St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-28
"Reminiscences Of An did Actor.
lBaltimore SUM

The gift by Miss Mary G. Caldwell, a
young lady in New York, Of $500, 600 TO the
Plenary council, lately in session in Balti-
more, for the foundation Of a Catholic Uni
versiiy, has excited very general interest
but GO mparatiyely little has been stated con-
corning Mss CAlW. III hsrself or her antece-
dents. IL now transpir.s that her paterual
grandfather was James H. Caldwell. au ae-
tor of high repute from 1916 10 ls43. He
was born in England in 1898, and
bis first appearance on the stage tas chiId)
was in tie Manchester tacater. he
came 10 America in 1916 With Mana
ger Holman, and made his Amer
lean debut al Charleston, s. C., iu Novembe
of that year He was mau Of wonderful
energy, an had macy ups and downs. both
as actur an manager. In 1917 be managed a
theateP In tue city of WLshin gton; In 1918 be
built theater in P-tersourg, Va, where
Junius Brutus Booth PLAYED In 1921: in jan
airy, 1922, be engaged the Franrl theatpr 10
New Orleans an gave the first season of
Euglish performances in that city acting
himself all the leading high comedy
roles, such as B-leourt, Doricourt, Duke
Aranza, Brnedirk, Young Wildlng, Charles
Surface, Felix, GOssamer, etc. be com
mcpeed the erection OF the first English the
alter there in 1922, and opened it January 1,
! 1924. He had Junius Bruius Booth for his
stage manager there aud Z Twin Forrest Nc
an actor. In 1926 be built the Nashville
thrater; in 1927 he altered building into
Iheater in ST Louis; in 1928 he completed
theater in Naiehez, Miss. and in 1892
completed a hne theatcr in Gin
cinpau. He commenced the first
aud finest theater on the site OF the pres
ent ST. Charles theater, New Orleans. on the
Sih of May, 1885, and opened il on the 3Jsh
OF November OF The same year. He retired
from the stage on the l4th ~ January, iSf3
! appearing as ''Vapid" in 'sThe Dramattst. .
In the interval between 1920 and 1888 he
! built other thratcrs brsi,l-s those uamed, in
/ cluding one at Huntsville, Ala, anu proba-
bly, at Savannah, Ga, and Mobile, Ala.
Tne circuit held by him was sold 10 Russell &
Rowe, theatrical managers in those DAYS,
3 the former being the father OF the famous
ACTRESS, Mrs. Fsrren. Although bcset hy all
the trials an / misfOrtunes of such an adveu-
/ turous and uncertain business career, Mr.
Caldwell preserved the highest character for
probiiy, AMI in the end Justified the
= confluence OF his friends by his business sue
cess. he was very fond of public life, and
became leading citizen in New 0rrans.
he was the frst president OF the gas light
company, which be established there. lie
WAS IN Baltimore in 1918, when Mr. Rem
brandt Peale began the manufacturing Of
illuminating gss at the old museum. alter
WARD the city hall, on North Holiday street
.src gave great Atrntion to the process of
gas N aking. His experience here evidently
4ed hin eventually 10 bis successful effort to
Introduce il 10 New Orleans. which he did in
1898. thus laying the foundation of the great
fortune that was b, qurathed 10 his son with
the significant name. ''Wiiliam Shakespeare
Caldwell" and by the latter 10 bis two
daughters, Mr.. James II. Caldwell was twice
married--frstto Mrs. TwOmiey,0f Fredrrieks-
burg, Va, aud afterward t0 Miss Rowe,
daughter of Manager Rowe. He continued
TO Ieside in New Dreams until 1868, when,
-elfiting under the rule Of Gen. Batter, be left
there and went to New York, where he die.i.
at,tne age Of 40, Sept. IL. 1868. His grand
Daughter, Mary, Wis bora the same year.
The writer OF tnis sketch met him in the
crescent City in the winter Of 1893, but q
lew Years after his retirement from the stare.
Ia The prime OF his manhood, already oou.
lent, useful aud fun Of advanced business
IDEAS that hAi aftsrwarj rich fruition, enao-
ling his granddaughter AT this dsy TO Law the
foundations of a srhooi OF theological learn
ling the good results Of which will doubtless
extend 10 the end Of time.