Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-09-22

following officers: President, Lester Wallack:
vice-president, A M. Palmer; secretary. Daniel
Frohman; treasurer, Theodore Moss. The board
of trustees was: Lester Wallack, Edwin Booth.
Joseph Jefferson, M. H. Mallory. Lawrence Bar
rett, II. C. Miner, w. E.. Sim, A. M. Palmer, Ed
ward Harrigan, William Henderson, John F.
Poole, P. II. Barnum, w. J. Florence. William
Birch, j. K. Emmett and j. H. Haverly. The
counsel for the fund was A. ]. Dittenhoefer.
The report of the secretary for the first year
OF the funds existence showed q disbursement or
312;34s.o7. Relief had been given to over four
hundred actors in different parts of the Union,
and t~hirtytwo had been buried In California.
Texas and other parts of the country. Thus the
fund had prevented the sick and needy from
seeking charity, and had given respectable inter
ment to those who would otherwise have been
buried in paupers graves.
One day in the spring of 1900 Louis Aldrich,
an actor, and AL. Hayman, a theatrical manager.
sat In the latter Office in the Empire Theater.
I%ew York:
1.-THE actors fund has at last passed resoIu-
lions approving my plan to build a home for old
actors" said Aldrich. you know that l have
been ~agftating this scheme for years. with little
or no encouragement; nobody believes 1t feasible,
ON account of the expense. l believe now, as l
always have, that | can make a success of 1t. IL l
can only get a substantial sum to start my sub
s%cription. You've made a good deal of money
out OF the theatrical business, Al; give me some
thing tangible for q starter"
How much will you require. altogether" Hay
man asked.
1T will take about one hundred thousand dol
I&e," was the reply.
How much do you think l ought to gtve?"
-Oh, about ten thousand dollars"
Well" replied Hayman, "pll give you ten
thousand dollars, II the dramatic profession will
raise ninety thousand"
I'm afraid we can't raise that much right
away" Aldrich said: but l believe we could
raise fifty thousand now, and the balance later"
"An right" said Hayman. I'll give you ten
thousand, If you'll raise fifty thousand"
That's a bargain" exclaimed Aldrich. "Give
me your check, and IL | don't raise the fifty
thousand, I'll return 1t"
The check for ten thousand dollars was given
to AIdrich, and he took 1t to the editor OF the
New York Herald, who agreed to hold the money
and receive further donations. The next day
the Herald announced that it had ten thousand
dollars as a nucleus for a fund to build a home
for actors, and would receive subscriptions. The
response was magic. Money poured in by mail.
express, telegraph and cable. In twenty days
the subscription reached ffty-hve thousand dol
lars, besides the original ten thousand. and the
books were closed for the time being.
The matter was allowed to rest until the spring
of 1901. when a number of benefit performances
were given in New York. Philadelphia and Chi
cago to raise additional money needed to com
plete the work so auspiciously begun
The committee intrusted with the selection of
a site for the home purchased "Beechlawn." he
twenty-acre estate of Richard Penn Smith at
West Brighton, Staten Island. The building was
finished, and on May g., 1902, the Actors Fund
Home was opened and dedicated with imposing
ceremonies. The address of the day Was made
by Joseph Jefferson.
In reality, the dramatic profession owes TO
Louis Aldrich more than 1t does to any Jingle
person for the possession of this beautiful home,
He talked of the scheme for years. No ore else