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»Whnt f Old Actor. .?oi>yRj»HT jf/r nm&oK.tvA Co N tbe winter of ISS2 lb# tliettru:"1' managers of New York and Brook- •.AKJI ijm decided that. In order to re Here the many cases of disress reported throughout the theatrical HU profession. It was necessary to cre- •B&| ste a permanent rund which would ^P|| be immediately available for the a j purpose. Thfs fund was to be known as the "Actors' Fund, but x as it was to be raised by the efforts of all classes connected with the business of public amusements, it would be devoted, with­ out reservation, to any and all persons who have been connected with said amusements, in any capacity whatsoever. Benefft performances were given at the prin cipal theaters in New York and Brooklyn on a certain day for the purpose of creating a founda­ tion for the fund. The receipts from the sale of tickets and donations for these performances •were $39,335.80. Among the largest donations were: James Gordon Bennett, $10,000; John Ja­ cob Astor. $2,500: Edwiii Booth, $1,000. The fund was Incorporated according to the laws of the state, June 8, 1882, and on July 15th a permanent organisation was effected with the - iillllli! mm following officers: President, Lester Wailack; •ice-president. A. M. Palmer; secretary, Daniel Prohman; treasurer, Theodore Moss. The board of trustees was; Lester Wailack. Edwin Booth. Joseph Jefferson. M H. Mallory, Lawrence Bar­ rett. H. C. Miner. W. E. Sinn. A. M. Palmer. Ed­ ward Harrigan, William Henderson. John F. - Poole, P. T. Barnum, W. J. Florence, William Birch, J. K. Emmett and J. H. Haverly. The counsel for the fund was A. J. Oittenhoefer. The report of the secretary tor the first year of the fund's existence showed a disbursement of $1$,349.07. Relief had been given to over four hundred actors In different parts of the Union, and thirty-two had been buried in California. Texas and other parts of tl»e country. Thus the fund had prevented the sick and needy from seeking charity, and had given respectable Inter­ ment to those who would otherwise have been buried in pauper's graves. One day In the Bpring of 1900 Lonls Aldrich, an actor, and Al. Hayman, a theatrical manager, sat in the latter' office In the Empire Theater, new York: "The actors' fund has at last passed resolu­ tions approving my plan to build a home for old actors." said Aldrich. "You know that I have been agitating this scheme for years, with little cor no encouragement; nobody believes it feasible, on account of the expense. 1 believe now, as I Always have, that I can make a success of It. if 1 can only get a substantial sum to start my sub­ scription. You've made a good deal of money out of the theatrical business. a1; give me seme thing tangible for a starter " "How much will you require, altogether?" Hay- man asked. "It will take about one hundred thousand dol­ lars," was the reply. "How much do you think 1 ought to give?" "Oh, about ten thousand dollars." "Well," replied Hayman, "I'll give you ten thousand dollars, if the dramatic profession will raise ninety thousand." "I'm afraid we can't raise that much right away." Aldrich said; "but I believe we could Vmise fifty thousand now, and the balance later " "All right," said Hayman, "I'll give you ten thousand, if you'll raise fifty thousand." "That's a bargain." exclaimed Aldrich. "Give me your check, and if I don't raise the fifty thousand, I'll return It" The check for ten thousand dollars was given to Aldrich, and he took it to the editor of the New York Herald, who agreed to hold the money ' and receive further donations. The next day the Herald announced that it had ten thousand dollars as a nucleus for a fund to build a home for actors, and would receive subscriptions. The response was magic. Money poured in by matt, express, telegraph and cable. In twenty days the subscription reached fifty-five thousand dol­ lars. besides the original ten thousand, and the books were closed for the time being. The matter was allowed to rest until the spring of 1901. when a number of benefit performances were given in New York. Philadelphia and Clii cago to raise additional money needed to com­ plete the work so auspiciously begun The committee intrusted w.tn the selection of a site for the home purchased "Feechlawn," *he twenty-acre estate of Richard Penn Smith ct West Brighton, Staten Island. The building was linlshed, and on May 8, 1902. the Actors' Fun-1 Home was opened and dedicated with imposing ceremonies. The address of the day was made by Joseph Jefferson. In reality, the dramatic profession owes to Louis Aldrich more than it does to any single person for the possession of this beautiful home He talked of the scheme for years No one else believed It feasible, but Aldrich never lost faith in his ability to carry It to a successful conclu­ sion. In this ideal abode are assembled thirty-one former votaries Of the sock and buskin. The* are the Romeos, Melnottea, Rosalinds and Ca- milles of bygone days. They were the idols oft your fathers and your grandfathers--yes. and some of your great-grandfathers; for none is ad­ mitted to the home under