Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1842-01-26
Recollections of an Actress.
BY MISS CHARLOTTE cUsHMAN.

there was something lneXpresSlbly amusing In
the sudden starts, and stealthy frightened CLAN
ces, which so frequently drove the smile from
his face even in moments of the most exctable
hiari,y. If you but laid finger on his shoul-
der he would shiver like criminal when the
death dealing sentence proceeds from the wear
er OF the official ermine, and cast at you look
of ashy horror; the shutting TO, or opening of
door, seemed TO run along his nervous system
with electric power TO jar it, and hluffiSh-look-
ing parsonage, especially if sporting stout
cane, could never catch his eye.
had often noticed these peculiarilies, and as
often laughed-yet, somehow c. was
not the man to be made the subjec, of a Jest
True, he was miserable actor, but there was
mind about him, and in any other calling he
might have been happy and respected; bui he
seemed 10 have lost all confidence in himself
TO have allowed the iron of some peculiar, and
not-to-be forgotten sorrow 10 crush his soul.
He was not incorporate, had an even temper,
and could even be gay; but his demon, what
ever 1t was, was more than his minds master,
so that he passed away at The age of ihree-and-
thirty, literally brok en-heared, TO his grave.
| had always entertained degree of warm
respect for him, and during the latter stages Of
his illness, paid him those attentions which
were demanded by his case, and we're in my
power to afford. He was touchingly grateful,
and few hours before his final departure,
handed me roll of papers, which he termed
his dying confession, bidding me do with il, as
suited me. To the dramatic acquaintances of
the deceased, these pos,humous remains will
explain the singularitles of one, who whatever
may have been his eccennicities, had no glar-
Fa1,lic / Gaal ,hDt /
the author, than by transcribing accurately, and
without mutiation, the papers confded 10 my
charge. They run thus
The Players Beat
| die the victim of BAIL-PIECE | feryent-
ly trust that none of my readers have ever ex-
perienced, practically, the terrors of this mos,
iniquitous cog-wheel of the law. Would that
l never had, or could forget what suffered,
for it has embitered my life, and brought the
head of score and thirteen years 10 a welcome
grave What you will ask is bail-piece
Get in debt-be sued-execuon served pro
cure bail TO stay off the execution-prove so
unfortunate as not TO be able, at the end of the
time, 10 meet the debt, and seek safety in flight:
let your bail find where you are, and he will
get slip of paper from the infernal--I beg
their pardon--the legal powers, put it in his
pocket, and armed by virtue of this same paper
with the power Of an Oriental Caliph, he will
drag you into the district whence YOU fled and
immure your body in common jail Try it
once, all who doubt, and my dying word for
il, no one who lives through the suflerings con-
sequent upon such state of things, will try it
a second time.
1t matters no: where he may find you,-fsh-
ing in the Kennebeck, or hunting buffalo on
the praires,-Sundays, all days,-in church,
or in bed, your doors trple-locked, the result
is the same. You have no city Of refuge-no
day in which you can face with impunily the
holder Of Bail Piece Like stag at bay,
your attempts at avoidance are unavailng You
but give notoriety to the matter by personal con-
cealment: you are rabid animal, as it were
all join with your prosecutor, for they are men,
and when did human nature rise superior 10 The
pleasure derived from The sight Of fellows
suferings. The hunt is game where he ter.
rors of the hunted are fresh incentives 10 the
hunter.
Such is, in brief, for love not 10 dwell on
The materials out of which is composed the
Bail-Piece. Such the iplamy Of the Law, re-
tanning, as II does even yet, means of Oppres-
sion worthy of the Court Of the Spanish Fer
dinand, or the days Of Titus Oates, but all un.
worthy Of The people and the age presumed TO
govern. by the spirit of equal rights. 1t has
me. | never see man with stick,
that my blood does not freeze in the arteries |
never hear rougher step than ordinary. with
out gathering my feet for flight; tap on the
shoulder makes my heart sink away like a
am woman-heaued. am a mur-
dered man, | repeat il. The law has destroyed |
me, through the nstrumentalily of bail-piece.
Well, 10 my confession Twas in Philadel
phia, during the fall and winter of 1885. |
went there to solicit an engagement at the-
Theatre. The manager proved inexorable. He |
old me, what knew, that | was very indif- |
rerent actor, and that he had more " small peo- |
ole" alredy than he knew what to do with-not
knowing what else to do, resolved 10 wait, as
hundreds Of others have done before me, and
IS hundreds more will, even unto the end of
ime-n the vain hope, that fate would cease
Dersecuting me, and CLEAN of sunshine,-no
matter how insignificant, relieve The gloom of
ny fortunes. SO | wailed--but there came