Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-05-24

Fanny Davenport writes entertain
ingly of herself as follows:
was born in London, Great Russell
street, opposite the British Museum.
The house is there still, and on my last
visit had a "wee" drawing made of it,
and of the room was born in.
From earliest childhood ! dreamed Of
the Stage, and wrote plays as early as
ten years of age. For time | was dl-
vided between dramatic and lyric art.
Nine. Tietjens, the great opera singer
who was brought out by MapleSon, en-
couraged my mother to think | had a
fine singing voice, and Nine. Celeste
was most DESTROYS of educating me for Il
singer.
In consequence of my fathers large
| family. desire to earn my own liveli-
hood and relieve him of my support soon
determined me. | chose the stage,
which since was fourteen years old |
have followed, and from that age aoso-
lutely supported myself.
NEVER AN AMATEUR.
| never was an amateur. My love for
dramatic art was my only dictator, and
the cause of my adopting the stage as
profession. Ny father encouraged me
and believed in me from the very first.
The first one TO advance me PROBES
sionally was Mr.. Augustin DAILY,
through whose excellent stage training
| attribute much of my successful
career. | determined when entering his
stock company to be a star, and sue
cessful one, within ten years.
| succeeded in obtaining this position
in eight, and have since realized all |
have planned to perform. | have fully
accomplished my purpose, both as
producer, an adapter, a stage director
and an actress, and have added to these
grand tone for literary work. l have
done some little writing; composition is
my recreation.
True dramatic artists are never salts
fed. Without exception they are ever
seeking to do more and do better. Ex
celsior is their motto, or should be.
Speaking of my preliminary training
and rehearsing-it was thorough; and as
| began my career before the travelling
system was introduced and only stock
companies were in existence, it was not
surface III dlhluS do al UiSOS NV nv"
given.
In the days when l began my career
as an actress | was dependent entirely
upon myself for support, and although
only fourteen years of age left my home
and went out into the world alone. Then
no sleep ng cars were in existence. /
remember taking the journey from Bos-
ton TO Louisville, which was matter
of three days and three nights. What
lonely, desolate trip it was. | was
crowded into a seat with some old lady,
and knowing nothing of how to travel |
started out with my little satchel filled
with odds and ends, together with Il
flask of whisky, provided by loving
fathers hand for change of water, diet
or in case of sickness. Poor unlucky
mel The cork came out and everything
in the satchel was Soaked-handker-
chiefs, brush, powder, puff, etc. All
around laughed at my accident.
wiped the tears away that had gath
cred in my eyes, and for the first time
realized that | was not at home with
loving ones, but in the world among
strangers, cold and cruel! The dear
letter written to me by my father was
placed over my heart, and many, many
times did read it. This blessed letter
saved me many mistakes and helped me
through many rough places.
EARLY STRUGGLES AND TRIALS.
cannot say that eynprienced much