fifty-five, and many of the inmates are octogenarians. On a winter's evening the silver-haired women are accustomed to gather in the parlor or library, and over their sewing or crocheting tell once more of the beauty and charm of Adelaide Nel­ son. the wonderful characterizations of Lucile Western, and sublime genius of Charlotte Cush- man; while downstairs in the billiard or card room the men have gone back to play again with l)aveuport. McCullongh. Warren, Owens, Burton and the peerless Forrest, Jefferson. Barrett and Edwin Booth are Bpoken of casually; they belong too much to the present. "Ah! there are no tragedians like Forrest now- cdays," one veteran sighs in a voice that sug­ gests the ghost In Hamlet. "And no comedians like Burton," deplores an­ other "No, nor any pantomlmists like George Fox; the art died with bim," laments a third. "There were giants in those days," If these veterans are to be believed; and who shall gain­ say them? None can; and surely none would care to. Two married couples grace the home, refuting the often heard remark, "There are no happy marriages in the profession." They are Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chester and Mr. and Mrs. George Morton. Mr. and Mrs. Chester have been mar­ ried forty-seven years, and have seldom been separated during their long connection with the stage. Mr. and Mrs. Morton have been married a somewhat shorter time than the Cheaters. The oft-repeated question. "Are they happy?" is well answered in the following incident An old friend of one of the couples mentioned ex­ tended an Invitation to them to visit him and his family at their country home. The pair re­ plied. thanking him for his invitation and apolo­ gizing for not accepting, but stating that they were so happy in their new home that they could not bear the thought of leaving it. even for a abort time . One of the most Interesting figures in this unique household is Harry Langdon--"Handsome Harry" they called him in the days when he plaved dashing parts opposite Adelaide Neilson. Charlotte Cushman and Eliza Logan. Though well into bis eightieth year, Mr. Langdon was reading a book without glasses when I was in­ troduced to him "No, I have never felt the need of glasses," he said in answer to my question regarding It. "I may have to get some later, but now I read by either daylight or artificial light without any In­ convenience." "Tell me something about Forrest, Mr. Lang­ don," I ashed him; "some anecdotes. If you can think of any." "There are so many," he replied, "that it Is hard to think where to begin One that has been told often, and sometimes attributed »o other people, really occurred while I was present, a young actor was rehearsing a nart, but did not seem to grasp the proper meaning of the lines Forrest finally lost his patience, and after re­ hearsing the scene for the young man with all his tragic power, turned to him and exclaimed: 'There, that's the way it ought to be done--why don't you do it like that?' " 'If I could do it like that. Mr. Forrest,' the NEWS NUGGETS FROM ILLINOIS actor replied, '1 wouldn't be working for six dol* lare a week.' "Forrest was a bad sailor, and once, when we were making a water trip between two coast towns, the sea became choppy and the governor had to go below, where he suffered all the misery of seasickness. Finally he sent for the captain to come to his state-room. "'How much is this old tub of yours worth? be groaned as the skipper appeared. "'I don't know exactly. Mr. Forrest," was the reply> 'why do you ask?' " 'Because I want to buy It and chain It up to a rock where it can't move,' roared Forrest. "E. L. Davenport was one of the greatest act­ ors this country ever produced." continued Mr. Langdon. "For versatility he has never had an equal; he could do a song and dance with as much grace as any sp^clalist in that line, and turn round and play Hamlet and Brutus with al­ most any of them. Davenport was a great guy* er; his nature was sunny and he loved fun. Law­ rence Barrett,.was the antithesis of Davenport; dignity and austerity were his most marked characteristics. Davenport was playing Brutus to Barrett's Casslus on one occasion. In the first act of the play Brutus says to Casslus. " 'Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this.* At this point Brutus and Casslus clasp hands. As their hands met, CasBius felt something soft and mushy being squeezed into his hand by the noble Brutus. A slimy substance oozed through his fingers and dropped off on the floor; it was a ripe tomato, which Brutus had given Casslus to 'chew upon.' Barrett could not resist the ridic­ ulousness of the situation, and had to turn his back to the audience to hide his laughter." Effie Germon--dashing, laughing, laughter-mak­ ing Effie Germon, of the Wailack Stock Company, ^nd many other metropolitan companies--is a re­ cent guest of the home. "Tfcey say I'm too short for grandes dames," Bald Miss Germon; "and of course I know my time has passed for soubrettes, although I feel as young as I did at thirty, and would like to work, but they won't let me; so here l am. and It's a mighty fine place to