davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06

the lamented shepherdship of Digby
Bell. 1t is the reverse Of wisdom to
be witty always; actor, like writer,
who constantly scintillates puts out
his own light To do so at the right
moment and as a surprise or shock is
what tickles. Hence the gambols.
In the homogeneous elements Of this
club which flow side by side but do
not really mingle, half the members
DO not know how the other half plays.
In less cryptic phrase there are old
members of the Lambs who haven't
been to the theatre in years and whose
interest In the drama died with Booth.
They have other interests in common
with their fellows who are actors, and
these are broad enough to warrant
sympathy.
II Is because SO many callings are
represented in the club that 1t is thor
oushly cosmopolitan. and this all round
character widens its popularity. The
greatest force in a club. as 1t Is in any
other association Of men, is the Wis
inertia and perhaps the real indepen-
dence Of Lamb is begotten from his
lack OF jealousy of a Friar or a Player
and his ability to live UP to the French
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06
BY WILLIS STEEL.

TINE opening OF new clubhouse
In this chubby" town is not
so infreauent as to cause or
dinerify more than transient ripple
on the surface, but with the new Ma
tonal Vaudeville Artists Club at 22s
West Forty-sixth street It was differ
emit The clubhouse itself is an inno-
walton, comprehending the usual fea-
lures Of such an institution and those
of very modern and handsome hotel.
In fact IL one is not paying dues there
as a vaudevillian in good standing one
would naturally assume that It was a
hotel.
There Is, Of course, the customary
Cerberus to be piacated at the blind
marble entrance to the Imposing six
story white stone building. but once
having thrown him the bait and as
cended the short flight Of marble steps
to the left You have in front Of you
an exact counterpart of a hotel desk
and are Immediately in what would be
called lobby In hotel speech, but is
~-oaO N"hcu thc men . lounge. MAN.
ager ]. L. Hurlburt is likely to meet
you there and point out the splendors
OF the spot, also to tell you there are
slready $4,000 members who have paid
initiation fees and must pay dues, also
that the place is veritable club-a
fact that is difficult to keep in mind.
Tho Foyer-Lobby-Loun
For the foyer lobby lounge is a
two story square opening with white
marble floor carpeted in dark red vel
vet, set about with davenports and
chairs Of dark blue velvet inviting to
repose. Against the walls, which are
done in blue gray, stand F1orentine
podesta chairs in crimson damask. and
crimson cushions absorb some of the
blue Of the upholstery. A carved oak
table occupies the centre of the great
space. holding apparently all the illus
trated papers that are published in
the world. Smaller tables furnished
with smokers implements are placed
somewhat stiffly about. There Is a
gorgeous white marble mantel, fiecked
with gold with a practical fireplace
and the portrait of George NJ. Cohan
(the only picture In the room) in
scrtbed with the best continuous
wishes" to E. f. Albee, for whose
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06
Picturesque Cband for the Men and Women of the Stage
Distinctive Atmosphere Mark the
Many Clubs of the Profession, and
All Have Their Charms

