The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-19
OBITJI AR Y.
Miss Charlotte saunders Cushmnn-Hcr Ro-
variable Career.

mhfkuDlc career.
Miss Charlotte Cushman, the distin-
guished actress, died at the Parker House In
Boston yesterday morning. She was born in
that city July %, 1915. Having fine contralto
voice, she studied music, became a member Of
the Handel and Haydn Society, and obtained a
place in a church choir while yet quite young.
Mrs. Wood, the English opera singer, induced
Miss Cushman to study for the lyric stage, and
helped her to make her debut in the fremont
Theatre, Boston. April IS, 1885. She sang the
part OF the Countess in the Marriage OF Figaro"
and her performance received so much praise
that an engagement was made for her TO sing In
English opera at New Orleans. Very soon after
her arrival In that city her voice failed. Sudden
change Of climate and an Ill dvised attempt to
raise her voice to the pitch OF a soprano put an
end to her hopes OF distinction as an opera
singer. One career thus closed, she Immediately
entered another, studied the character OF Lddv
Macbeth, and very soon acted II with most fat
tering success. She was at this time about
twenty years old. Returning 10 New York In
1885. she accepted an engagement at the Bowery
Theatre Orthree years. After PERFORM ng a week
she fell III OF a fever, aud while Frustrated the
theatre was burned. with all her books and the
atrtcal wardrobe. Several months afterward she
began an engagement at the old Park Theatre as
"A STOCK actress. and during three years PLAYED
many parts. While acting at this house she
helped her younger sister TO make her debut as
an actress. After her engagement at the Park
terminated the two sisters PLAYED together for
several seasons in New York and Philadelphia,
Miss Cushman generally taking the parts Of the
chief male Characters. For time she managed
one OF the Philadelphia theatres. In 1874 she left
TINS position TO accompany Mr.. Macready on
acted parts In the higher range OF tragedy with
great success. In ls45 she went to England, and
1Ts 1ue3 % lnero at she pncess Theatre as
tically received and for eighty -four nights gave
dinerept imnsrsonstlons, such as LAZY Macbeth,
dtTicc, Lady Icdzle, ROsdiiild, and JulHna In the
" Honeymoon" Her sister presently Joined her
IN England, and together they played for some
years Al the Haymarket and IN the larger pro
Yncial towns OF Great Britain. In lS4Q she re-
turned to the United states and added to Others,
IN whlch she had already become distinguished,
her famous embodiment of Meg Merrilics
Before long she went back 10 England. ana after
professional tour there, having Accumulated n
fortune, returned to America. took formal leave
Of tho American stage in ISL, and went to live
In Rome But she could not be contented i'm re-
urement. and before many yea she reappeared
visit to the United states in Is57 s. Al Ienrth
she parted with her house in Rome and
came To live at Boston. Ia 1871 she appeared
on INC stage as reader and subsequent-
last THEATRICAL farewell to the New York public
at Booths Theatre during the winter of ls14-5 is
woman without TeprOach. an actress without
peer among those whose native tongue was Eng
lish her place must, for time at least remain
vac mt; Her genus had some masculine quail
Ties. Her method was of the kind usually desig
nhteu n lndt OF tle ola scnOOl, tempered by K
cellent judgment. and highly cultivated taste
Her intellect was strong and commanding, her
Intelligence OF uncommon scope, her energy I'M
turing, her courage tndomitable. She was an
artist IN the true sense OF that much abused
word. The limitations OF her powers were clear
ly defined. She could present vivid pictures of
the strong, the grand, the TERRIBLE; but was I'M
lifted Ia embOdy what especially soft, gen
tie, Welding, or sentimental, she moved on Tho
heroic plane, and her own character had quail
tiles of heroism. She was an honor to her sex
her profession, ana her country, and as such will
be lamented