Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-27
GARDENER & HEMMING'S Great
~ American Circus was showing or

Lind
GARDENER & HEMMING'S Great
~ American Circus was showing on
Louisiana avenue near Tenth street
and close 10 the bridge" The adver
tisement mentioned James Reynolds.
"prircr Of testers, from AStley's, Lon
dom: Dan Gardner. 1.-The clown king
Eliza Gardner. the young and beau
tifui equestrienne and danseuse
Mile. Camilla, the picturesque rider;
Mile. Heluuise Breezy, the fascinating
actress and equestrienne' George
Derious. the most fearless horseman
in the world; r. Hemming, the
greatest living performer on the corde
tendue" stretched rope or tight rope);
George Hill. maitre du clrcui, and
Gerald Pepper, George King, Martin
F'erroil and Lyn Verne, gymnasts.
Nixon's Cremorne Garden Circus,
with a full equestrian company and
the Spanish ballet troupe" showed
at Louisiana avenue and Seventh
street, and the advertisement said the
location is the best in the metropolis. "
Barnum's Circus showed at Louisiana
avenue and Tenth street and every
body in Washington saw Gen. Mutt.
Tom Thumb. the Albino family.
Adams DedIS ana .NdiIts'fl
Now let's get back on the main
street of this story. f. l.. Davenport
at Growers followed Damon and
Pythias' with The jealous Moor,
Othello." Richard III. or the Battle
of Bosworth Field" Hamlet" 'Nir-
yinius," The Wife" and Merchant of
Venice" Growers stock company play
ing nearly all other than the leading
part in each OF those plays Some
times new name appears In the com
pany. as Ada Parker. the eminent
tragedienne." and Annette Ince, the
talented Washington actress"
believe you are so interested in
F.. l.. Davenport and know so little
about him, except that he was dis
tinguished actor. that l will let YOU
read the following sketch. which !
take from the National Cyclopedia of
American Biography:
Edgar Loomis Davenport was born
in Boston. November Is. 1916. He re-
ceived an excellent education and
made his debut as an actor at Provi-
dence. r. L.. in 1896. as Wellborn in
a New Way to Pay Old Debts the
elder Booth enacting Sir Giles over
reach. For ten years following his en-
trance upon the stage Mr. Davenport
was valued member of the stock
companies playing at the different
Boston theaters. He early won recog-
milton AS an actor of extraordinary
talent and made rapid advancement.
In ls47 he accompanied Mrs. Anna
Cora Mowatt to England and was the
principal support of that accomplished
actress during her engagements
abroad. While in England MIR. Dav-
export supported William Charles
~ t.,Aw-
much by a careful study of the Eng
iish tragedian's methods. and he also
won great popularity as William in
Black Eyed Susan in which charac-
ter he filled an extended engagement
at the Haymarket Theater. London,
Following his return TO America. MIR.
Davenport was for many years a sue
cessful star, being seen in all the
Shakespearean roles and in round
of other characters remarkable for
their range and diversity. In 1859 he
was manager of the Howard Athe-
naeum in Boston. and ten years later
he managed the Chestnut Street The
alter in Philadelphia.
Toward the close of his profes.
sional career Mr.. Davenport appeared
principally as Brutus and David
Bruce. filling extended engagements
in these characters at Booths Theater.
New York. and in the other leading
cities of the country. His place in
the annals Of the American stage Is a
conspicuous and honorable one. Pol
ished, refined and scholarly. and al
ways a hard and conscientious work
err. no actor of his day possessed
greater versatility He showed excel
lence in all that he essayed and in
some characters he was superb. He
was the greatest Brutus of his time.
and as Sir Giles Overreach he was
long without serious rivals. His pri.
vate life was blAmeless. While In
England in 1850 he was married to
Fanny Winning. member of a family
long prominent on the English stage
and a cousin of Mrs. John Hoey and
Lester Wallack. Mrs. Davenport APP.
peared with her husband until his
death. and afterward was frequently
seen on the stage.
Nearly all of the ten children who
were born to them have achieved
prominence in the theatrical world
The career of their first child. Fanny,
receives attention elsewhere The
second child, Blanche, Is an opera
singer of note. Miss Lille Davenport
died some years ago. Miss May DAY.
export gave evidence Of decided talent
as an actress in her childhood, bur
left the stage when she became the
wife of William Seymour, stage man.
ager of the Boston Museum. The
eldest son, Edgar. Is member of the
stock company playing at the Boston
Museum and young actor of prom
Use. The Youngest son. Henry, is a
successful impersonator of juvenile
characters. Mr.. Davenport died at
Canton, Pa, where. when not profes-
sionally engaged, he resided for sew
eral years, September l. 1871"
THIS story is getting long An hour
ago I was called on the phone by
John Randolph, assistant chief clerk
of the War Department. have
known John since he was a boy, and
how long that is would interest you,
but is none of your business. John
said: Harry, that last article-John
calls the 'rambles" articles--that last
article of yours on Growers Theater
have just sent to my old friend
William Seymour, who married one of
the Davenport girls"
Well. Well. Will Seymour Is also
one of the Rambler's old friends and
1 see him when he comes to Wash
ington. The last time I saw him he
was here with THE Goose Hangs
High" The next time he was in town
was stopping at a prominent hospi-
tai, having been invited there by my
physicians, the District Medical So.
cfety, of which I am the principal
patron and support. And every time
am sent to a hospital / get sick. SO
the last time Mr.. Seymour was in
Washington I did not see him. I was
introduced to- Mr.. Seymour by Oracle
Hall Kramer, now of New York, but
who was a girl friend of Bill Seymour
and me when We were boys in Boston.
And how small the world is. amt it?
Mr.. Davenport went to England with
Mrs. Anna Cora Mowatt." Mrs. Now
ats Memories was not lone of the
Ayot't hl1t y1rn1,o llvy