THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 3270, 13 August 1873, Page 2

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

There are certainly postprandial speeches that I take a special delight iu reading. They come annually from two of the oldest and most respected members of the profession in .London —Mrs Stirling and Mr Buckstone : the one invariably replies at the anniversary dinner of the Dramatic and Musical Sick Fund Association, the other travels hundreds of miles to have his say at the annual gathering of the Royal Dramatic Society. I will first introduce Mr Buckstone, with a speech replete with humor. Addressing the Lord Mayor of London, who presided, he said : If you knew the difficulty I have had tonight to get away from the “ Wicked World,” you would wonder how I have managed to do it. You, perhaps, know there is a play with that appropriate title now performing at the Haymarket, in which, for more than one hundred and thirty times, I have sustained the character of a graceful fairy. Now, as the public expect to see me for a few nights more in that peculiar part, those who visit the theatre this evening will find another graceful fairy instead of me ; but as I know the gentleman performing my part—and positively for this night only—will give every satisfaction, I feel a little easy in my mind, and shall proceed to reply to the chairman’s toast to the best of my ability. ... I wish to say a few words on the subject of wills. I have often informed you that, by our charter, we are enabled to receive bequests ; but, to show how necessary it is for a testator to be very particular in describing the institution to which he may desire to leave his money, I must state that a lady with whom I was well acquainted wished to bequeath LIOO to tha Dramatic Fund. On being asked by her solicitor which fund she preferred, as there were more than one, she replied that to which Mr Buckstoue belongs. Now, as I am connected with three dramatic institutions, a wrong one happened to be named to her, when she really meant the Royal General Theatrical Fund; consequently, her bequest was lost to ps. 1 was informed of this by one of her executors, And now, ladies and gentlemen, if any of you present are inclined to think of us in your wills, I have a short form of bequest at this moment before me, which I can till up on the spot—especially as there >re plenty of attesting witnesses present. . . . And now let me hope that to-morrow, on my return to the “Wicked World,” I may read such a goodly subscription list that the members of our fund may be comforted by the prospect of reaching the “ Happy Land” of independence. Mr Buckstone’s eloquence had the desired effect, for at a later stage of the proceedings he had the felicity of announcing that subscriptions to the amount of LBOO had been received in the room, in addition to which Mr Southern had telegraphed from America that he was to be put down for LIOO ; and Mr Barry Sullivan forwarded Lfjl), At the Dramatic Association’s dinner Mr H. <J. Byron proposed the tpast qf the evening, “‘{Success and increased power of usefulness! to our institution," to wfcich Mrs Stirling re, plied in these words ; I thank you, Mr Chairman, for coupling my name with this toast; we are getting quite an elderly couple.—(Laughter.) I do not speak it with any feelings of personal vanity. No, no; we women leave all that to the men; but it is the recognition of one, at least, of the rights of our sex, which is implied iu this toast—l mean the right of women to a share at public dinners —that I have now to acknowledge. It was here that we women won the light to descend from the melancholy majesty of the gallery to the louder and livelier level of the dinner-table, and instead of feeding upon lukewarm lemonade and delicious ice, we are now allowed to compete with man in the fight for appetite and the fiow of eloquence,—(Laughter and cheers.) Oh ! it was a great right to achieve, and 1 only hops

that all the other rights of our sox, including that of legislating for man, as well as that of prescribing for him in sickness, may be as fairly won and as well used. It is time, perhaps, that the women of the theatrical profession had some little advantage to start with. Most of us had assumed part of our rights ; we had been clothed in man’s dress—(laughter)—if noti i lus authority. Well, now, ladies and gentlemen, as to the great question of the day—the right of labor and of capital. Is capital to have a light to our labor with no better price paid for it than what we can individually screw out of our managers?- (Laughter.) We actors, as yon know all love to make a hit, but we have never followed the general example and made a strike. —(Laughter.) No, we shall never make a strike, I am afraid. Our business to-night is one of good works and not of indifferent words. Then, ladies and gentlemen, in the name of my sisters I thank you—in the name of the fund I thank you; for you are going to give of your substance in aid of the sick and needy—-in relief of their sufferings, and in alleviation of their necessities.—(Cheers.) . PnoMPTKR.