New-York tribune., 1908-12-16
NEW THEATRE PRAISED
M4YOR LAYS STONE.
Many Professions Represented at
Simple Ceremonies.

Sf-,r1e but impressive ceremony marked the lay
ing yesterday afternoon Of the cornerstone OF the
New Theatre at cd street and Central Park West,
an institution designed foster all that is worth
while in the art Of acting. institution that Is TO
he as far as human endesvor may serve the pur-
pose. q national theatre. built by Americans. 10
disseminate among the American people love
for the best in the drama such as Is known 10
The people OF France Of Germany and Of other
countries where the dramatic art is held in such
esteem that il receives substantial encouragement
from the government Men and women prominent
in various professions were present at yesterdays
ceremony and II is worthy Of record that of
The foremost and actresses now in the city
manifested deep interest in the project Daniel
Frohnan. accounted the leader Of theatrical man.
ayers in this country far as intellect Is con
cerned found much TO praise in the material
structure, which is TO be "a thing of beauty, ana
showed sympathetic in the project itself
Richard Watson Glider represented the literary
field and in a poem written for the occasion said
the New Theatre would be ''Shakespeare's new
home" and that
Here shan the trem5l9g heart ,o Of nan Ts. regain
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER
roresident Roosevelt sent a letter IN which he ex-
pressed his good wishes for the undertaking as
follows
Gentlemen: Permit NE to express my hearty
good wishes for the undertaking in which you are
Ta5iisfing the Eew Theatre is to make use Of a
ana artistic ursderstsnding-an agency which shall
Ircr-asa the ability Of our people realize and en-
right kind Of relief relaxation from the strain
and tension Of daily work ! am, Of course in cor
dial sympathy with your aim to give special en-
courag cement TO both playN-rights and actors who
ere native 20 our own soil and observe with
especial pleasure the that the statutes under
which your theatre viii be provide that il Is TO
be without thought of profit, and that any Pc
eJlniarv benefits which may result from its opera
ZION shall he USED for the creation Of endowment
and pension fund. 1oI the maintenance of school
q na W a RI goo co6 foT s5e is Pg2 PBe%e me 1 tfe
yours THEODORE ROOSEVELT
To the founders Of the New Theatre, New York.
Governor Hughes sent the following message
regret that II viii re impossible for me 70 be
Iion with the laying Of the cornerstone Of the New
Theatre. This enteTprls which promises so much
rotafe for its arcitacf11ra beauty and adaptatioy
cannon be of great value in the development
of city 3tte- II would give me pleasure 10 have
this project and my appreciation Of the fine mo
SL-lrit have prompted those
eresred IN the Undertaking Nv best wishes for
its success
The guests were assembled in the vestibule Of
the unfinished structure William X. Vanderbilt.
chairman Of the founders presided and after read
ing TIE Presidents letter introduced Mayor Nc
Clellan the first speaker The Mayor also put
the cornerstone in place The Mayor hailed the
New Theatre as the beginning OF impulse
the artistic and educational development Of our
city He said that this country not wanting
in taste for architecture sculpture, for music.
for painting; but that the drama where
1t fifty years ago" Continuing, he said:
II is unfair to assume that the public viii refuse
70 support the higher drama until il has at least
has The opportunity cf doing so. Nearly forty
NsrcUand and John Taylor Joflnston-without hope
Of profit reward organized the first educatiOnaliy
Nusernn Of Art Since then IN has become the
chief force in the United States in education in