familiar play
j One of the Globe bills announced tn
3 first appearance, at that theater, o
, Edmund Kean for two nights; other
have the names of Charlotte Cush
3 man, Charles Kemble, and Mrs. Sid
2 dons; but, alas for the blightin,
/ touch of time! many contain name
Of which we moderns have neve
heard. Players, whose consummat
3 art delighted nearly generation O
audiences, whose names were once a
/, household words, and whose triumph
! were as brilliant as any sine
/ achieved, are now forgotten; after
= life of brilliant accomplishment the
passed away, and left mot a rae
behind
i, Up still another flight of stairs ar
: the rooms where Booth lived an
died. So tender, almost reverent.
the sentiment of The Players for thi
spot that while a visitor NAV erio
in all other respects the privilege q
the club, he is not permitted to yisi
3 this room save in the company Of
= member and am attendant.
When the door of this room wa
= opened it disclosed a large, suuar
apartment, paneled in dark wood an
u crowded with furniture, pictures an
"a hric-a,brac: here. everything Ia tofa