be, under the clrcum- Btances. I'm only sixty (she aoesn't look more than forty-flve) and I come of a long-lived fam­ ily. My mother, who died only a few weeks ago, was eighty-seven, and my aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth baunders, Is still living in San Francisco, at the age of ninety-one. She is prooably the oldest player, male or female, alive. One of the lively boys of the home Is Charles Gonzales, who Is a youngster of seventy-six. Mr. Gonzales had a Spanish father and an Irish moth­ er, so he sayB he doesn't know whether be is an Irish Spaniard or a Spanish Irishman. Mr. Gon­ zales amuses himself with palette and brush, ar.d his room contains many water colors done by his han.1. Besides this, he is manager of the "Home Quartette," and with Mesdames Morton. Brennan nnd Campbell contributes musical evenings for the pleasure of the other guests. * Since the home was opened there have been admitted altogether eighty-one guests Of this number thirty have died, and twenty have returned to their families or friends, but are still provided for by the fund. The fund does not demand that one should go to the home In order to receive assistance; it is purely a matter of choice, and aid is given the needy outside the home, as well as within. T&ere are at present over seventy persons outside the home who are being cared for by the fund. Strange to say. the home has never been filled to its capacity, the thirty-one inmates now there being the largest number It has ever contained. There are accom­ modations for nineteen more, with no further applications Morgan's Lost Opportunity m: & ^0" 'Mi •4 3. P. Morgan was almost bred a ' •mathematician. While at Goettingen, '^Morgan specialized In mathematics, yand with the professor of mathemat- ^ lea be would spend long hours at Ijproblems. About ten years ago a num- iber of New Yorkers who had been at e Goettingen university together eld a dinner ^nd invited their old if professor of mathematics, who hap­ pened to be visiting this country, to $5 of mathematics in my place."--Metro­ politan Magazine. be present. The German stood his ground--he gave them his own idea; looking at Mr. Morgan he said that he was indeed very glad his old pupil had succeeded BO well as a banker. "But 1 regret," he went on. "that you did not remain at the university. Had you stayed with me you would have bef-n my assistant as long as 1 lived, and. unquesfionably, at my death, you would have been appointed professor Mussel Mud a Fertilizer. On the shores of the bays of Prince Edward Island are vast deposits from 5 to 25 feet thick of "mussel-mud,"' the organic temalns of countless gen­ erations of oysters, mussels, clams and other bivalves. The form of the shells is preserved, though crumbling to dust easily, and they are imbedded in dense deposits of a mud-like sub stance. This combination is a fertil­ izer of high value and potency, sup­ plying not only lime and organic mat ter, but small quantities of phosphates and alkalies. An ordinary dressing of it Imparts fertility in a striking de­ gree to the poorest and most exhaust­ ed soil. Its action is more permanent than that of most fertilizers, as the shells decay slowly. Should Waste No Time. The man who has a poor opinion of himself should immediately do some thing to Improve It, ; Decatur.--The Illinois Equal Suf­ frage association will hold its conven­ tion in Decatur October 31 and No­ vember 1. Miss Harriet Grim* state organizer, is In Decatur in the inter­ est of the association. The conven­ tion will bring something over 100 women to the city. Joliet.--The merchants and busi­ ness men of the city are not taking kindfr to the new city ordinance re­ voking the privilege which has been allowed !n the past of using three feet of the sidewalk in front of their busi­ ness places for the display of mer­ chandise. The revocation of the new ordinance is being asked. Waterloo.--Martin Sachs, a farm laborer, was accidentally shot by a hunter while walking through a for­ est. His injuries are likely to prove fatal. The hu»ter, who Is thought to have come here from St. Louis, fled Immediately after the shooting. Mount Carmel.--An epidemic of hog cholera is raging in Wabash county and the farmers are suffering large losses. George Wirth, a farmer liv­ ing ne$r here, who had a fine drove of 76 Poland-China hogs ready for mar­ ket a few days ago, reported that there were but four alive. Canton.--Acting under orders from his superiors in the city government. Street Superintendent John D. Duffleld had £ squad of seven men pull up the "This Is No Thoroughfare" signs which the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad company recently placed along Railroad street. The railroad company offered no opposition. Kewanee. -- Wolves have become so numerous in La Salle county that many farmers have given up Bheep raising. Within the last month wolveB have killed dozens of sheep, hogs and calves. Farmers have made complaint to the board of supervisors and are demanding that some action be taken to rid the vicinity of the animals. Streator.