Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
New Theater at New York Is
Formally Opened:
SENATOR ROOT ORATOR
Explains Its Educational Purpose to
Distinguished Audience.
J. P. MORGAN RECEIVES KEYS
Gov. Hughes Declares Establish
ment an Important Step in the
Progress Of City and Nation.

NEW YORK. November 6.-The New
Theater. at Central Park West. from cpd
to ed streets. built by the generosity OF
private subscribers for the encourage
ment of American dramatic genius and
for the presentation of the best i'm all
literatures of all times, was formally
opened this afternoon by representatives
of the state and nation. who dedicated IL
to the people.
The ceremonies began with an overture
rendered by the Metropolitan Opera Com
pany. following which the keys were de-
livered by the architects to the founders.
represented by J. Pierpont Morgan who
then introduced Senator Elihu Root and
Gov. Charles Z. Hughes
Senator Root said in part:
IF any regard this az a mere extern
sion of opportunity for fashionable
amusement they are mistaken. The es-
Establishment of this theater, founded by
private munificence. imbued with public
spirit, Is i'm recognition of the fact that
this same rule, which applies to all otner
arts, applies also to the art of the acted
drama, as the French learned more than
two centuries ago in founding the Com
edie Franchise. This institution. abjuring
all pretension covered by the cant phrase
about elevating the stage. makes It's pur-
pose to preserve what is best in the
drama by presenting what is best upon
the stage, even though the demands OF
profit and the requirements for profit
may demand a lower standard.
Intended for the People.
Gov. Hughes, who succeeded Senator
Root, said in part:
This enterprise marks an important
step in the progress of this city. This is
not a dramatic club. 1t is not intended
to be for the entertainment of the few.
This should be regarded as the people S
theater, making an appeal to the intelli-
gent public, and il should be generously
supported by the public. We cannot con-
celve of q state Of society in which the
dramatic instinct of our nature should
not have play. 1t is impossible to view
otherwise than with solicitude a careless
and Indifferent attitude on the part of
the intelligent members of the committee
toward dramatic representation"
The keys delivered to Mr. Morgan were
of special design by Mrs. William c.
Deming, a granddaughter of Nathaniel
Hawthorne. The presentation was made
i'm the presence of a distinguished gath
ering of men and women prominent in
letters and the arts, finance, statecraft
and society.
Distinguished Persons Present.
among tnOSe on the stage ana In the
audience were:
DIR. Nicholas Murray Butler. president
Of Columbia University; Woodrow Wilson,
president of Princeton University; DIR.
John III. Finley. president Of the College
of the City of New York; Gen. Horace
Porter. former ambassador to France
Brander Matthews. professor of dramatic
literature at Columbia University; Lev
p. Morton. former Vice President of the
United States; William ID. Howells, the
author: Thomas A. Edison. the inventor
William Winter. the critic: William
Archer. the London critic; John Bigelow
George W.. Wickersham, United States
Attorney General: Walter Damrosch. the
conductor; Mr.. and Mrs. John D. Rookie
Teller, Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob H. Schiff. ID
Ogden Mills, Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Morton
MIR. and Mrs. David Belasco. Mr.. and
Mrs. Harrison Grey Fiske. Mr.. and Mrs.
Victor Herbert, Mr.. and Mrs. John Philip
Sousa, Mr.. and Mrs. Reginald de koven.
Nine. Marcella Sembrich, Nine. Gadski
and Miss Mary Mannering.
A dress rehearsal of Antony and Cleo
patra," with which the theater will open
next Monday night. was given tonight.