Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1911-09-14
Gratitude of Famous Actor

came upon Davenport he sometimes
said to his friends that if there were
any memories or memorials of his Ca
served through the artistic triumphs
Of his daughter. Fanny Davenport,
and 1t might also be recalled that he
was n of those who took part in a
tribute Of acknowledgment to the
great service that had been done
them by a teacher. John E.. Lowell.
Sixty years ago the name Of John
E. Lowell was widely known through
the publication of his school reader
and a book of rhetoric which was COM
piled 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 straitened circumstances.
II was once playing a portion of my
repertoire at New Haven" Mr.. Dav-
export said, explaining the part he
took in the memorial to Lowell, when
I was told that my old teacher was
In great poverty. It 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 to New Haven we're
rare and Of short duration, SO that I
had not been able to see him. But as
soon as I heard that he was in pc
cuniary distress, I searched him out.
and I found that the story had not
been exaggerated. But the little man,
for he was of very diminutive stature,
would not complain. He insisted upon
talking about my professional career.
Of which he had been very proud.
"At last I told him that If he were
as proud of my career as he said he,
was he was justified in that, for 1
owed very much Of my success to him.
Mr. Lowell seemed. surprised to hear
me make that statement. He said that
he remembered me as a good scholar.
although sometimes a little mischiev-
Gus, but he could not understand what
he had taught me that was of service.
to me after / had become an actor.
I'm 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 is as admir-
able an organ as is the singing voice.
l recalled how many times he had told
his scholars that 1t was a sin to neg
1ect the voice-how he had frequently
said to US that 1t was more important
to speak distinctly and In tones that
were free from a nasal twang, then
called a Yankee characteristic, than
it was to speak with grammatical cor
r~ectness, e.
"These were the instructions which
I received from my old teacher to
which I owed much of my success as
an actor, for whatever other criticism
may have been made upon my acting
I had never heard any but words OF
commentator for my e~nunciation and
the manner in which I used my voice
So I told Mr.. Lowell that I was going
to try to repay him for what he had
done for me. And / went out and
found some Of my old schoolmates and
we began a plan for a subscription
sufficient to buy or build a home FOL
Mr.. Lowell, having in mind also q
fund from which he could receive ar
income sufficient to care for him.
Many and hearty were the re
sponses to this appeal. The none,
was raised, a house and plot Of grounl
in the suburbs Of New Haven not fa1
from East Rock were bought. and th<
little school teacher received it as {
tribute from the men who, even II
their s~chooldays, had learned to re
spect him greatly and afterwards t.
look back upon their experiences a
his school with affectionate recollec
ton.
"As for my part in this testimonial
It was simply a repayment Of som'
portion Of the debt which I owed tt
John e. Lowell"
Copyright, 1911. by e. ]. Edwards. AZ
Rights Reserved.)