Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-24
Reminiscence. Of An Old Actor.

The gift by Miss Mary G. Caldwell, a young
lady in New York, OF $500, 1000 to the Plenary
council, lately in session In Baltimore for the
foundation OF Catholic university, has excited
very general interest. but comparatively little
has been stated concerning Miss Caldwell her.
self or her antecedents 1t now transpires that
her paternal grandfather was James H. Caldwell,
an actor of high repute from 1916 to 1S43. He
was born in England in 1893. and his first ap-
pearance on the stage Gas child) was in the
Manchester theater. He came to America in
1916 with Manager Holman and made hisAmer-
lean debut at Charleston. s. c., in November of
that year. He was man of wonderful energy,
and had many ups and downs. both as actor
and manager. In 1917 he managed theater in
the city OF Washington;in 1918 he built theater
in Petersburg Va, where Junius Brutus Booth
played in 1921 in January, 1920. he engaged the
French theater in New Orleans and gave the
first season of English performances in that city,
acting himself all the leading high comedy roles,
such as BelcOurt, Dorcourt. Duke Aranza,
Benedick, Young Wilding Charles Surface,
ton of the first English theater there in 1922.
and opened it January l, 1924. He had Junius
Brutus Booth for his stage manager there and
Edwin Forrest as an actor. In 1926 he built the
Nashville theater; in 1927 he altered building
into a theater in st. Louis; in 1928 he COM
pleted theater in Natchez Miss, and in 1882
he built fine theater in Cincinnati. He COM
menced the first and the finest theater on the
site of the present St. Charles theater, New Or
leans. on the 9th OF May. 1885, and opened it on
the 30th of November of the same year. He re-
tired from the stage on the 18th of January,
1913, appearing as Vapid in "The Dramatist."
In the interval between 1920 and 1888 he built
other theaters besides those named. including
one at Huntsville Ala. and probably at Sa-
vannah, Ga, and Mobile, Ala. The circuit
hn1a hr,h cold 70 T. &h<,
atrical managers in those days, the former being
the father Of the famous actress, Mrs. Farren.
Although beset by all the trials and misfortunes
of such an adventurous and uncertain business
career, Mr.. Caldwell preserved the highest char
acter for probity. and in the end justified the
confidence OF his friends by his business success.
He was very fond Of public life, and became q
leading citizen in New Orleans. He was the
first president Of the gaslight company, which
he established there He was in Baltimore in
1873 when Mr.. Rembrandt Peale began the
manufacturing Of Illuminating gas at the
old museum. afterward the City Hall, on North
Holiday street, and gave great attention to the
processes Of gasmaking His experience here
evidently led him eventually to his successful
effort to introduce it In New Orleans. which he
did in 1888, thus laying the foundation Of the
great fortune that was bequeathed to his son
with the significant name. civilian Shakes
peare CALDWELL" and by the latter to his two
daughters. Mr. James H. Caldwell was twice
married-frst to Mrs. Twomley. OF Fredericks-
burg Va, and afterward to Miss Rowe, daugh-
ter Of Manager Rowe. He continued to reside
in New Orleans until 1868. when. chatting under
the rule of Gen. Butler he left there and went
to New York. where he died, at the age of 70,
Sept. II, 1868. His granddaughter. Mary, was
born the same year. The writer Of this sketch
met him in the Crescent City in the winter OF
1923, but few years after his retirement
from the stage, In the prime Of his manhood.
already opulent. useful and full of advanced
business ideas that had afterward rich fruitiOn,
enabling his granddaughter at this day to lay
the foundations of school of theological learn
ing the good results of which will doubtless
extend to the end of time.