The Portland daily press., 1899-07-07
OBITUARY.
LoUIs CLIFFoRp WADE.

Mr.. L. Clifford Wade, for twenty-one
years city editor of the PRESS, died at
the Maine General Hospital at 8. 80 o'clock
Thursday morning. aged SO years, eight
months and three days. Mr.. Wade had
been In failing health Tor a year, and for
the last three months of his life failed
quite rapidly. His condition was not
thought TO be alarming, however, until
W trim day or two OF his death.
MIR. Wade was born, in Providence,
knt de Island, November 8, 1889, and was
the son Of the late Eben Wade and Sarah
Clifford Wade. On his mothers side he
was nearly related to the family OF
Governor Clifford, Of Rhode Island. Mr.
Wade, Senior, was q Cuban merchant,
passing much Of his time In Havana.
Mr.. l. @. Wade received his early educa-
tion In the University Grammar School
in Providence and At Skinner Military
Institute at New Haven, CT II was his
intention at one time to enter the Navy,
but this plan was modified, and I'M 1855
he entered Harvard College, graduating
therefrom in the class of 1890. He spent
one year as a student in the Dane ba VI
$ hool, and completed his legal eS--ation
with the well-known Law firm OF sssa.
den s. Butler, of Portland, of wtioa VIII
liam Pitt Fessenden was senior meiRter.
de was admitted TO Cumberland bar In
1864. For a brief period after his admis-
sion he practiced law; and was also for
short time in business with the late John
d. Lerd, Commercial street merchant
at that time.
In 1868 AIR. Wade joined the staff of the
PRESS. He had a natural aptitude and
taste for newspaper writing. and soon
became well known for his local work,
especially as a musical ana dramatic
critic. He remained on the staff of the
PRESS until 1871, when he went 10
Cuba. remaining there several months
with his father. In 1872 he returned to
Portland and became city editor of the
Daily Advertiser. He remained in that
position until 1878, when he again joined
the staff of the PRESS az city editor, and
remained in that position until his death.
MIR. Wade was elected clerk of the
Common Council In 1877, and held the
RSSthASAs AcA e1~at sUoAf0 yOAAns
Mr.. Wade was married in early life to
Miss A lmira Isabel Stafford. daughter OF
MIR. William +. Stafford, who was for
many years in business In Cuba. Mrs.
Wads died about ten years ago.
In his younger days Mr. Wade took a
prominent and active part in the social
life Of Portland. He was member of
the old Union Club, in its time one Of
the most important social clubs of the
city.
AS journalist Mr.. Wade was known
most widely as a musical and dramatic
critic. He had a wide acquaintance with
the men and women who have in the
last quarter of century been eminent in
the drama and In music. and for their
achievements In their art he showed the
enthusiastic appreciation Of the friend as
well as the discriminating praise of the
critic. Until failing health compelled
him to give up 30 certain extent his
usual round of duties, he was always
seen at the theatre or at the concert; and
the people of Portland came to looK upon
his criticisms as authority.
Mr.. Wade's department OF newspaper
work brought him into constant contact
with the business and professional, as
we'll "a with the musical and literary
people of Portland. His range of scquain.
tance was wide, established through
many years of daily association. The
business of truthful and conscientious
newspaper writer often demands that
he write things which cannot be- pleas
ant to everyone; yet after all his years Of
service In an exaoting and delicate po-
sition. wherein his dealings with the local
public were constant, we do not believe
that there will be found one of his &C.
quaintanoes who will not say, or has not
said, at the news of his death, that a true
gentleman has passed away.
The funeral will take place from his
late residence No. 2 Gray street, Saturday
at $50 p. m.
To the Editor Of the Press:
Long acquaintance on the same news
paper staff with MIR. Wade taught me
years ago to hold his amiGble character
in high esteem. He was a man whose
friendship WAS a favor not to be lightly
estimated.
The main facts of his life and newspa,
per career are so completely covered in
the biographical sketch that no recapitu-
lation is called for. But added WORD of
regard from another old friend cannot be
amiss. The winsomeness of his character
--he was as slow to give as to take offense
Ibis high-bred manner, his refined tastes,
his unvarying courtesy, led to a regard
that familiarity ripened into affection.
Even his little crotehets, and he had not