--The Elks of this city assembled in their clubroom and, preceded by the Illinois State band, marched to their new $40,000 building in course of construction and laid the corner-stone. Decatur.--Quick action of Deputy Sheriff Ford of Monticello saved John Fowler, an Insane patient being taken to the BartonvilJe asylum, from death at the Gebhart block when the de­ ranged man was knocked from In front of an approaching street car on Water street. Waukegan.--Every soldier of the United States army stationed at the military post at Fort Sheridan and under the age of thirty-five years, will be vaccinated for the prevention of typhoid fever. Janesvllle.--Pleading guilty to the charge of murdering Jonathan Hisch- ke on the night of June 21, Louis Kel­ ler was sentenced to life imprison­ ment in Waupun by Judge Grimm in the circuit court. The judge pointed out that the sentence might be light­ ened if the state parole board saw fit Jerseyville.--The business men ol Jerseyville met at the Commercial club rooms and arranged to hold a merchants' fall festival the second week in October. Galena.--While following up a creek four men employed by the Merry Widow Mining company struck a rich lead of lead ore. The heavy rains had washed the earth away and the large nuggets of lead were plainly visible. Wood River.--Plans for a fifth bridge across the Mississippi river at St. Louis to connect the St Louis County Belt railroad with the Wood River, East Alton & Bunker Hill Elec­ tric railway, now under construction on the Illinois side of the river, have been matured. Centralin.--The legality of a recent criminal case tried In the city courts will be tested in the circuit court here. The sentence Imposed is dis­ puted because Centralia is in two counties--Marion and Clinton--and the jury was drawn from only one county--Marion. Kewanee>--Residents in the vi­ cinity of Sheridan, La Salle county, are making vigorous com­ plaint to the joard of supervisors about the wolves in their neighbor­ hood and are demanding that some action be taken to rid the vicinity of tile animals. Galesburg.--While riding on top of a train Robert Coleman struck a via­ duct and was killed. Rock Island.--Because he was bit­ ten by a dog and his leg was severe­ ly lacerated, Charles Humes, in a suit filed in the circuit court, asks for $1,000 damages from Charles Brun- atrom, an East Moline druggist. He was bitten, he alleges, June 29. Danville.--Beginning with the case of Miss Robbie Augustus, alleged by the department of justice to have been kidnaped from her home in Union City, Tenn., apd taken to Illi­ nois, the federal grand jury began an investigation of white slavery. Bloomlngton. -- Creditors of Earl Butler of Chicago, better known as the "boy hanker," will probably re­ ject an offer of 18 per cent, made to them by his attorney. There appears to be a disposition to prosecute the youthful financier, who was so active In establishing a chain of banks in central Illinois. Peoria.--The assistant postmasters of Illinois in convention here, elected E. O. Andrews of Belvldere president and voted to hold the next convention at Bloomlngton. ©^e .̂̂ ^vF^aKiorVs ̂ * <5M .̂ry GIVE AUTUMN TOUCH LITTLE ADORNMENTS THAT BE­ FIT COMINQ SEASON. Dainty Fabrics Can Be Purchased Cheaply Just Now--Description of Neat Wool Skirt Designed for General Wear. The frock In one texture and with one-piece effect is about the moat valuable garment of the hour, and in the wardrobe of the coming bride it will hold a most Important place-- especially all such frocks as are made in thin materials and light colors. The little dresses are very easy to make and endless summer textures of reduced sort are adapted to them, so if the forthcoming bride hasn't too much money to spend she had better consider the various dainty fabrics which are sold hither and WATER WAVE FOR HAIR MOW TO GET ALONG WITHOUT THEj CURLING IRON. After 8hampoolng and Brushing, ths Undulation* Are Arranged and Tightly Bandaged Down With Stripes of Cheesecloth. Water waving, or what is called the natural wave, ts practiced by scalp specialists who forbid curlifig irons. For water waving the hair is first shampooed, and after It 1b half dry it Is brushed and combed, the brush be­ ing perfectly clean of course, and tne hair to be curled ie separated from the back hair. The front hair is brought forward, arranged on the forehead in a sort of undulation and tightly bound down with a strip ol cheesecloth. A second row of curls is arranged on top of this and these are tied down with a second strip ol chesecloth. The bandage ts then fastened In the back under the hair and by the time the back hair is dry and ready to do up the front locks have dried in the position in which they were laid under the bandage, and a slight wave which is perfectly harm less and may be called natural is there. Where the hair bas any ten­ dency to curl at all. It can be encour­ aged Into quite a semblance of curll- ness by water waving in this way after every shampoo. On very warm days. Instead of using the cheesecloth bandeau, brush the front hair forward over the fore= head, bringing the curl or undulation TRY THIS CROCHETED MOTIF yon so cheaply for the little