The Washington times., 1912-05-19
HISTORY OF
THE LAMBS
BY Augustus Thomas.
Who Will Appear In the Lambs
All-Star Gambol.

During the years between 1920 and
1884 there lived in quaint chambers on
Inner Temple lane, London, Charles
Lamb and his talented sister Mary.
Both of these writer's a. best known
today by their Tales From shakes
peare," Of which the tragic ones were
written by Charles and the comic ones
by Mary Lamb, but in the years men,
toned these two were reputed for their
hospitality and for the notable oharac-
ter of the social gatherings which oc-
CURED in their chambers. Some enthu-
siasttc biographers have compared these
historic meetings with the celebrated
evenings of the Holland House for bril-
liancy and profundity. Among the
friends who made the supper parties
with Charles and Mary Lamb memoir
able were Coleridge Lloyd, Southey,
Wordsworth, Hazlett, Leigh Hunt, Tai
fourd, George Dyer, and Tom Hood,
and with these when the coffee houses
closed 1t was a favored expression,
Lets go around to the Lambs"
Club Is Formed.
Years after, when most of these not
able personages had Joined the major
ity, the parties at the Lambs were dis
cussed in genial reminiscence in the
clubs and coffee houses of London. II
was the tenderness in which these re-
collections were held that caused q
number Of young actors and writer's
forming a club in London, to call them.
selves the Lambs. Members of this
London organization. migrating te
America, and lonesome for the atmos-
phere Of the London club, organized a
similar organization in New York
which subsequently became the success.
sor and the heir of the London club
The earlier shepherds of the New York
Lambs were English actors-Montague
Wallack, and Beckett. Following these
were Billy Florence, and the line OF
American players and writer's that
have since that time presided over the
world known organization.
1t is, therefore. seen that the Lambs
have a lineal and logical title. not only
to their name, but to the spirit that
controls them. If there exists anywhere
in America any suggestion of the fra
ternal and convivial and literary flavor
that made the various coteries of Lon.
don coffee houses famous, II is to be
found in the Lambs.
why have you Joined that club?'' the
asked her husband.
"You are a. member of the Metropolis
tan, the. University, the Athletic, tbs
Lawyers. and several other clubs: and
I should think those were enough
II Joined the Lambs, my dear thu
husband replied, because when l leav'
Wall Street and go to any of the clubs
you have named, find there number
| of men as weary as myself who have
also left Wall Street or some other bust
ness section and retained only sufficien
| vitality wearily to order a cocktail
When l go into the Lambs Club at tn;
same hour any afternoon meet hfty o.
sixty wide-awake men who have JUS
| finished breakfast"
Atmosphere Inspiring.
1t is undoubtedly this inspiring at
mosphere that makes in the club OF al
afternoon that hum which is attractive
| to its lay members. The real favor o.
the club, however. is found in the small
hours of the morning; that time o
gentle relaxation when the Players
work is over and when he abandon
himself to the gregarious appreciation
of his fellow artists.
Much has been written of the nights
| at the Cheshire Cheese" with John
son. Garrick, Goldsmith, Edmun
Burke, and Reynolds in the company
| but II is much to be doubted II tn
| brilliancy of those nights in any wa.
| eNcels other nights In the earlier day
Of the present Lambs Club when tn
unclothed supper table had it's benches
Maurice Barrymore. Steele Mackaye
sydney Rosenfeld, Nat Goodwin, Stuar
Robson, Wilton Lackaye, Billy Florepc
and Beckett. The ponderous dominanc
| of Johnson was unquestionably absen
but the flow and sparkle and nimbleneS
of wit was in nowise inferior.
Many OF these men who made the oil
sambs famous have passed away. bu
a yHTtkh - 49,
ship and capable of measurement ar
confident that the club today Is livin
in golden time which needs only
mellowing perspective TO make its reco
lections deservedly historic. Goodwin
Crane, and Lackaye are stu there an