Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1873-10-29
EarIy strugzIes.

- 0OA0DD DAV SOe
Early Struggles.
Cushman's Debss n Meg
MerriIies.
Miss Cushman has told writer in
The Chicago Post the story Of her first I
appearance In the role OF "Meg Mcr-
rifles" aud the "reminiscences 10 even |
more interesting than the traditions
Of behind the scenes are won't to be : I
Her assumption Of the part happened |
while she was filling the part OF
walking lady at the old Park street |
theatre, New York, in the season Of
1878, aud was the result Of pure ac- |
cident. John Braham, The great Lon.
don tenor, was performing an engage |
ment at the time, and series of light |
English operas had been put upon
the boards. "Guy Mannering," which |
was originally produced as u musical
drama, was one Of these. The greater
part Of the play was spoken, but mel
odies and set pieces were interspersed
which called into requisition the art
OF the vocalist. The character Of
Hcnry Bertram was assumed by Bra
ham, while Miss Cushmam was cast
for the humble part OF the young
Gypsy, Marie. As the business OF
the play was then arranged, il fell to
the lot of Marie to sing tho cradle
song in the scene when Meg recalls
! I3kx - ahe trcQllectipp Of Eertrain
by means Of The 6affa6 WIN wtifcaf'
she used to soothe HIM to sleep in his
childhood. Acting upon the sup
position that her voice was broken by
age a'id unequal to the task, ii was
her custom to summon the young
Gypsy TO revive the song for her.
Que day after rehearsal the leading
lady of the theatre. was suddenly
seized with indisposition. In the
dilemma that arose the manager beg
ged Miss Cushnian 90 Oh and read the
part of Meg Merrilies that evening
Miss. Cushman obligiugly consented,
but with 10 intention of reading the
part. She took the lines to her room
and had them ut her tongues end by
nightfali. But To use her own words,
as we remember them: II hud never
paid any consideration TO that char
actcr," said Miss Cusllmai,, ..il was
always my habit to attend siudiously
| TO the performances of others. Whc,,
them closely TO learn whatever was
possible. At other times l confined
myself to my Individual work. Thus
il came about that l had little idea
how Meg Mcrriiies was dressed or
played, and never havin. rehearscL
the part, was entirely ignorant of The
business. While | was coming my
lines, and walking back and forth b..
hing the scenes. waiting Tor the cur
tain to rise OH the play, the manager
came to me again in great distress.
Il have forgotten to provide u singer
in the part of the young Gypsy he
exclaimed. what shall We dog i
don't know, l am surr,' replied |.
But, after thinking 4 moment, adj
ded, Perhaps, when | come to the
tiacc, | can manage to Introduce the
song myself. Twill try and thus re.
lieved, the manager left me.
''In much trepi,iation | listened at
the wings trying 10 catch some Inspi.
ration from the progress of the play.
when l overheard the closing words
in the dialogue between IIattcraick
aud the Gypsy-just preceding the
appearance OF Meg on the scene
when one says of her, 'Oh, she dotes.
To which the other replies, But she
rules the tribe These sentences
gave me u sudden clue to the situation
of the decrepit but still powerful
queen, and u full conception of the
character flashed upon me.
81 Immediately slrang before the
footlights i'll the attitude l have ever
since taken. The pose Was So novel
and striking the audience manifested
a good deal Of emotion, and when
Braliam turned and discovered me he
gave an unaffected start of astouisiI.
Inent. This assured me somewh hat,
and went OIL with the part, giving ii
i'll all important particulars the inter-
pretation and action which l have al
ways retained. l saw that Mr.. Bra
ham was puzzled throughout the
evening. that | was continually SUR
prising him, but whether pleasantly
or not 1 could not tell. AS we had
not rehcarsed together, and | was
consequently ignorant of the stage
business, had TO trust wholly to nv
intuitiuns, and naturally occasiomed
him considerable perplexiiy.
| "When l came to the cradle song,
fu,,r r" nan,rans Iu ~ or,"s 'h suc' e?s- ~
iuh., nei - al, NJ i'.iS sIaicl a' lne III
e s.;ad hn. nc,nd y m'e S "e,e sote,. ie,s
hnor, IN ~ ,ha In" puteu NJ 1as "a ,ta,,'. Mnoie
'iran, m ,,n,ra... w. Io 1,S,.. anu .t as "u1., n
TO-" s,nn,,. n dnnn,; u. uo"n U'e. pei-
t, t;s h,sa sI|Ms 'upi'nS my hahu On
tnn,. ts m. ~, SAY. sam '"T Th p iI'.s ioiiihS
made Il hit, and felt encouraged 10 20