New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-18
TITS Thirty YEARS SINCE.
"NYhY Was this called the PbQniX III

'Vhy was TINS calico the tDQtnlX
because" responded our host, lit wa
built on part of the site Of the old st
Charles Theatre one OF the largest, an,
certainly, at that time the most elegan
theatre on this continent. 1t was built---th
theatre-by a most remarkable man. James
III. Caldwell was an Engishman and al
actor, who came to the United States some
time early in this century. His first pro
fessianal success was in the Southern At
lantic cities, where he gave some evidence
of tho indomitabe enterprise which subBe
quenuy distinguished him. The distress
which Oversprcad Eichmond--then small
town Of few thousand people--at the
destruction, by fire, Of the theatre. and the
loss of several hundred people, caused them
to look upon the drama with borror. They
founded church upon the site OF the
burned theatre, and enacted very stringent
ordinances against all theatrical amuse,
ments. Caldwell opened season, in de-
fance Of this prejudice; the people were
with him, and ne succeeded in convincing
the city that an avenging Providence
had something larger to do than in
going around to burn people up because
they are caught laughing Or crying over the
acted noraliries. Re starred these Southern
cities and reinstated the drama. ho was q
remarkably handsome man, which 10 doubt
aided the emotional traits OF lis acting, 90
that while performing in the ancient town
of fredericksburg a widow OF the mos
exalted aiistocracy, who had recently buried
% rich and equity old husband, 80 far from
controlling her admiral ton for the handsome
actor, according to the dictates OF the re-
fined society of which she was a member,
suddenly, in enc OF the most pathetic pointe
Of the play, precIpitaled herself upon the
stage, seized young Caldwell in her arms
and made proclamation 70 al whom il
might concern, and othera, that sho loved
him above all the aristocracy OF the earth,
and took this dramatic method TO signalize
at cnce her devotion Tor the man which she
meant to entrus5 ;th her hand and fortune
and her contempt for those who denied her
right 10 do what she chose with herself and
her fortune.
The curtain fell amid general conste-na-
ton. ltiell between the wealthy widow and
the audience, who retired almost az much
shocked at this violation Of the convention
allies as the people OF Richmond had been
at tho signal displeasuro Of Providence. AZ
tho public could not have been offered such
q dramatic sensation every night, the the
atre closed and Caldwell devoted himself
for some years 10 the care Of the stage
struck widow, her estates and OF two chill
dren with which Mrs Caldwell had pre-
sented him. But the innate enterprise and
love Of art could not be suppressed per
manently. Caldwell heard much OF The
rising gleries of New Orleans then becoming
the market 1oI tho cotton and sugar which |
the large Shareholders Of the Southern AT |
lantic States had begun to develop through !
ont the gulf slope and the Mississippi valley. /,
The growing wealth and the refinement Of |
the Crescent City attracted lis ambition. |
1t contrastcd strongly with the gulliea, |
pines and poverty from which every one |
who could was running away and writing !
back about The paradise Of plenty into
which they had been admitted
''As there were come awful accounts OF
the yellow fever, duels, murders and
steamboat explosions. circulated by .nose
who h&d lands 10 sell, it rather counter.
ACTED the rose lights cast Is the happy
dwellers il paradise. i was decided,
therefore, that CALDWELL shoul 90 10
pioneer this paradise, and If no was neither
Il victim 10 the one or other OF the epiGemlCs
his lady would, wi,h the children, remove
70 New Orleans"
Here mino host Of tho ph~piy rang
DOWN on the story, while tbe brown mugs
we're replenished w;.h lager. and tie
,atient pipes resumed bg way 81 c4.y 'acie.
at is not intended % give the biography
# this very remarkable man further than !
o illustrate o few incidents connected with
liz residence in New Orleans. il was some
ears before this conjunction OF The iamiIy !
7as accomplished. Caldwell encountered
he usnal difficulties OF progressive spirit.
ne Creole population were naturally cal
US OF the Americans. They oOnld sell all
be goods and hold all the offices themselves. |
erhaps the natural antagonism which las
,r 50 many centuries separated the ANGER
rs q each across the British channel, was
nconsciously renewed ON Ills side Of the
,lantir; anyway, there was contest as to '
hslher the Eoglish spoken drama could or :
.Caid b. enacted above Canal street. The /.
/. Caar.ea Heatre, above the ruins OF !,
t.igNs rs a3@ sit, was one result. n
&. Is 4osj trough. Booth TO New Or I
ass. ssa4ssSs5 ~ hort, "and Booth got =
CTS 4sa&sAz b&tSs j. French and played
,r4 g,sss spy isass Itse. Caldwell. who N
,,,A--s Sss &esfy WAS tse ls.ding lady c.
t2,es. ,,s saF sis.s2 aith h,m. J. B. ~
,r,.4,., S..YfSak Es-s is&s ft.ts her owa II
j. n, ,.slN A,sp,{s@ y.i Ma:s .sssts VIZ Y