Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-11-07
Charlotte Cushman.

Let me close this sketch with refer
ence to Charlotte Cushman, whom first
saw in my native town of Lancaster,
Penn.-shall say ita-thirty-two years
ago, in 1910, in company with her lovely
sister, Susan, who died at Liverf ool,
March 10, 1859. as Mrs. Sheridan Mus
pratt as one of the little company of
players who dropped in upon US that
summer. She was then about twenty-six,
and, though already known for her prom
Use and talents, had not yet reached the
high position which she now holds, with
out rival on the English. stage.
Miss Cushman has now almost entire
ly retired from her professional labors,
and with fortune well won by her great
acknowledged genius, genius which
bears the approving stamp of both sides
of the Atlantic, has built for herself an
elegant and tasteful villa in Newport,
where she dispenses her hospitality, as
she did in Rome, with a grace which is
seldom equalled. A friend who passed
some weeks at her beautiful mansion
during the summer tells US that as host
ess she is even more admirable and
charming than when on the stage she
held her audience speil-bound by the
mighty powers of her transcendent tai
ents. The home circle seems her natural
place, for there she is more than star,
a radiant sun, dispensing light and
smiles impartially to all of her house
hold, her relations, and friends, by a
crowd of which she is always surround
ed, and holds the place, in the estimation
Of high and low, more like that of re-
tired queen than artistic. Born in Bos-
ton, November, 1914, her first profession
al trial was as a contralto in a social con-
cert, March %, 1880. That was her
choice but losing her voice in 1885,
she turned to the stage, and soon reached
high rank as Lady Macbeth, Lady
Teazle, Lady Gay Spanker, Lydia Lam
guish, Emilia, Queen Katherine, etc.
But it was only when she appeared in
Europe, that her countrymen began fully
to appreciate her. February Is, 1S45,
she made her debut in London as Blanca
in " Fazio," and afterwards supported
Forrest and Macready with brilliant
success. Her independent engagement
was marked by her personation of Ro-
meo to her sister Susan's Juliet, an ex-
pertinent that took the great city by
storm. She repeated it eighty nights in
London, and many times in England,
ireland and Scotland. Her varied ac-
complishments gave her the entree to
the best society in all the British capi-
tails. She was welcomed at the famous
Sunday breakfasts of the venerable Sam
uel Rogers, meeting everywhere states
men, scholars, clergymen, artists, and
the eminent ladies of the realm. For
tune followed her European fame rapid
ly. She began to tread that path of tri-
umph at home which has ever since been
strewn down with flowers. She alternat-
ed between the Old and the New World,
adding to her reputation and riches. AT
| Rome, her residence was the resort of
the best culture of all countries. If
Charlotte earns money like well-con-
Quoted bank, she spends it like prin-
cess. AT the Roman Capital she was
distinguished for love of her country
during the war and in 1868, she played
| for the United States Sanitary Commit
tee, and paid s8,267 20 as the proceeds
of five performances in Baltimore, Wash
ington, New York, and Boston. Pre-
| serving her faculties to a remarkable de-
gree, Miss Cushman is undoubtedly the
leading woman of her profession. She
has no equal on the English stage, and
no superior in any other country. In
her fifty-ninth year, she is, to-day, the
best living interpreter of the best char
acters of Shakespeare; the only Nancy
Sykes and Meg Merrillles; the real Mrs.
Haller in The Stranger" !" while in GER
tain comedy pieces she stands alone. As
reader she is superb, and even in home
ballads like those by Carleton {" Betsey
and ] are out, none can approach her.
have lately met her several times, once
in society among number of learned
and brilliant people. Her hair is white,
but her heart Is young, her complexion
fresh, her step firm, her mind bright and
her memory retentive. She commands
attention by her ability, and wins and
holds affection by her simple manners
and honest enthusiasm. am glad to
repeat that she has grown wealthy, and
that she is a property holder in Phila-
delphia, New York, Rhode Island, and
[ think in Rome, for she uses what is
her own for the benefit of those who
share her friendship and deserve her
charity And what sheds a rich lustre
on her character is the kindness with
which she treats her own profession. /