Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-11-15
A LESSON.

/ The fulI report we puOLsn III anOtnei
column of the grand ovation paid to q
great artist will be read with pleasure by
all especially who know how difficult a
thing it is, in the face of an ever-carp-
ing public, for any to reach the hight
where Miss Cushman stands in this
country, solitary and alone. The hon.
Ors thus paid marks new departure in
the history of the stage in the United
States, and let us hope is the estab-
lishment Of a precedent from which
hereafter there is to be no departure.
Few Of any profession labor harder than
the PLAYER, and none more deserve sp-
plause when that labor is properly per-
formed. The people of the United States
have been slowly learning this; but
having learned il will, We hope, never
forget it, or permit deserving sectors to
Ileave the theater of their struggles and
triumphs without a recognition in pro-
portion to their excellence and standing
as generous as that accorded TO the
greatest OF them all. Such recogni-
ton of the art in the artist we may be
sure will have its effect on those still &C.
cupying the stage, struggling with the
drenching breakers Of public opinion,
will strengthen them for the dread en-
counter and induce, the study, the devo-
ton and the eernestness which Miss
Cushman tells Us were her incentives in
all the years of a life that embraces the
golden days OF the profession. Nothing
that has ever traDspired in connection
with the stage Of America has had
anything like the effect upon it that
this deserved ovation to the illUstrious
trsgedienne has had. 1t has quiekened
the pulse Of every thoughtful man and
woman on it, opening to them as it
does the prospect of a reward common
surste with their tolls, their often mad
remunerated labor, and point
ing to a possible triumph more honorable
and more distinguished than any yet
devised for the reward of 'sober merit"
actor reads of the presence on the
stage Of Booths theater, among those
assembled in Miss CushmRn's honor,
the names OF the most distinguished Of
ficisls OF the State and city Of New
York. and not q few Of the United
States-tbe governors, the mayors,
judges OF the highest courts, generals Of
the army, sdmiTals of the navy, distin-
guished poets, journalists, physicians,
and lswyers-and feels with
in him or her fresh impulse to emulate
the earnestness IN which their nlustri-
Gus sister assures US lies the secret Of
her success in life. Remembering the
honors to her they remember the advice
OF the woman and the history Of one
who so nobly and so cOurageously bat
tied with adversely and at last came
forth cOnqueror and to conquer. They
will lay to heart her advice to be in
earnest on and of the stage-in other
words, to do Observation-Disclosures is COM
mitted to them. They will, many of
them, be lead to reflect and think Of
the honors wasted and opportunities for
misspent, and will take
up their burden again with feeling
that it is lighter because they are armed
with the earnestness which was Miss
Cushman's armor against adversity-at
once her protection against the public
and herself. And so the grand ovation
will have its full effect, its two-fold les
son. 1t viii have the effect that the
woman SO thoughtful of the younger
members of her profession in the
moment of her coming triumph
desired it should have, and will save
many of those to follow in her footsteps
a "world Of trouble" and from many
nsrdships inseparable from indifference
)r carelessness upon the stage. The life
Of Charlotte Cushman, then, has not
been in vain. Crowned as a queen, as
lHeen enthrOned she will ever appear
when we recall the signal triumphs of
lie player. Above all others she sits
he recipient of more than royal hon.
,rs, the very type of that earnestpess
which led her to the throne. No BIRTH
light queen Is she. In her own right, |
~ labor, by steady effort, by earnest
less she reigns. Earnestness is the sign
md token by which we are to know
Ter, and by an earnest emulation OF her
work thus speaking for itself, we may
,e sure it will be given to US to recog-
lize in time to come other kings
nd queens Of the mimic stage, bright
to all of any profession who
would succeed to highest honors, light
whereby we can judge of the shams and
he chsrlstans who too often obtrude
heir ignorance and degrade noble
alling.