tremely comfortable home in the new
National Vaudeville Artists Club, that
building will lose its present look Of
a very up to date hotel and assume
the aspect of the home its founders
would like 1t to be-. Never may II
hope to have the atmosphere as thick
as the modest little Green Room Club,
only a block distant. Near each other
as they are, the two clubs will always
be as far apart as America itself Is
from Europe.
The Green Room Club.
Except for the false front of brick
which the Green Room turns to a
street busy with theatrical wigmakers
and costumers. this club has no point
of contact with its neighbors, When
the club under its first prompter, WILL
lam A. Brady, moved from temporary
quarters into this old fashioned New
York dwelling It did not call in an
architect to make structural changes;
the basement OF the house became
forthwith office and grill, the parlor
and dining room on the second floor
simply called themselves lounge and
library, perhaps the partitions Of bed
rooms 'werc.-torn out on the third
floor to give space to the billiard tables
and like small changes were mad, on
the top story to make space for the
Actors Order of Friendship to hold
meetings in; the club moved in,
that was all. in 1902, but at once that
intangible atmosphere moved in too
and filled every corner and Granny.
The least perceiving guest even II
he were blindfolded and admitted
through the skylight would know as
soon as his bandsges were removed
that he was in a club where actors
ruled and made merry as well as repu-
tations and talked and talked and
talked about themselves. Old books
behind the library glass. old pictures
on the walls. old playbills, attest the
same conclusion. And speaking of old
playbills, the maddening habit Of franz
ing them without the year date may
be in a disorderly way mentioned here
II is interesting TO read that Charlotte
Cushman played a famous role in
June, but what June? And the framed
square of silver cloth bound all round
with fringe of bullion which informs
us that Edwin Booth played RicheHeu
with Bella Pateman as Julie and
Eben Plympton making his first ap-
rearance in London at the Adelphi on
July 20 would be more satisfactory to
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06
In the writing room at the Green Room

dream of proper setting for the high
the fulfilment.
A smaller apartment but yet of a
goodly size opens right off the mems
lounge; it is the women's lounge in
charge Of Mrs. 'Brucker. and in its
canary yellow walls and blue hang
ings and furniture it wears the smile
of a dainty boudoir. Equal in size and
OF similar proportions Is the ballroom
back of the main lounge. This blazes
in white and gold with white marble
stage arched In red damask and with
a red damask drop curtain. raised
gallery opposite is set with dozen
dining tables, where 1t is likely real
food ana not the stage papier mache
variety Is on occasion served.
There is a mezzanine floor or gal
lery furnished with desks where the
members find every convenience for
the signing OF contracts, and the club
house is provided with the most mod
ern grill Perhaps there is bar also,
but It seemed to be coy and retiring
the other day.
He Secs Only One Danger.
One hundred and eight sleeping
rooms are to be found on the upper
stories, but all OF them are not to be
seen casually. In fact, the visitor was
warned from one OF them by a stalwart
guardian in the club uniform OF baby
blue.
ANY danger?" asked the visitor.
Ladies'" replied the guardian am
biguously. And thus the guest learned
that his function was to preserve a
scientific frontier between the sexes.
They meet, however, on equal rights
in the lounge. where, indeed. the
ladies seem to set the octave for the
human voice.
II was noticeable that the tradition
OF a shrill vaudeville voice had no
justification down there; everybody
spoke in a low tone or a whisper;
perhaps the place Is so very new and
shining that the feeling of awe II in
spires has not yet been dissipated. A
vaudeville agent doing business with
a fair star OF that stage said In a
Jerome X. Jerome whisper:
"Lissen! you keep them contracts
by you and don't you do nothin' till
$3.50 this afternoon, when you hear
from me. Lissen!"
And the blond star whispered back:
"You can count on me straight;
won't do nothin' for nobody till hear
from you. but II you don't ring by $3.50
] sign. Understand"
Atmosphere. that INDISPENSABLE thing
which is more marked by not being
found in a place than by its presence
lever intangible). cannot be purchased
fron the interior decorator. and when
It nnds. as Il doubtless viii. an ex-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06

Forty-eighth street windows and fit it
up for lounge. The expense Of this
change, now making, will be SIS. 1000,
but this amount was instantly sub
scribed by the members and the club
is safeguarded against debt.
The Friars Club has one OF the
largest theatrical club buildings in the
city, but it is not too large and all
OF 1t is in daily use by members with
the exception noted. The grill on the
first floor is a magnificent apartment
with nothing in its establishment
that would shock a true frlar. of the
middle ages as unwonted. Its fire.
place Is a distinctive feature, but so are
the deeply mullioned windows. the
refectory tables. and the cosier tables
for dining frois or a Qndtre.
Perhaps the middle age friar would
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06

