The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-23
STORIES OF HARRY AND TOM PLAC1DE
Some ReeoIieetions Revived by the Death Of
Mrs. james w. Wailack.

Mr.. Jane. w. waiiaeh.
1.-THE death OF Mrs. James W. wallack,"
said Brooklyn lady yesterday. reminds me |
Of the years passed In Babylon l.. l.. when l |
was little girl. You know Mrs. Wallack was
q niece OF Harry and Tom Placide Harry. |
after his retirement from Che stage. lived close
10 us In Babylon. and was a great favorite OF
his. For the most part he was severe. stern
man. but he was almost ALWAYS gentle and kind
10 me. have sat on his Rnee for an hour while
he tried to teach me Froggy would a-wooine
CO. He was not very successful. for twas
horribly stupid girl, but he seldom lost patience
with me. Very little is known about Harry's
private life. He hated anything that reminded
him OF the stage. and all tho clothes and Prop
critics that he had used as an actor we're locked
up in the garnet. and he never allowed even his
vito to see them. spoke to him once about
his theatrical career. but never dared to do so
again. He was very angry. and l remember
his words very well. l have wasted nearly my
whole life.' he said. making a fool OF myself to
amuse other FOOLS
Tom Pacide used often TO como TO Baby
lon. and l think he was even moro &C.
centric than Harry. He had one habit.
especially. that nothing could cure him OF.
Harry used to keep pigs though I can't
imagine why he did so. for certainly no
never Killed any OF them. Incsc Digs. neeu
hardly say, were not more remarkaue for
neat and cloany appearance than their kind
usually s are 0RS iI{ as TIT was oSa II
should keep them clean. Harry laughed Mt
him. but Tom was not to be deferred from cur
rying out the idea that had occurred to him.
He got scrubbing brush. pail OF hot water.
and some soft soap. and scrubbed those pgs
until his face shOno with the eNertion. The
pigs didn't seem to like II much but 4 certainly
| improved their appearance. and Tom went
! through tho same operation every time he came
I la nnbvlnn aftpr thnt. No girls laughed Mt
| him. but he did not mind us. He used to say.
oh. pigs reqlre TO be Kept clean as much as
when / was about IA years old Harry
| Placide. ADVERTISED for a music teacher for his
| tricks upon me that was delighted to get what
thought WAS n good opportunity to retaiiatc.
dressed me UP as an old woman. and put q gray
wig on my head; In this a,tire called a. INC
attended to the household business. even to do
| ing the marketing and whom WIS shown into
the, parlor he soon came In. He was very near
| sighted. Putting on his spoctacles and sitting
| down on the sofa he stared steadily at me for
fully u minute. l kept my countenance. and he
did not recognize mo under my disguise At
last be- said in his slow tone:
So You are rather an old maiden. are you not.
II suppose. II had boon old. should have
been terribly insuted but had not yet arrived
ut an age 10 be very PARTICULAR about such mat
sir. am not an old maid. DO look like one p
Mrs. placde had come into the room and
|
longer but burst into shrek Of laughter.
don't know now whether Harry Placidc detect
ed me even then or not. but he exclaimed;
This is another OF your rescally iokes. il itY
And he graspcd me by the collar and put me
out OF the room in manner that warned me
not to impose upon his good nature again. .
On one occas ion hewas suffering from tooth
ache. and so was !. He said he would have his
tooth taken out II would have mine. and he
promised to give mo. M an additional induce.
ment pair OF kid gloves. consented. and
both OF our teeth We're extracted. got my
| GLOVES hut he Kent both the teeth. Tutll or
gave them to Mrs. Pacide. saving that It woult
be very ,unlurky for rs To- look at them unit
might asked for my tooth and he got one o
them from his wife and sent 1t 10 me ! wa;
sort of a tooth that young lndics usually have
1t was long AMI blunt and am afraid stnlne'
with tobacco Invent To Mrs. Piacide and leara'
from her. what | might very well have know
before. that he had sent me his own tooth in
"Iie used to wear black skull cap. an,
could when he chose give his countcnunce
very angry and forhidding expression. re-
member once my Little brother dln-d with hin
on Thanksgiving Day. The rest Of our famil
dincd nj home. but before we had finished din
ner my brother rushed into tho room ierrh
frightened. II was long time before he coul'
speak. and when he did II WIS only to assure "
that Harry Placidc mad face ike jack tn
Giant Killer. Not a very intclligiblc DESERT
ton YOU will say, but W. learned the next da
that thu host. while Sharpening the cnryin
knife fixed an eye so thrcateningly speculntiv
upon his young guest that INV brother could No
avoid the conclusion that he had been invite
f, nish forth dinner himself for the cannibalisti
company. Possessed OF this idea. the wretchc
| boy saw no hOpo except in Immediate nlghl
= | and springing from his chair before any oi IN
l startled guests could interfere. he rushed froI
? | the room and fed home.
3 Harry Parile kept horse and wagon. hu
2 so FAR rs know, they We're never taken cut {
l the stable. He dislikcd riding. but took Yer
r | regular walks. accompanied always by his do
; | Saucho panZa. He conceived an cXtrNordnnr
o affection for this animal; and rs attainment
3 him was remarkable. IL WIS common cur
= the uglicst description imaginable" IL wa
D blind of one eye, and had no very Keen sense
r vision in the other. II was not q dcmonslri
c tive animal. but is fidelity Was unmistakahl
g When poor Harry Placide died S1ncho Pan2
r could not bc induced TO partnkc OF food frol
!. any one else. II lay under tho bed on whic
q ~ Ind hrnni hl.l hls Inst md nlpr Tvs