Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-02-25
Charlotte Cushrnau.

This famous American actress died
at the Parker House, Boston, on the
| 18th inst.
The cause OF her death was cancer
OF the breast, which has been a source
OF anxiety and pain to the great trag-
edlenne for many years, but which
dld not assume amy serious form till
within month or two. 1t was known
she could not long survive, but until
last evening she was not considered
in any Immediate danger. Early in
the morning she was slightly deliri-
Gus, and died, almost without a struo-
gle, about nine o'clock. At the time
of her death her adopted son and
nephew, Edward Merriam, with two
lady friends, were present. The event
has cast gloom over this com
munity, IN which she was greatly
esteemed. Born in Boston, she made
her first appearance on the stage here
IN 1880, at the fremont theatre, de-
molished long ago. Her farewell
to the stage was made last May, at
the Globe Theatre, where she played
her great play "Lady Macbeth D
The funeral will take place on Mon
day, at Kings Chapel, and Will be
largely attended. The body will be
buried in Mount Auburn cemetery.
Charlotte Sanders Cushman was
born in Boston, July %, 1916. In
consequence of the bankruptcy of
her father she was called upon at the
age of II to contribute to the family
support, Possessing a fine voice and
much musical taste, she had already
acquired some local reputation as a
vocalist, when she was engaged to
sing IN concert with Mrs. Wood.
who declared her voice to be the
finest contralto she had ever heard
and advised her to cultivate it for the
stage; and she made her debut at the
fremont Theatre, Boston, April Is,
1885. An engagement was then pro-
cured for her to sing III English
opera at New Orleans; but scarcely
had she arrived there when her voice
failed under the effect of sudden
change of climate and of an unwise
attempt to convert it into an available
soprano. She then resolved to be-
come an actress, and studied the part
of Lady Macbeth, in which she made
her first appearance with complete
success. She returned to New York
and accepted three years engage
ment at the Bowery theatre; but after
performing a week she was Frustrated
by fever and during her illness the
theatre, and with it her entire theatri-
cal wardrobe, was destroyed by fire.
After an interval of several months
she accepted an engagement as stock
actress i'll the Park Theatre, and for
three wears appeared in Il great variety
of parts. During this period she as
sisted her younger sister to make her
debut on the stage, and afterward
appeared with her for several seasons
at Philadelphia and New York. To
obtain prominent female characters
for her, Miss Cushman was accus-
toned to take the chief male parts in
the plays in which her sister appeared.
She atterward undertook the direc-
ton OF one of the Philadelphia thea
tres, which she retained until invited
by Mr.. Macready, in 1914, to accom-
pany him Oh . tour in the northern
states, i'll the course Of which she
undertook the higher range of tragic
parts with great success. In 1915
she went to England, and made her
first appearance at the Princess
Theatre, rs Blanca, i'll Milman's trag-
edy Of " Fazio." Her reception was
enthusiastic, and for 81 nights she
appeared in a variety Of characters,
including Lady Macbeth, Julia in
" The Hunchback," Mrs. Haller, Beat
rice, Lady Teazle, Rosalind, and
Juliana in ''The Honeymoon" Her
sister having joined her, they acted
together for several years at the Hay
market Theatre and in the chief pro
vincial towns of Great Britain. In
lS49 she revisited the United States,
and in addition to her ordinary char 1
acter, assumed that of Meg Merrilles,
in the play Of Guy Mannering," a
striking PRESERVATION, which she may
be said to have created. After an
other tour in England she returned to
America, and having accumulated Il
fortune, took formal leave of the !
American stage. She subsequently |
acted Il round of engagements in
England, and appeared again in the |
United States III 1857 and 1853, after
which she returned to Rome, where
she had previous resided. Some years |
later she returned to America and |
took up her residence near BOSTON,
In 1871 she again appeared upon the
stage in New York, and subsequently |
played engagements throughout the
country. Last year she gave q series
of "positlvely last appearances in
New York, and followed them with
a tour through the west; since then,
ill-health has compelled hcrto remain