to possess good aesthetic faculties, to
be able to know good art as expressed
in prints and pictures, to be able to
enjoy good books, music, plays? Such
power is the extra octave in life's
gamut. The appreciative member Of
the Players is the idle heir to every
thing fine: he's the bee sucking away
at every flower and never asked to
make honey. Poets sing for him.
painters paint. composers write. He
is In and OF them all. but he needn't
do any Of them himself The outsider
may be content with ordinary self
consciousness, but the member, unless
he is distinctly out of place, seeks
after over consciousness, and in the
Players 1t is there for. the seeking
with the joy and the curse that go
with It.
The Aggressive~ Lambs.
Beside its restless, striving. mod
ern rival the Lambs, this club on
Gramercy is moss grown; it swims
languidly in a hack water. The Lambs
so anonymously named, are an ag-
gressive lot They swim in every sea
and no wave OF modernity is too high
for them to breast.
Go there at the luncheon hour and
note how II has been necessary 10
spread tables In every corner while
the original eating place is completely
submerged. Note also who the feeders
are. You Will see as many men of
business as actors, as many editors
| as men Of business, while the adver-
Using world is as largely represented
as BY the Rotary Club. The talk
too is of the street." of market prices,
OF society gossip, of everything, in
short, but the stage. That there are
actors In the membership OF the
Lambs everybody acquainted with
their roster OF famous stage names
well knows. but they are not one ideaed
actors. they know the world in front
as well as behind the footlights, and
the traditional tragedian who hauls
what a hit he made there Is as
laughable a figure in this clubhouse
as he is in the world at large.
Strange indeed would it be il in
moving &c their now home built for
them the Lambs had not carried with
their penates many valuable relic.
picture, play bill. ct al. valuable from
historical and other associations.
They are here, but 1t is somewhat diff
ficult to find them, for the club has
really outgrown its quarters and no
body would be surprised to hear that
1t was planning to erect new ones
For the Lambs is n constantly grow
ing organizations; it is by odds the
most popular theatrical club in this
country, and its fame due to the fame
Of its members and to their gambols
has gone beyond the confines of these
widespread States.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06

, is proud that, without thought OF re-
ward, she has given her treasure for
n great cause. On the other hand
the United States has not suffered
seriously in \ financial way. We have
gained only half victory, which is
ALI that is possible on the battlefield,
therefore Britain and America must
work together To gain the other half
Let us foster mutual good win by
making it profitable to all under q
rational system of human brother
hood"
Although lie attacks from several
different angles the covenant of the
League Of Nations, Mr. Garvin base
his whole hope for the future upon the
success OF the league idea, He de-
clared emphatically that the alterna-
tive 10 the league was a Bolshevized
world and he dwelt at some length
upon the rapidity with which Boil
shevism is able to spread: its danger
10 western Europe. and to America,
and the western continents.
ideas such as inspired by the Boz
sheviki are not hampered by distance"
says he, THE Atlantic Ocean is no
longer a barrier to such things, be-
cause they seem 70 get their inspira-
ply fall from clear skies-and America
to-day is clearly facing a crisis. II
Americans shrink from this crowninR
effort for human unity and brother
hood the anti-climax would he a feast
for cynics, one of the most discourage
ing blows ever dealt the best thing In
modern politics. Americas own soul
is more concerned than that of any
other land
Favors n supreme Council.
In outlining his ideas on the League
of Nations or. as he calls II, the world
partnership. Mr.. Garvin favors a SUI
preme council made up of representa-
tives chosen by the various nations OF
the world, which would be reinforced
with an executive council or a general
council of nations made up OF elected
delegates.
Beneath the executive council would
come FIVE separate sections: The high
court Of justice. a court OF mediation.
secretariat, n mandatory commits
sion and "A supreme economic council.
Working under the secretariat would
be the treasury of the league, the Office
of records-a department to coordinate
pre- institutions--and strategical
branch 10 supervise ornaments. I'm
der the supreme economic council
would be placed five departments: One
to he known as the international
financial council; the second TO deal
with the supply Of raw materials I;
third, communication and traffic;
fourth, labor commission ;t,fifth, an
office OF customs.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06

