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

OPlenipo," Gerald Pepper" and Rory
OMore" Charles Mathews, the elder, in
taking leave of America, sent him his own
stage copy of "Coddle," in the play Of Mar
gted LaJG," with note in verse advising
him to visit England, assuring him that he
would iiil the Adelphi, and hailing him as the
"Chastest OF actors
In spite OF detractors
That follow all actors"
and bequeathing to him the part of ''Coddle,
in order, as he says, that he may gain
fresh wreath in acting this favorite part OF
Mathews.
In fact Placide's excellence rose to par
with the highest class Of foreign actors that
performed upon our scenic boards; he was
equally esteemed with any or all of them, and
his versatility was superior to any OF them,
except, perhaps, @. Mathews, the elder.
In genteel comedy, where birth and breed
ing we're to be portrayed in the character OF
gentleman, an innate refinement of manner
surrounded Placide, and he looked, dressed
and walked like one of natures noblemen."
No one who has seen him can forget his port
and bearing in Lord Ogleby, in ''Sir Peter
Teazle," in ''Sir Harcourt Courtley," in
"Charles XII, or 'Frederic the Great No
one who has seen him in his personiication of
the latter character will ever forget his courtly
bearing to the ladies; his proud bow to his
army as it passes under the windows of the
ODaIGHu BCUODlGluLs Iu6 mlAtuTe OI ul&uity,
contempt, and defiance with which he bran
dishes his sword in the face of Baron
Trenck's" squad of Austrians, when he is
alone, and betrayed in the old chateau, yet
shows himself to be ''every inch a King !"
In the whimsical characters of comedy
he had few rivals; such as his personifcation
of Sir Anthony Absolute" ''Sir Abel Handy,
''Major Ollapod," or Colonel Damas," or
''Dr. Caius" in the Merry Vices.
Another range of characters he was equally
at home in, such as ''Touchstone, in as You
Like Gt, or the ''Clown" in ISooltM Night;
''Tom Dobbs' in the farce of the Omnibus,
'Fathom" in the HunchbGch, or in the in
Vulnerable roles he performed in farce,
vaudeville, or melodrama. The profession
was q different thing in those days to what it
is now. Now we have seldom more than one
piece night, and a run of hundreds of nights
of the same piece. Then they had three
pieces a night-a piece to play the audience
in with-a piece to play the audience out
with--and five-act tragedy or comedy be-
tween the two. II have studied and played
in thirty six different pieces in the course of
three weeks" says the indefatigable actor.
Think of it, ye easy-going aspirants for his
trionic honors, who appear before modern
footlights in only one piece for hundreds of
nights
But there was a class of characters which
belonged peculiarly to Placide, and which,
since his retirement from the stage, have
rarely, some never, been attempted by others,
such as his 'Dr. Boncoeur," in the VEJLG1e
Doctor; his Michael Perrin, in Secret Ser
Ctce; his jean Jacques Freiaque," or
Grandfather Whitehead" or ''Tom Noddy;"
or ''Uncle john" or "Haversack;" or in the
last performance with which he took leave of
the stage, Corporal Cartouche."
Memory can only recall the exquisite pathos
,.,.ff
never see their like again. Such real honest
tears as were then shed will never be shed
again by later audiences. *
Of his wonderful industry some idea may
be formed by the following;-We have not
yet spoken Of his musical requirements. He
had remarkable baritone voice, which, with
proper cultivation, might have ranked him
high in the class of buffo vocalists. Witness
his Baron Pompolino" in Cinderella. But
this was not his ambition, One day Mr..
Simpson, the manager, came to him, and
asked him to undertake the part
"0lifour, in the opera of La Bdyddere"
Mr.. Richings, who had often performed the
part, was suddenly taken sick. Mile. Augusta
(the ''Bayadere) was set down to appear on
the following Monday. The day on which
the manager made his proposition was the
Wednesday preceding Placide said it was
impossible; could not somebody else be had?
They sent up again for Richings. mo, his
physician said she will not be able to leave
his room for some weeks" Simpson again
appealed to Placide-"he would give
him $50 extra if he would undertake the
part" To which Placide replied that he
would add $50 more ont Of his own pocket if
Simpson would get a substitute. Thursday
came. Madlle Augusta could not play any
thing else but ''La Bayadere." But where
was an ''Olifour' to be had The manager
presented to the view of the actor the conse-
quences that would ensue if the opera was
not performed on the night in question;
the disappointment of the public, the rage
that would follow, the broken benches, the
smashed chandeliers the scenery in flames
II shall be ruined" said poor Simpson.
The heart of Placide was touched, and
he agreed to undertake the part, and
began to study on Thursday night the
whole vocal role of ''Olifour" solos, duets,
trios, choruses, and all-so as to be ready
to appear in La Bdyddere on the Monday
following. 'And while my brain was strained
to its utmost to commit the music of the
opera, Judge of my SURPRISE said the actor,
when took up the morning paper on Mon
day, to find myself put down to play the
principal character in long farce that was
introduced before the opera to play the audi
ence in with Simpson had no mercy upon
his actors. He broke me down at last" But
with all this hard work, he never neglected
his art. No one ever saw one of his parts
slurred over or carelessly played Everything
he did was well done. His 'Old Silky"-a
subordinate character in the Road to Ruin
was as well played as such chief parts as his
''sir Peter" or his ''Sir Harcourt Courtley."
H.. e,,.t