The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-25
HENRY FnAcTnH.


stock Of American actors, who are now fast
disappearing from view. From an appre-
oiative sketch Of his career by the late Frede-
rick s. Cozzens, published some months ago
in the New York Times, we make the follow
ing extracts, which give all the principal
events of his life and friendly criti-
cism of his merits as an actor. Mr.. Placide
died at his residence at Babylon, L. L., on
Saturday. -..- r...- ~,
Henry Placide, the eminent American
comedian, was born in Charleston, s. c.,
Sept. 8, 1899. His father, Monsieur Alex
andre Placde, was an eminent paptomimis-
and dancer on the tight-rope Gt was said that
he was the instructor of the Count dArtois,
the brother of Louis XIV, in the art), very
graceful performer and estimable man. He
was also, in the early part of this century,
manager of the Charleston company, said to
be at that time the best theatrical company
in America, and afterward manager of the
Richmond (Va. Theatre until it was burned
down in December, 1911. The
mother si Henry Placide was before her mar
riage Miss Wrighten the daughter of q very
celebrated actress. 1t is often the case that
hereditary talent is transmitted to the chill
dren from the mother. In this case it seems
to have descended from the grandmother as
well. The grandmother of Henry Placide
was Mrs Wrighten, prompter of Drury Lane
Theatre, afterwards Mrs. Pownall, a comic
actress and vocalist of great ability
The earliest authentic record of his appear
ance on the stage exists in a playhill (now
hanging in the parlor Of the actor of the
Charleston company, dated Friday evening,
October Ia, 1908, in which Master II. Placide
appears in two pieces, VIZ, as "David" in the
Blind Bargain, and as ''Florio di Rosalvi" in
the Hunter Of tie Atps. He was then nine
years old, but he says he appeared in the
same company much earlier. In
1918, Placide, then only fourteen years of
age, appears in q New York theatre in Junior
parts This was the old Anthony Street
Theatre of Twaits ~ Holland, where
in after years, Edmund Kean made
his first appearance. He played here
for about a year, when Twaits died,
and the theatre was closed. His next appear
ance was in Albany, under Manager Bernard.
This company performed during the winter in
Albany, and in summer made tour through
the Provinces, giving dramatic performances
at Montreal, Quebec, etc. After two years of
hard work and little pay, the company found
themselves almost penniless in Quebec, the
season having been unsuccessful. 1t was
here that Manager Bernard declared to them
the impossibiity Of keeping the company to-
gether any longer. eff broken up in smaller
parties each set might do better when de-
tached, and playing with less expenses before
smaller audiences. He advised a party of
them to 60 to Halifax, Nova Scotia; there was
q large garrison there; surely they could count
upon some support IN Halifax" This we'll
spoken advice determined the larger part of
them to go to that fancied Ell Dorado 1t was
y custom in those days to sell vessels con-
demned by the British Admiralty in the
Provinces to West India adYenturers, and q
schooner of this inviting reputation being
raady to sail for the tropics was engaged
though risky hr. economical, to carry the
greater part of the company down the mighty
st. Lawrence and drop them at the Nova Sco-
tia capital = The vessel brought the
company safely to Halifax. This was in the
summer of 1915. Placide was then sixteen
years of age. AS they were nearly destitute
of money, the company at once set about re-
trieyins their broken fortunes by giving a
representation at the earliest moment.
Some of the party had secured an
empty fish warehouse and set to work to pre-
pare it for the future theatre. A stage was
erected, benches made ready, Halifax house
painter was secured for the scenery, and in
spite of any delFys and vexations, the COM
pany made its first bow to Halifax audience
soon after, and for time achieved great
success. IH
But a full cup will sometimes overflow. The
company had no sooner begun to reap tole-
rable harvest, than some of the garrison Off
GERS, who had taken part in amateur theatri-
Gals before, felt an ambition to appear upon
real stage, and volunteered to take hand
in the performances of the company. This
was not to be denied them-indeed, for a time
it proved great card for the managers. After
run Of unexpected profit, the volunteers be-
gan to tire of the irksome duties of the stage,
and only appeared occasionally. Then the
real actors began to feel the weight of this
auxiliary upon their backs. They could only
count upon an audience on the nights when
the officers played! The company alone, on
the off nights, played to empty houses To
crown ALL their military allies, inspired by an
exclusive feeling of vanity, began to
think about establishing theatre of their
own. 1t was not long before the project was
carried into execution; a neat little garrison
theatre made its appearance, and, with this
formidable rival to contend with, the old the
atre soon sunk into neglect and decay. The
owner of the fish warehouse, in order to
secure, if possible, the payment of his rent,
drew up partnership note for all the actors
TO sign, as lien upon every member of the
company! The note was signed and fell due
and was not paid; the luclxless actors managed
to escape from Halifax, and were separated
never to be united again; one of them only,
unconscious of impending danger, loitered
behind perhaps from stress of money tC
get away with, and the law laid It's
hand upon his shoulder and clapped the lag
ging actor in debtors prison. This unfor
tunate party was Henry Placide.
This pleasant abode was often referred to by
his old and intimate friends afterwards as hi
''country seat at Halifax" Released
from the country seat, he made his way t.