1t is wisdom for a club as it is for an
individual, to keep in the daily vortex.
A., a. club it must be added that the
one modern phase the Lambs shuns is
the notoriety furnished by fiashy para =
graphs. 1t is like a perfectly assured
artist Of his standing. he does not need
publicity to make him believe in it.
The difference in the attitude Of the
Players and the Lambs is various bot
in one phase 1t may be expressed thus:
a Player spends his life as II it was a
process of collecting things to remem-
Der. a Lamb spends it in doing things
that other people will remember him
by.
The love of fireworks is a natural
passion. and the Lambs are quite hui
man: they realize that at wide inter-
walls 1t is essential to show up bril-
liantly in order to prove that wit
scintillatos as freely there to-day as in
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06

The Club Flourishes.
But thl. is a fly in the ointment; the
Green Room otherwise is perfectly
what it should be. Forrest, Booth,
Mccullough, Barrett, jefferson, Mod
Jeska, Ada Rehan and innumerable
others whose voices are not preserved
in the talking machine look out from
the walls which have grown old and
brown and dusty as II to compose a
proper background. George Clarke
the amiable ciceronc, points out THAT
new pictures are constantly being
aoded TO the already vast collection,
and draws attention to the memorial
tablet to the second prompter OF the
club, Horace Cooley, lately deceased,
which has been placed on the wall of
the lounge.
Edwards Davis, eighth in succession,
is now the club prompter. The MEM
bership could be largely increased II
1t were thought advisable by him and
the trustees and supers and the club
Is flourishing. 1t is affiliated with the
Eccentric Club Of London and In his
torical and professional atmosphere It
is able to give that famous associa-
ton run for popularity. Perhaps
II exceeds its London counterpart. for
one doesn't expect to End In the Green
Room what is there and II is a shock
of contrast one experiences on coming
in from the busy street; 1t is the flash
Of surprise that pleases and cuts out
any idea OF criticism.
There's nothing brilliant about the
Green Room Except the members).
nothing splendid, no gold or even tin
sci; everything, including the furni-
ture, Is old and friendly. Under the
soft, warm touch of time old walnut
and oak. faded pictures, dusty hang
ings, blend together with artistic inter-
stices; it Is the true platonic touch en-
riching everything.
Tho Friars Club.
II these words weight too much when
In the scale In a small building which
for its present uses counts but seyen-
teen years, what shall we say of the
Friars Club, its big brother but a
block away? Only that even a.
greater effect Of age and warmth that
usually comes but with years has been
attnined therein and by the use of no
meretricious means.
The great banqueting hall Of the
Friars carries in its fine proportions
and simple but massive decorations
something Of the air Of the Guildhall
OF London. This room, like its pro-
totype. is too big for more than oc-
casional use and the club wisely has
decided to valance OF that portion
between the great portal and the
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06

those carly day problems the United
States has handed down to lis inval-
liable lessons which We may easily
apply to the present day. The States
began fighting with one object in view
their independence-but at the con-
clusion of their fighting they found
themselves facing an even greater
problem, and it is the same to-day,
Before my boy who was killed
went TO war We decided in long talks
that it was the duty of the Allies 10
crush tho worst in Germany. | am
perfectly fair with Germany, and have
treated in my books the subject of her
restitution 10 a full share in the world
partnership fully ana fairly. But in
lighting during the last four years we
have gone beyond our original prob
lem ana now face something greater.
For an Enduring Peace.
THE English speaking leadership,
tho constructive vision, must bring
about an enduring peace which must
mean II departure from precedent.
The narrowing of the Atlantic TO a
point where England is only eighteen
one example of how closely various
nations may be brought together, and
in working out our problems to-day
we come face to face with the question
of either going ahead IN the old way
of war or taking the new way OF work
ing together in full partnership. We
must have n full league for economic
partnership as well as political asso-
citation"
1t is impossible to overemphasize
Mr.. Garvin's tremendous desire that
America should break down her iso-
lation and take her part in world af-
fairs. For this end he suggests that
the United States hecome the warder
Of the Middle East. and he holds this
is one of the worlds best hopes lie
would have the United states take
over the mandate for Armenia. and
otherwise use her influence in up
building n real civilization in a back
ward part of the world He visualizes
great system OF air naylgat ton with
Cairo as the centre Of the world.
Traffic and Treaties.
Traffic is stronger than treaties"
said Mr.. Garvin, and il is just as
Laniel WEBSTER SAID repeatedly IN tn"
early history of America; Commerce,
commerce, commerce And If We pro-
coed to world partnership we 'nevi-
tahly shall have equal maritime conf
petition with its close binding ties,
both political and economic. A work
'ng agreement between England and
America is the first necessity OF this
world partnership. The two countries
must underatatd each other better.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06

