The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-24
DEATH OF TOM PLACIDE.

Poor old Tom Placide has extinguished the
name OF Placide, by selfdestruction. His brother
and himself left no heirs. His sisters alone have
transmitted the blood. but not the name, Of this
weh-known and prominent dramatic family.
They were all long associated with the drama in
this city and In Charleston, and had large circles
OF friends and admirers. The family originated
in Charleston, through the marriage OF q very
accomplished English actress, Miss Warren, with
Frenchman from st. Domingo, named Placide,
who had high reputation as musical
and ballet artist. The children Of this mar
rage, who were all born in Charleston,
South Carolina, were Harry and Tom
Placide, and the other daughters, whose first
names we do not now remember, who became
Mrs. Blake and Mrs. Mann. All these attained
great popularity and prominence on the stage.
Harry Placide was the most finished comedian in
the highest range Of the dramatic art who ever
appeared on the American stage. Jane Placide
was the great favorite, tho idol Of our theatrical
people in the palmy days of the old Camp and
st. Charles street theatres. Her appearance be-
fore New Orleans audience was the signal for
the widest manifestations Of applause and ad- |
mirstion. Alas, she was cut down ere she had |
bloomed into the full luxurance Of her beauty |
and genius, by the yellow fever, in 1888. MIR. |
James Fl. Caldwell, the great manager and |
founder of the st. Charles. erected very costly
monument to her in the Girod Street Cemetery, |
which is inscribed with words that attest The |
passionate devotion he always cherished for her. |
Tom Placide, whose melancholy demise has /
suggested this reference, had fine natural gifts as
a comedian. His facial and all his physical |
characteristics admirably adapted him to great
achievements in the lines of comedy and farce.
He had, too, taste, humor, and all the intellectual
requisites for this success. But his older brother
united with like natural gifts great industry, ap-
plication and ambition, which Tom never pos.
sessed. This contrast operated to the discour-
agement Of the younger, who never reached the
eminence which he might have gained by more
earnest application to his profession. Still he
was always popular on the stage, and rarely
failed in any character assigned to him to bring
down the house upon his uostudied and al ways
happy rendition Of comedy characters.
Tom Pacide is chiefly remembered here for
his social and personal qualities and for his
agency in originating and establishing the Varie-
ties Theatre, OF which he was the planner and
organizer and for some time conductor. We have
not time or space to detail al the facts in the his
tory Of this brilliantly successful enterprise. To
the taste, Judgment and professional zeal Of
Placlde was this success mainly due. His per-
sonal qualities attracted TO hin the confidence Of
citizens Of high social position and means and
thereby secured an abundant capital to establish
and maintain, for some years, the reputation and
great prosperity OF this institution. /,
The final destruction of the Varieties by fire ];
threw MIR. Placide on his own resources and
him to go on the stage again, but he
was never reconciled to it, and removing to New
York, lived Tor some time in that city without
employment and upon very scant resources de-
rived from loans on pledges of his library which
was very rare and valuable one. It was at this
time, when his fortunes were reduced to the
lowest ebb, that curious and romantic event
occurred.
In his young days Placide had formed an At
sachment fyr q young lady Of the Philadelphia
;iment was recprocated, but both were too
poor and their prospects too discouraging to JUS
lily marriage. So they were separated and lost
tight OF each other, and formed other reiat, ns
md attachments. The lady married prudenty
md retiring to the country lived happily with her
armer husband until his death, when, after
,rief widowhood, she married another farmer.
With whom she lived FOR several years raising a {
amlly OF children, and at last was
gain widow with a good property and
money in bank. IL was during this widowhood
hat she accidentally heard Of the lonely and ]
esolate situation Of her first love, Tom Piacide.
'he proceeded to New York, arranged an inter- /
lew with Placide, and, after some difficulty in I
atlsf5ing him as to her identity-they had been ]
Ter the opportunity Of relieving his pecuniary
necessities and of giving him q comfortable {
ome: She begged him for list of his debts, .
ave him her address, q nice farmhouse on Toms d
liver, and babe him good day. Placide was c
Ia. tied at this proposition. He was now | G