Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1911-09-15
Gratitude of Famous Actor

came upon Davenport he sometimes
said to his friends that IL there were
any memories or memorials of his ca
reer rs an actor. those would be pre-
served through the artistic triumphs
of his daughter Fanny Davenport,
and 1t might also be recalled that he
was one of those who took part in a
tribute of acknowledgment to the
great service that had been done
them by teacher. John e. Lowell
Sixty years ago the name OF John
e. Lowell was widely known through
the publication of his school reader
and 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
~ very straitened circumstances.
Il was once playing portion OF my
repertoire at New Haven" Mr.. Dav-
export said. explaining the part he
took in the memorial to Lowell, when
| 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 to New Haven were
rare and of short duration, so that l
had not been able to see him. But as
soon as heard that he was in pc.
and ] found that the story had not
been exaggerated. But the little man
for he was of very diminutiye stature.
would not complain. He insisted upon
talking about my professional career.
OF which he had been very proud.
AT last told him that IL he were
as proud OF my career as he said he
was he was justified In that. for
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 good scholar
although sometimes little mischiev,
Gus. bur he could not understand what
he had taught me that was Of service
TO rue after | had become an actor.
Tn reply / 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
| recalled how many times he had told
his scholars that IT was a sin to neg.
lect the voice how he had frequently
said to us that it was more important
to speak distinctly and in tones that
8ufo
called a Yankee characteristic, than
it was to speak with grammatical cor.
rectness, even.
These we're the instructions which
! received from my old teacher to
which | 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
commepdation for my enunciation and
the manner In which ! used my voice.
So told Mr. Lowell that / was going
to try tc 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 subscription
sufficient to buy or build a home for
Mr.. Lowell. having in mind also a
fund from which he could receive an
income sufficient to care for him.
Many and hearty we're the re-
sponses to this appeal. The money
was raised, house and plot Of ground
in the suburbs Of New Haven not far
from East Rock were bought, and the
little school teacher received it as
tribute from the men who, even in
their schooldays, had learned to re-
spect him greatly and afterwards to
look back upon their experiences at
his school with affectionate recollec-
lion.
As for my part In this testimonial
it was simply a repayment of some
portion of the debt which owed 70
John E. Lowell"
Copyright. 1911. by b. J. Edwards. All
Psghts ReservsdJ