dinner and afternoon frocks she expects to have. The cotton voiles are admirably suited to these models, and these airy fabrics, all of which give a look of extreme elegance, have dropped, fa many cases, to a quarter of their for­ mer prices. Some at 26 cents were in beautiful weaves plain or with stripes, dots, checks or splashes in a darker tone. The least bit of inex­ pensive silk or velvet ribbon trims these adequately, though, of course, there are always dainty white gulmpes and sleeve edges to consid­ er. In point of coloring, black and white Is decidedly first choice, as this combination Is still eminently smart and It permits touches of the most brilliant color. The little bordered silks worn all summer long have als«? fallen great­ ly In price, and dressmakers are put­ ting these to good account through the use of a little velvet ribbon, which at once give an autumn touch to the palest color. Even the bordered muslins are not Impossible for any­ body's present use, for with a velvet ribbon girdle and hem facing--and the same edge showing about the neck and sleeves--such diaphanous little frocks make delightful dinner and afternoon housefrocks and it Is always easy to get a color that tones In with autumn needs. To go with several little trousseaux frocks just turned out In these bar­ gain materials, a clever dressmaker has made some matching jackets of thin silk, these showing the Bhort waist line, and narrow plaited taile which the makers are using BO much. The silks for these Jackets, all of which were unlined except for a little stiffening of collars and cuffs, cost only 59 cents a yard. They are cut with separate sleeveB, the tops of these scooping far into the shoulders of the body part, thus giving the fig­ ure something of a contracted look. Then the gathering of the lower parts of the tiny coats suggests a bunch- lness of form, but since It Is the mode to look like this it all seems very smart. The illustration gives a neat wool skirt for practical wear, the sort of dapper skirt every woman needs for rainy days, shopping and other little jaunts which call for simple dress. The skirt is of a dark black worsted serge with ten bands of black worsted braid, five of these forming a yoke effect and the others used at the bot­ tom. Each of these deckings could very well be In a single piece, and if the wool used for the skirt proper Is a short length there Is no objec­ tion to having the hip band a regular yoke, and with this device two quite modest bits of contrasting material could be used. The accompanying shirt waist is In a blue and white cotton shirting with the turn-over collar and cuffs soft finished, and the trim little garment set off with a black four in hand satin tie. MARQUISETTE WAIST This model is of marquisette draped and crossed In front and trimmed with embroidery, buttons and frill of the material. The sleeves are fin­ ished with pufTs and frills of the ma­ terial. forward, arranging It with the fingers and fasten it down with side combs. Make sure that the side comb Is per­ fectly firm. „ Make another curl or wave and treat It in the same way. Leave the combs in until the hair Is perfectly dry. It Is Easily Worked and Will Make a Showy Trimming for a Frock. Medallions or other crochet motifs are fascinating work, and when well done make a showy trimming for many kinds of frocks. This is a fa­ vorite sort of fancy work for Bummer, and the crocheting can be done In linen thread, as for Irish crochet, or in some of the new tinsel threads. Oc­ casionally a colored silk thread and gold or silver are crocheted together with good effect An easily worked motif that can be readily followed by any one wbo un­ derstands crocheting Is as follows: Work a ring ot six chain, make ten chain, turn with three chain and work twelve treble under the chain, ending with one double crochet in the ring. • Turn, work ten chain, one treble, into the Beventb preceding treble, two chain, and one treble Into the next, and repeat to the end, making tour Bpaces Turn with two chain, one double crochet in the first space/* 1 Not for Her Table, Mrs Wasbaway--When I am giving a dinner I always have candelabra on the table. Mrs. Newrlch--Gracious! I never have anything canned. peat three times, then work twelve treble under the ten chain aa before. Repeat from * until eight arms are made, joining the first and last to­ gether. This motif can be made In various sizes by increasing the number of each set of stitches, remembering to keep them in the same proportion throughout. In all crocheting keep the work even and do not pull the stitch at one time and have it looae again. To loofc well, all crocheting should be tight, even and clean. With care, washing of the motifs is not necessary. By varying the fineness of the thread and the size of the needle quite different effects can be obtained with the same motif. Si Ik Kimonos. Silk crepe kimonos embroidered In the beautiful Japanese needlework with characteristic flowers of natural color are lined with the same shade of the outside In China silk. They are to ">e had In navy blue, lavender, blac^f >ale blue, gray, green, pink oi \