The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-01
GRAHAM VELSEY'S
TRIBUTE TO MOTHER
Says Washington's Generous APP
plause Has Also Been an In
spiration to Him.
by JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

Graham velsey, of the Poll Players,
dropped in to see me one day last week
during one of those brief breathing spells
he manages TO somehow squeeze in be-
tween rehearsals and performances, and
we had one of those little talks that
wiggles down under the hide and digs up
the roots Of ambition. of which Mr..
Velsey has so many that their tendrils
have closed around his heart and brain
with-a degree of seriousness which prom
ises well for his future.
1t was one Monday night not so many
weeks ago, as I was sitting in Poll S
Theater. that / was jel ked suddenly into
consciousness of the fact that this young
Mr. Velsey, whom ! had been seeing all
summer. had something more than the
seriousness which characterizes his act
ing upon which TO build future of big
dramatic realities. You see. until that
time the roles in which he mad oeen
cast gave him no chance to get over the
footlights with anything like grasping
hold on his audience. so that II was not
altogether my fault that ! had thought
Of him as lone of the Poll Players" with
out taking coSniZauce of the fact that
he Is one of the most gifted members OF
the organization.
But ] haven't forgotten it, for since
his first big role Mr.. Velsey has let no
one forget his vita, and artistic part in
the Poll productions, which accounts lot
the enthusiastic applause which now IN
variably greets his first appearance on
the stage at each performance.
ApprccIntcs Applause.
washington has been so good TO me-"
he told me: grateful for the warm friends
he has made in the Nations Capital;
grateful for their recognition OF his
ability: grateful where other men as
Young in years would be spoiled by their
fattery.
..Then it hasn't turned your head?" 1
asked him.
modestly. for l know just how much
Il it'll deserve, just how many years of
earnest work there are ahead OF me. but
thu kind acknowledgment of Washing
ton folk has been an inspiration to me;
an incentive 20 give the very best there
is in me TO my audiences.
You mean then to stick to the drama?'
! asked.
u can see no other way" he answered
me earnestly.
You see my mother is a singer" he
went on she has a rare voice, and
had meant to be an opera singer, but
just when her ambitions were about to
lie realized, she married and since then
has given her wonderful voice to church
has converted more people to the Chris
tian life than all the sermons in the
world And her motherhood has the
same wonderful quality of her voice-an
it's richness, tenderness, and sympathy.
f she is sorry l have chosen the stage
for my life work she never tells ME so
Tor she understands what the call means
She has had il herself
she is coming to see me- soOn," Mr..
Nelsey went or, and l want you to meet
her for il is she who has taught me
IrCre than all the stage directors in the
world. Her dominating theory OF dra-
Htatic success is naturalness and individ-
uality, and she has drummed this into me
- persistently that. as long as I live, 1
,sn never forget the lesson.
Devoted to His Mother.
When the subject of conversation was
II: mother Mr.. Nelsey quite forgot that
t was his lunch hour, and most likely
Nrnt hungry to his matinee.
And when the first curtain had been
E,img up on his Little Johnnie Jones'"
Wednesday afternoon / was thinking of
Iii: impersoration of Youth when
" him first with Gertrude Hoffman
in The Spring Song of his success
With Louis Mann. his experience in mu-
: cal comedy and of the meritOTious
4uality of his work with the Poll or
liuization this summer
t. the sum total of his success thus
IN along his professional road add his
urionic ability, such qualities of charac-
ter as courage and energy: his sincere
Lelief that his profession is second to
lone, and it is not difficult to look ahead
Tito the unknown years and see for him
Il great success.