South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-23
Veteran Sho70man, Niles Resident
And Nephew Of Harriet 3. Stope,
Again to Show Uncle Toms Cabin

travelling through Delaware ana
Maryland. I had occasion 10 let GO
three OF ms cast Eva. Topsy and
OpheUa. That was one time We
were almost stuck I finally put
uv brother Bert. who weighed 200
pounds. in the part OF Topsy Tie
had q sandy mustache WHICH show
"a through the black cork make up.
and he was about as funny a ToDsy
as ever could have been found. The
show that night was so bad that IL
was good. and the audience laughed
until the tears rolled down their
cheeks
During the summer Of 1893 we
pu- on big production Of me play
in Brooklyn at the corner Of Fifth
and Flat5ush 81. We played the en-
-ire summer with 20 people in the
cast-I guess the biggest produc-
dion ever managed
Mr. Brown interrupted his old
manager TO tell the story of one o.
the bard who had refused 20 pa
rade.
"The day was very hot" he said
"aud the men objected 20 marching
10 % ne.sh5oring town as the drum
major wished them TO do The time
for the parade came and the parade
started the drum major swinging
proudly in front They came 70 the
street leading 10 the nelghboring
town and he marched around the
corner. waving his baton for all he
was worth The band turned i'm
another direction. and the major
walked a block before ne discover
cd he was the only member Of the
parade"
A number Of interesting and now
famous people ere once members
OF Dir. slows company. Mae Muir
ray. then y years old. played the
part Of Little Eva during an en-
tire season which included a tour
from Maine to California.
she was a beautiful child" said
Mr.. Stowe. but she grew too large
for the part. and at the end Of the
season we sent her back TO her
home.
Daisy Mako, who IS now dead,
but who was considered the most
famous 'Topsy', was a mem Der Of
our company for a time. as were a
number of other persons who have
risen high in the profession.
Had Their Troubles
we had our troubles just as any
other travelling show Once our
treasurer was robbed of $500 Of the
company's funds, and another time
three members of the company
made away with our safe and all il
contained. On the whole. however,
things moved along pretty smoothly
and we were treated royalty.
when we first made our appear
ace in a town we were seIged 10y all
the small boys in the community
who wanted to get a close look at
the blood hounds. Sometimes they
would get so interested as TO hinder
the progress % the parade. In the
smaller towns. people would come
from the country for miles around
eager TO see and be thrilled by
Elias flight across the snow and
caked Ohio river.
"As TO the people who have made
IN our companies. they are only
human. but they are the most loyal
and charitable Of humans. In the
past showmen were given a black
eye just because they were show
man, but that attitude is now en-
tirely changed. The show business
has been revolutionized-but It re-
tains It's faciantion.-
Mr.. Stowe has himself taken parts
in the play when that was necessary.
He has been a resident Of Niles
for the Last 10 years. having built
home there 81 1910. -Four years
ago he married Hiss Katherine Van
Evera OF South Bend 4 son. John
p. Stowe Jr., IS now three years
o. age has not yet stated ais ana
bit.on in life, but his Snowman dad
thinks he VIII. carry on
"Opens" ut Niles May
The season this year viii begin
May 6 with a performance at Niles
Mich all the proceeds going to
charitable organizations. The com
pany Will tour IN east and expect
TO create all the tie excitement OF
. former years when they arrive in
town with their blood hounds. sim
. au Legree VIII again teIrorlze his
slaves with his Crue-t y TOpsy VIII
eouFu-se the audience with her ant
JOS Eliza viii exhibit her mother
love i'm all it's ferver Little Eva
vflI capture the hearts OF all and
/ Uncle Tom viii come 70 his unde-
served death People Young anC
one viu smile and weep at tine
story o. Uncle Tow Ca1!c-a sto--
ot human interest tnat never grow.
old.