Representative women of New England/Salome T. Cade
SALOME THOMAS CADE ("Clayton Thomas") was born in Charlestown, Mass., in 1867. She belongs to a good old Maine family, whose members have been prominent factors in the history of the State. Holmes Thomas, her father's paternal grandfather, was a Sergeant in Peleg Wadsworth's regiment in the Revolutionary War. Her father, Spencer Churchill Thomas, married Eunice Ann Clayton, of Farmington, Me., and just before the birth of their daughter they moved to Charlestown, Ma.ss. The subject of this sketch began her education in the ('iuirle.s- town public schools, subsequently taking lessons from private tutors. At an early age she displayed the gifts of harmony and improvisation, and long before she knew a note on the piano was an object of interest to those who watched her childish fingers unerringly extract melodies from the keys. Subsequently developing talent as a vocalist, at the early age of fourteen she toured with an opera company appearing in several leading parts. At the age of twenty she was travelling as a member of the Balfe Opera Company of New York, with which she scored her chief success as Lady Harriett in "Martha." Later she spent four years touring under the auspices of the Redpath Lyceum Bureau.
Feeling a strong desire to gather laurels in the field of musical composition, she became a diligent student in the higher departments of music, studying in London with Randegger (under whom she did her first work in composition) and with Henschel. In Paris and in Belgium she is a great favorite. She has a high soprano voice of great purity and sweetness.
In 1894 Miss Thomas began composing concert songs, and in 1900 she began publishing them in London. While residing in that city she studied composition and harmony at the Guild Hall, under Professor Gadsby. She also instructed pupils on the piano, finding a somewhat select and congenial field in teaching ladies who could sing to play their own accompaniments.
As among the most pleasant experiences connected with her foreign travels she recalls her stay in Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands. Yet there were incidents connected with her visit to Wales which render it memorable. Her father's family being formerly dwellers in the south of Wales, she took a special pleasure in learning the language, songs, and folk-lore of the country. While visiting the old Malvern parish church, which Jenny Lind used to attend, and to which she was a most generous contributor. Miss Thomas noticed that, while many others had been honored with memorial windows and tablets, there was nothing to signify remembrance of her. The man in charge, questioned as to the reason of this strange omission, replied that he supposed "nobody had ever thought about it." Miss Thomas took pleasure in placing a wreath of laurel and a flag on the grave of the great artist, and, making a donation, asked the man to place a contribution-box upon the walls, with a printed request, inviting visitors to assist in procuring a tardy memorial to the wonderful songstress and noble, pure-hearted woman.
They were Welsh friends who urged Miss Thomas to publish the Japanese Love Song, which so impressed Mr. Boosey, of London, the great music publisher, that he requested all her work. This song was enthusiastically received by the musical world, and reached the sale of twenty thousand the first year. The composer has since published "The Mechanical Doll," Eugene Field's "Toy Land," "Wing Tee Wee," "Japanese Dance" (for string orchestra), now being used in the London production of "The Darling of the Gods," also an Ave Maria, which has been enthusiastically received in London, "My French Lesson," and "Chasing Butterflies." In Leipsic, with Bosworth, she published "Peace on Earth," a Christmas song, the words of which she wrote under the name of "Eaton Churchill." Her usual professional pseuilonym, "Clayton Thomas," is a combination of both her father's and mother's family names. She is now busy on other works, but does nothing hurriedly; and surely her music is original and choice enough to be well worth waiting for.
In September, 1902, MLss Thomas married George Lyman Cade, of Cambridge, Mass. After residing for some time in Boston, Mr. and Mrs. Caile removed to their present home in Melrose. They have one child, a daughter, Margaret Salome, who was born in Melrose, October 28, 1903.
Mrs. Cade is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. She belongs to Paul Jones Chapter, D. A. R., and was for many years a member of the Cecilia Club of Boston. Graceful, almost girlish in figure, of gracious and unassuming manners, she is a woman of delightful personality and an interesting conversationalist.
Mrs. Cade has recently been giving the Japanese Love Song and dance in native Costume in Boston, receiving marked commendation from musical critics. In November next, 1904, she is to appear in London in a series of concerts and recitals under the management of Messrs. Boosey & Co., introducing her own songs.