New-York tribune., 1900-07-15
THE LAMBS LAST WASHING
A CEREMONY OF DRAMATIC AND POET
ICAL DISTINCTION-TTS Salts
FACTORY ENDING.
FACTORY ENDING.


men who are interested in theatrical and musi-
cal matters was founded in 1874, and since that
time much has been heard about the "hOcHngs,"
"gambols" and meIrymakings of the organiza-
ton. But the most enjoyable of the Lambs
tertainments is the one about which the public
knows the least. This is the annual washing"
member when asked to give definition of
the term said that a washing was a combination
of clambake, picnic, excursion gambol, locking.
opera, drama, athletic contest, regatta and jolly
good time generally.
The first washing of the Lambs took place
In 1879 at Bayside, Long Island at the home OF
Clay NJ. Greene. The next year Lester Wallack
was the host at Stamford, Conn, and every
year since that time the ceremony of washing
a lamb a real four legged specimen, with cham
pagne and making merry the ceremony
has taken place. and no two entertainments have
been alike. Iona Island Southsde QIOng ISL
and) Greenwood Lake, Wallacks Island and
Smiths Island some of the places chosen
ior the outing, and each occasion the his
trionic propensites of the members and their
inventive genius for original fun made them
selves manifest in parodies on well known plays
and in original skits.
One notable washing rendered remark
able by the production of "A Midsummer Nights
Dream" in which Clay M. Greene, De Wolf
Hopper, Louis Harrison, Mark Smith and Digby
Bell played the principal parts. At the washing
which took place at Shepherd Greene's place a
few years ago large delegation of members
were held up by Lambs attired and mounted
Mexican vaqueros when they arrived on the
grounds and were conducted to the shepherd
who addressed them in a Spanish speech Of wei
come. Another washing is remembered because
of the demolition of the documents of debt"
which took place at that time. The documents
on that occasion were mortgages to the amount
of $4,000 on the Lambs Club house, which had
been satisfied Wilton Lackaye was the master Of
ceremonies, and Thomas Manning and Thomas
B. Clark, robed in purple and black acted as
cremation officers. A spirit Of fun and jollity
pervades these outings, and the Lambs freed
from their professional work, make efforts to be
boys again-and they always succeed.
The washing" this year took place at the
summer home of Clay NJ Greene. at Baysidc
Long Island on June p, and for the occasion
L. j. B. Lincoln wrote version Of "Hia-
watha' in which chiefs and tribes figured not
thought of by LongfeIow. Among the tribes
were the Lambahbahs. Fadeways. Murray hills
Neverpays ana Moneysunks Thomas h. Clarke
the shepherd Of the flock, impersonated the great
Tomatalk, and, clad in all the hnery Of a great
chief he sat in Indian state and received the
homage of the chiefs. each more gorgeous and
ferocious than his neighbor. There were Thomas
Manning Otamahning De Wolf Hopper as
Mahltou, Myron Calico as CanOnchet Augustus
Thomas as Makaplay, Digby Bell as Diebellbah
George Nash as Nashwinah. Henry f. Dixey as
Muidoonah, Lewis Baker as Lulu Rollah CIav
M Greene as Calumet, Louis Payne as Herb
Doctor and Edward w. Kemble us the Indian
DUDE An orchestra Of horns distributed about
the grounds furnished the music
one OF the features of the performance wa
the appearance OF Can0nchet horseback He
r"de In upon the scene with the determined air
or veritable rough rider and rected the peace
pipe III a dramatic manner TomaiaIk arose
and greeted the rider and said:
Smoke the calumet Of friendship
The PukWana Of the Peace Pipe:
But may not smoke il with YOU
Gitche ManitOu the Mighty,
The Great Spirit Of the Father
First must give revelation
Else am condemned forever
To remain from happy huntings
Manitou, Great Father hearken,
Send a greeting to the Sachem.
Then a voice came from the woods It was
DE Wolf Hoppers, through a megaphone:
Smoke in Peace-Such is the wisdom
OF the chief now watching Ger Won
Gtche MantOu the Mighty,
Father of ali our peoples
on the land or the water
Smoke in Peace!
The scene. despite the humor. was dramatic |
and was enjoyed by all except Hopper who |
could not occupy the centre of the stage and !
despite his importance, had to remain out of