New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-06
ENDOWMENT FOR STAGE.
MISS IRWTN PROVIDES 1T.
IT,;H Leaue 100000 to Accumulate
Find for National Theatre.


49,. May Irwin authorized the announcement
...stordsv that she has provided in her will for
- establishment Of 100000 fund for the
,.,,,5i,e and maintenance of national theatre
- .,,ts c;tv. In this connection. Miss Irwin said
n Boston few days ago.
What / have has come TO me through the
'rtes, and kindness of the American peo-
- cor my efforts to amuse them. 1t Is there
W Measure TO me to provide for what has
seemed TO be something that me american pe9-
rIe most dearly desires a national theatre 1t
1ssy take some time for this fund TO accumulate
20 the proper proportions, but the seemingly
,,aU Franklin Fund which has done so much
good toward the education Of the children of
Eoston was only $1,000 when it was founded.
Mics Irwin is probably the wealthiest actress
O. The world Her holdings in New-York real
estate alone are worth s.. 100000
The will itself has been deposited IN Miss
TWINS vault at the Fifth Avenue Bank
The will provides that the fund be managed
hv a commission Of five trustees, the chairman
Of which is TO be appointed for life by the Pres
,6ent Of the United States at the time of Miss
Twins death. The trustees who are to be APP
ronted for life win be named by the Gov
ernor the United States Senators Of New-York
State and the Mayor of New-York City. The
fund is 10 be invested in United States govern
rnent bonds paying the highest interest until
the investment aLIOuIlbs 10 GC,poOOOO.
The extract further provides that the ediice
shall be built within the city OF New-York and
named The American Theatre OF Dramatic
Art"
A provision is also made that the public shall
not be charged more than 81 for single admis-
sion.
EXTRACT FROM THE WILL.
The extract in full is given herewith:
I hereby set aside the sum of 100000 one
hundred thousand dollars, cash, as a fund, for
the purposes hereafter set forth, and to be man
aged and cared for follows, to wit:
That said fund shall be known under the
following name, TO wit: THE May Irwin Fund
FOR the Promotion Of Dramatic Art in the
United States of America"
This fund shall be under the management of
g commission OF five trustees to be appointed
as follows the death of the maker OF the
aforesaid instrument:
First hereby express 1t as my wish and
desire that the President of the United States,
occupying said position at the time of my death,
carry out the following provision: That the
President name the chairman of the trustees of
this fund, who shall serve for life.
The remaining trustees, TO the number OF
"a four who shall also serve for life, shall be
named one each by the Governor Of the State
OF NeW-YoTk, by the Mayor OF the City Of New
York. and the remaining two trustees by the
Senators representing the State of New-York IN
the Senate Of the United States.
The said trustees shall be named within sixty
days from the day of my death by each of the
i
IN case OF failure TO name trustee by the per-
son designated, he shall be named by the execu-
tor of my last viii and testament
That in case of the death incapacity OF
any Of the said trustees, their successors shall
be named by the said President OF the United
States, the Governor of the State Of New-York
the Mayor of the City of New-York, Senators
representing the State of New-York IN the Con-
gTess OF the United States, within sixty days of
the death of said trustee; the nominator of the
succeeding trustee being the incumbent of the
Office which nominated the deceased trustee.
In the default Of the President. the Mayor, the
Governor or the two Senators naming their
trustees, the said trustees shall be appointed by
the living trustees.
1 hereby express It as my wish and desire
that the said sum Of one hundred thousand dol
lars 100000 shall be invested in United States
government bonds paying the most favorable
interest and shall be held by the said trustees
or their successors TIL the said sum Of 100000
invested IN United States government bonds
amounts TO the sum of S5,0O0000
I hereby provide that in case the government
OF said United States shall cease to issue said
bonds. that the trustees invest said sum Of
100000 and its increments in such bonds
other securities that they may deem safe and
valuable toward the accumulation OF the amount
I have heretofore specified.
Upon the said sum Of 100000 reaching the
sum Of S5.0OQ.00Q, that one-half OF said So
100000 shall be invested in the following
manner:
That my trustees or their successors shall
erect within what is now known as the Borough
OF Manhattan IL the City Of New-York, a build
Ing for the promotion and encouragement of the
dramatic art
The land upon which this building will be
situated is to be purchased and held in fee
simple by the trustees or their successors OF this
said fund.
The remaining half Of said sum of $1,000, 900
hhall be SO invested within the discretion of the
SAID trustees of this fund to yield the largest
income possible and which income shall be de-
voted by said trustees to the maintenance of
the above home Of dramatic art and to the
aNaying Of any expenses incurred in carrying
out the provisions Of this fund
sad edlfce shall be known by the following
naIne; The American Theatre of Dramatic Art.
mat the said trustees or their successors
shall produce in said theatre OF dramatic art
such examples Of dramatic art in the English
language as shall in their judgment enhance the
gro" IN and development Of this branch Of Amer
lean literature.
hereby provide that no work or play shall be
produced in said building unless it be originated
Dy person born within United States territory;
mat no actor or actress shall be employed in
sald theatre unless said actor actress shall
4aIe been born within the territory of the
Chlted States; that three weeks of each year
ehal be devoted to the production of the plays
u William Shakespeare, and one week be de-
Noled 10 the production Of six OF the comedies
written within that period known the Eliza
bethien period of English literature.
ana further ! provide that the price of adj
MISSION 10 this American Theatre OF Dramatic
Ar shah be as low as possible considering the
COST OF maintaining said theatre, and that 1t
thal at no time exceed one dollar 81 0O for one
person.