The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-21
Actors and Their Fund.

Actors get much credit for being gen.
erous in taking care Of their own sick
and helpless. They are always ready
and possibly even trifie eager to appear
at large and brilliant benefits. The
entertainments recently given in aid Of
JOSEPH HOLLAND and HELENA MoDJEsKA
were cases much to the point. 1t was
to be expected that every actor in town
would try to take part in one or both Of
these performances. 1t was also to be
expected that Mr.. HOLLAND would er-
press his gratitude to his professional
associates in an emotional letter which
had very little to say about the public,
the real contributor Of the $4,000.
1t is strikingly significant that imme-
diately following these two great bene-
fits came the annual meeting OF the
Actors Fund, charity whose purpose
it is to take care of sick and disabled
theatrical workers and to bury the dead.
The treasurer's report showed that there
was deficit Of about $4,000 and that
the work of the charity vas greatly
hampered for want Of means.
The Actors Fund is compelled every
year to appeal to the public for aid
through benefit performances. These
benefits are no longer novelties. Actors
and public are both somewhat weary
Of them. The alluring interest Of oen-
trail personality Is lacking. The benefit
Is not for "poor old JOE" or tho once
famous and beautiful MARIE but for
an impersonal fund which supports a
few superannuated and forgotten players
in home on Staten Island or buries an
impoverished JANAUscHEK.
Is there no other way to maintain
this charity? There is. BY the pay
ment of 81 a year an actor or any other
person, from treasurer to scrubwoman,
employed in theater may be enrolled
as member of the Actors Fund Of
America. Well to do players may be-
come patrons by contributing 325 a
year.
What are the existing facts? There
are about 1000 actors in this country,
and less than l per cent. Of these con-
tribute regularly to this fund, upon
which the most prosperous of them may
in time be forced, as JANAUscHEK was,
to call. The business of the fund Is car
ried on almost entirely by New York
theatrical managers, who never were
actors, but are just plain business men
without sentiment. OF the managers
throughout the country 90 per cent.
contribute to the support of the fund.
1t seems therefore entirely fitting
that this question should be asked: What
right have actors who will not put their
hands into their pockets for 50 a year
to support their own charitable organi-
cation to appeal to the public with bene-
fit performances? The volunteer at
benefit does very little work and gets a
large amount Of free advertising. The
public gets its moneys worth Of enjoy
ment out of the benefits, no doubt; but
if the Actors Fund were properly sup
ported by the actors fewer benefits
would have to be given.
If all the persons employed in all the
theaters in the United States would give
81 year each to this we'll devised charity,
the Actors Fund would be able to min
lister to its sick, care for it's aged and
bury its dead without appealing to the
public, and the theatrical calling would
be spared the shame of being the only
one which contentedly poses before the
world as begging fraternity.