people IN GTedt bTitdlO.
..THERE shall be no war"
This new commandment
has been suggested by J. L
Garvin. editor Of the London Sunday
Observer. as the new spirit animating
the various peoples OF the world who
are now in the throcs of building up a
new international relationship. One OF
the greatest and undoubtedly the most
exhaustive works on international re-
lations following the war and the new
era Of world sympathy has Just been
published by Mr.. Garvin under the
title OF 1.-THE Economic Foundations of
Peace"
A world partnership is a truer basis
for the League of Nations Is the idea
that Mr.. Garvin works out in this
truly admirable new book. The work
In OF the utmost Importance to every
thinking American. and after reading
IL he will undoubtedly be interested
in the unusual personality OF the
writer, whose understanding Of Amer
lea and American affairs is more far
reaching than that Of almost any other
Englishman.
Speaks of America.
America is undoubtedly bound up
in the new area of world partnership,
said Mr.. Garvin in an interview with
THE SUN correspondent Every ma
ton In the world has lost its former
self SUFFICIENT basis, and in a multitude
of ways, through the shortening OF dis
tances, better means of communication
and increased trade relations, all por-
tons OF the world have been brought
together and must now work in part
nership toward the great end.
Air power has broken down the
isolation OF every part of the world
just as the first American transconti-
mental railway brought the States to-
gether. At the beginning of the Amer
lean Revolution and during the eight
years following its conclusion the
thirteen original States faced similar
conditions to those now being faced by
world Powers. 1t was realized at the
time the thirteen States must be in
sfparably bound together or break to
pieces. and in working out successfully
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06
J. L. GarVin Talks of Peace

The following interview with J.
L. Garvin. the noted English editor.
contains the expression of a senti-
ment that has considerable vogue
in England. While THE SUN does
not subscribe to that sentiment, it
is presented, nevertheless, as the
view of a considerable number of
people in Great Britain.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06
The Club Flourishes.

consult IL the season were scrubbed
on in pencil.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06
In the Daily Vortex.

Such popularity, achieved naturally
and easily. carries with 1t a defect
and that is noticeable in the somewhat
cavalier spirit of members toward
these objects OF stage history. Why,
1t may no asked, pay inordinate atten-
ton to past things, even to the past
greatness OF actors, when we are con-
stantly engaged in making history
for those who are to come? And, in
fact. the Lambs are so up to date
even ahead of their era. that painting
time tolls after them I'm vain"
There is a library connected with
the club. and the floor of the club
building where it Is situated is the
quietest within its walls, far quicter
than the theatre hall. where there is
apt TO be a demure rehearsal going
on, or at the least some composer of
the one finger variety trying out his
latest syncopated composition. The
books in the library are valuable as
reference and will one day rival IN
interest tho collections made by rival
clubs; they suffer as it's other posses
sions do which are not required by the
daily stint and are permitted to repose
honorably. but their value Is accorded.
Newspapers and journals from every
where in the world. whether their
scope Is theatrical or otherwise, are
apt 10 engross the clubs readers. ~
This is not uttered In the way of
criticism, but as comment. In truth.