The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1941-07-24

which at intervals have all but burst
with sustained m%erriment.
give performers, none of them
hams,
Got together and formed The
Lambs"
Thus verbally sang Ring Lardner
in 1874. The organization was origi-
nally formed at Delmonico's as a
supper club. That was in the days OF
handlebar mustaches, hoops and
flounces and sparkling dudes who
sang such mouthy ditties as Sweet
Adeline" and Down by the Old Mill
Stream" Like the gay ninety roads,
the going of the club at first was
kinda bumpy. But like Topsy it
"growed" until today it is the most
renowned-and hilarious-stage society
with 40 members, most of whom are
theater people. The clubhouse is on
44th Street just off Times Square.
The interior at first looks like u
wholesome dining room, with corridors
leading to reading and game rooms.
a bar and a library. Caricatures by
famous artists are plastered on the
walls as plentifully as household
calendars. About the place there is
an informal air filled with hospitality
and polite attendants like the atmos-
phere Of a cozy country home
-oOo-
Names that highlight the memories
of The Lambs are Richard Harding
Davis, Joseph Jefferson, Barney
Baruch. Father Duffy, George AIDE,
Ring Lardner, John Philip Sousa,
Stanford White and Victor Herbert,
The last-named wrote the Lambs
theme song which is fitting simple
and merry. In the old days, dandies
in checked suits played noisy pino-
chile around the spacious tables.
Strict rules govern membership. No
women ever brighten the doors,
something praised by some and con-
demned by others. No dramatic cri-
tic is allowed to belong, which may
account for the sourness of these
individuals at times, in regard 70
member-actors. / heard n good
natured member remark on this par
ticular day that he had a good home
and wife and friends but bygolly
he would rather spend his spare time
among the gambolling Lambs. A re-
cent ruling of the club now makes
it possible for Army and Navy of
ficers to enjoy it's facilities, some
thing which I happen to know is ap-
preciated by these men in the service.
-oOo-
Every rector of "The Little Church
Around the Corner" is automatically
made a member of The Lambs. This
has resulted from that famous story
about Joe Jefferson, the actor. It
seems that an actor-friend had died
and that jefferson was in charge
of the funeral. He inquired about
it at a Fifth Avenue church but since
actors were not in good requte in
those days, he was loftily told that the
church did not bury actors. But,
added the minister, there was "a
little church around the corner
which did that sort of thing. Where
upon cried out, "God bless the little
church around the corner!" That is
how this Church Of the Transfigura-
ton got its name and it has been
thus known ever since. Consequently.
the little church enjoys most of the
Lambs marriage and funeral trade
to this day.
Although some say The Lambs
Club has more horseplay than wit,
am inclined to think that a lot
Of men who are still boys at heart
which includes most of us-enioy
more a letting down of the hair
than dignified mental effort for di-
version. An example of this is the
great number of people TODAY who
secretly miss those movie comedies
where the high spot was a home
grown pie thrown full into an I'D
turned face. Better comedy, l think.
than much of the suggestive and uI-
B~fst-known activity of The Lambs
are its Gambols, often called Sham
bles. These shindigs start off as
shows and end up as anything. Pri-
vafely performed, they were The
scene of many Broadway hits being
born, for instance 1.-THE Squaw Man"
and Experience" and it was here
that George M. Cohan first sang
his "Over There"
Fred Waring, the most remarkable
OF the young entertainers of today,
Is mead OF the club or its Shepherd.
Not long ago for this first time. The
; Lambs staged a Gambol in honor of
a member, David Warfield. The old
ac.or enjoyed it every bit and there
was a'great cast participating. Ed
gar Bergen with a new dummy stoIa
the show. Whatever else they are.
The Lambs are certainly not black
sheep.