The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-04-23
THESPIANS TOAST
THE BARD OF AVON
His 338th Anniversary of
Birth Celebrated.
Merrie Gathering at Barton's Organize a
Shakespeare Club Under
Happy Auspices.

II Shakespeare could have returned to
life and visited Washington early this
! morning, in the early dawn of the ami
versary of his 33sth birthday, he would
have found assembled at Rarton's Inn as
merrie a company CT ladies and gentle
men, thespians, as his heart could wish.
all intent upon doing honor to his men,
DRY, and busy with the organization Of a
Shakespeare Club.
AS the bard of Avon could not be pres
ent in the flesh, but only in the spirit,
the assembled player folk proceeded with
the festivities, did ample justice to a
huge old English dinner. in which the
sack and mead of the seventeenth CEN
fury did yeoman duty toward the nine
teenth century disciples of Shakespeare.
An Artistic Treat.
Mine host. one j. Barton Key. famed
far and wide, set his inventive genius to
work, and evolved an artistic tribute. cul-
mary and otherwise, that would have
made the heart OF Queen Elizabeth glad.
and elevated him to knighthood. The
table groaned beneath the weight of dish
es. At one end was a huge boar's head.
at the other loin of English roast beef.
while in the center was n noble peacock,
apparently alive, for all his feathers were
where they should have been.
At the foot Of the board. done in sweet
peas. and apple blossoms, was the word
Shakespeare" in mammoth letters. At
the head of the table, resting on the floor.
was an immense out-of-door crane. from
which was suspended great iron pot, in
a real log fire. In this ealdron. the origi-
nal one of bubble. bubble" fame, from
Macbeth. was boiled the onions and
tripe. said to have been Shakespeare S
favorite dish.
Handsome Floral Decorations.
The room was handsomely decorated
with flowers. while on the walls were
hung famous engravings from Shakes
peare's famous plays, and Of his famous
players. The very atmosphere was that
of Sir Walter Raleigh's time.
Genial Edmund Lyons. round Of counte-
nance and jovial Of soul. presided. and.
from his place at the head OF the banquet
board, kept a watchful eye upon ali. ard
all in dignifed order. 1t was he who not
only proposed the toast, Shakespeare. ="
but replied to it himself His rousing
words brought forth applause. and his
tender reference to the great dramatist
touched responsive chords in the hearts
of all the player people there.
Then Others had their turn Lillian Law
renee. Philander Johnson. while Horace
McVicker. ahead of Blanche Bates, did
himself proud.
Elaborate Menu.
The menus were unique. On the cover
was, Eye Birthday Clubbe Banquet" In
side were many things, a picture Of
Shakespeare's birthplace. about ii the
names of all his plays. which have made
the Anglo Saxon race immortal.
The Guests.
The following actor people and their
friends were there:
Mr.. Bellows. Mrs. Bellows, Horace Nc
Wicker, DR.. Walsh. John T. Sullivan,
Lillian Lawrence, Edmund Lyons. Frederic
Sullivan, Mrs Reed, J. Barton Key, Miss
Clinton, Miss Walker, Mr.. Howard. Miss
cOnwell, Bruce McRae. Charles Harbury,
L. Rodriguez, Philand Johnson. Mr.
Shrader, Wilfrid North, Mr.. Stead. DR..
Duggan