Evening journal., 1911-05-19
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Famous Actor Who
Proved His Gratitude
By @HoIIand."

Although the late 2. L. Davenport
dS16-7O was for nearly forty years
regarded as one OF the greatest of
American actors. especially in tragedy
parts, and although he gained interna-
tional fame through his portrayal of
the character Of Bill Sykes in a dra-
matization OF Charles Dickens novel,
"Oliver Twist" yet he is now almost
forgotten. His reputation was only
second TO that OF Edwin Forrest and
until the later years of Edwin Booths
life upon the stage. f. l.. Davenport
was regarded by many competent crit
les as the superior Of Booth, at least in
certain parts. When old age came upon
Davenport he sometimes said to his
friends that If there we're any mem
ories or memorials Of his career as an
actor, those would be preserved
through the artistic triumphs of his
daughter, Fanny Davenport, and IL
might also be recalled that he was one
of those who took part in a tribute Of
acknowledgment 10 the great service
that had been done them by teacher,
John r. Lowell.
Sixty years ago the name Of John f.
Lowell was widely known through the
publication of his school reader and a
book Of rhetoric which was compiled
by him. AS old age came upon this
teacher, whose school was at New
Haven. Conn, in the early part of the
past century, he found himself In very
Strengthened circumstances.
"I was once playing a portion OF my
repertoire at New Haven" Mr. Daven-
port said, explaining the part he took
in the memorial to Lavell. when l was
told that my old teacher was in great
poverty. II had been my habit a few
years earlier, when upon professional
visits to New Haven, to call upon Mr..
Lowell. but for some years my visits
10 New Haven we're rare and OF short
duration, so that had not been able
to see him But as soon as | heard
that he was I'm pecuniary distress,
searched him out, and found that the
story had not been exaggerated But
the little man. for he was of very d.
minutive stature, would not complain.
He insisted upon talking about my pro-
fessional career, of which he had been
very proud.
"At last I told him that II he were
as proud of my career as he said he
was he was justified in that, for owed
much of my success to him. Mr.. Lowell
seemed surprised to hear me make
that statement He said that he re-
membered me as a good scholar, al
though sometimes a little mischievous,
f...t H.. nd rrrho NJ he
had taught me that was of service TO
me after I.had become an actor.
"In reply I said that he had taught
me how to use my voice, and that he
had first impressed upon me the fact
that the speaking voice ia as admir-
| able an organ as is the singing voice
/ recalled how many times he had told
his scholars that II was a sin tc
neglect the voice-how he had fire.
| uuently said to us that IL was more
important 10 speak distinctly and II
tones that we're free from nasa
twang, then called a Yankee char
acteristic, than Il was to speak will
grammatical correctness. even
These were the instructions which
I received from my old teacher q
which I owed much Of my success al
an actor for whatever other criticism
may have been made upon my actinl
/ had never heard any but words o
commendation for my enunciation ant
the manner I'm which used my voice
So I told Mr.. Lowell that I was goinl
10 try TO repay him for what he hat
done for me And / went out and founi
some of my old schoolmates and W
began a plan for a subscription suf
ficient to buy or build a home for MI
Lowell. having in mind also a fun
from which he could receive an in
come sufficient to care for him.
MANY and hearty we're the respon
ses 70 this appeal. The money wa
raised a house and plot of ground 1
the suburbs Of New Haven not IA
from East Rock we're bought, and tn
little school teacher received II as
tribute from the men who. even
their schooldays, had learned to re
spect him greatly and afterwards
look back upon their experiences q
his school with affectionate recolleC
tion.
"As for my part in this testimonial
II was simply a repayment Of som
portion OF the debt which I owed I
John F. Lowell"
Copyright, 1911. by f. J Edwards Al
rights reserved).
~ an .