The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-25
STAGELAND SEES
LAMBS LAUNCHING
300 Members Of Actors Or
ganization Attend Ceremony
at Kearny Shipyards.
WAR WIDOW Is SPONSOR
Augustus Thomas Tells Of
Governments Gratitude to
Theatrical Profession.

Stagelahd achieved a new dignity in
the history OF world affairs yesterday
when the 1000 ton transport THE
Lambs" slid from the ways OF the
yards Of the Federal Shipbuildius
Company at kearny, n. ]. Three hum
dred members of the actors organiza-
ton and many friends saw the Gov
| ernments graceful acknowledgment
OF the great work done by the stage to
! make and sustain morale in war as
the vessel took the waves.
There were Raymond Hitchcock,
David Warfield, Augustus Thomas
and lot more Of the men of the
mimic world on hand, many OF them
old enough TO Understand what Au-
gustus Thomas meant when he told
them that only a few generations ago
the player was an outcast and a vag-
abond under the narrow estimate OF
puritan age" and that he is now "a
recognized factor lin the great under
takings Of n great nation embarked
upon a world war"
Mrs. Robert stowe GIL, widow OF
OF Capt Gill. the first officer member
OF the Lambs to fall in action, stood
sponsor for the ship. The Lambs
took a band from New York. and 1t
with the shipbuilding company's band,
played the national anthem as THE
Lambs" went into the water. When
the ship was safely locked the off,
GERS OF the company entertained the
club members a luncheon in the adj
ministration building.
Recognition of Their Aid.
THE ostensible reason for naming
this ship" said Augustus Thomas in
the leading talk of the day. was that
the Lambs Club had raised $3.50, 900
in the last Liberty Loan. Butt think
the Lambs themselves believe that the
naming OF the boat was desire on
the part of the Government officials to
make recognition OF the larger part
played by the theatrical profession 10
the emotions of the people and in sus-
tanning the morale of the enlisted men.
Never before was there such an IN
Outstanding of the relation that the
player bears to the public.
You men OF the Lambs and you col
leagues in your ert are engaged in the
profession whose Office is primarily to
stir the emotions. You hold your po-
sition by n mandate as clear and per-
haps better than the election OF repre-
-sentatives in the national Congress.
THE prominence of each man here
was won through a long novitiate be-
fore the public. and his place in the
club was a further emphasis OF that
prominence. ! congratulate you men
and women of the profession upon
your rise TO this estate, and T share
with you a consciousness of the OBJ
legation that 1t puts upon us. And We
may allow ourselves to feel glow of
pride that we have been permitted TO
witness this marked evidence and tes-
timony TO this achievement o. our pro-
fession."
Members Sing New Song.
The club members Joined In singing
"Our Good Ship The Lambs" a song
by Gene Buck, written for the event.
1t ram.
Gather around me. mates.
have news for you:
There's a babe In the family
You can thank the fates
OF the ocean blue
That hiss sent the Lambs to sea
From her stern to bow
There's a friendly glow
That is Just like n welcome hand.
And ! know somehow
You will love her so.
Cause she's great and true and grand
REFRAIN
Ship ahoyl Stand by and greet her
Sailor boy Salute the Lambs.
For she represents a thousand hearts
Who've played their parts
In all the arts
Fellowship! The greatest convoy
In the world We all salaam.
Ev'ry wave will e'er caress you,
Ever sail the sea, and bless you.
You're our good ship the Lambs.
The Lambs and their friends came
hack to town late in the afternoon and
went TO the club to toast the trans
port that is to sail the ocean blue, a
sauey ship and a beauy in honor of
the stage and its men and women.