New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-19
CHARLOTTE CUSHMAN.
A Great LIFE ENDED.

reverence must pause before the spectacle, no less III
humility than il sorrow. The historian oil our nhe
will review many important and sisnihcaht lives,
and will lay the laGrel upon many stored
tomb; but he will honor no genius more
stately or more singular than that which
now slae,s IN the coffin of Charlotte Cushman. 1t
IL difficult If lot impossible at once to do justice TO
snch a life The end--whch came yesterday, ID
Boston-though not Unexpected. was sudden ana IL
comes upon the mind with solenn force 'la'
prompts to silent thought and fond rememoia"'e
more than to words. The future VIII speak VI Nn'
lotte Cushnian with pride and gadness 'he present
can only tell her story in the quiet accents Vi erei
Charlotte Cushman was a member oil one Oh the
original Puritan families. Her frst ancestor in
America--RObert Cushman. minlster-caine over
with the Pilgrims to New-England Her father was
q merchant of Boston, and she was born In ken
mond-st. in that city-being the eldest of hive chill
dren-on July 3d. 1915. Her mothers name was
Saunders and Saunders was her own middle name
thougb she did not habitually use it. Her BIRTH
Mace WAS next door to that of John Gilbert, the
comedian, and they used to play together as emil
dren A school-hOuse bearing the name Oh
Cushman stands on the site oil tneso
buildings ChaTlotte's father died while she
was vet young girl, and left his family IN poverty
and this bereavement was ultimately the means
of embarking her upon a public career Her hrst
March %, 1880. at which time she made good I'M
preston, and was fortunate enough to attract the
notice of generous patron, who subsequently, pald
the expenses of giving her thorough musical edu-
cation On the Sth Of April, 1880, she came out at
the fremont Theater as the Countess himar'rd, III
1.-THE Marriage of Figaro" This may be called her
first regular professional appearance; and her career
upon the stage has, accordingly. extended over
period of little more than forty years.
Miss Cushman's advent was made during an en-
gagement at the fremont Theater, of Mrs. Maeder
CLARA Fisher then in the enjoyment OF her fresh
iaurels, and in days made brilliant and memorable
in the history of the American Theater. by the pres
ence of Cooper Booth, Adams. Sheridan Knowles.
Dowton Charles and Fanny kemble, Celeste, Mary
Duff Emma Wheatley, and Ellen Tree. The second
character assumed by Miss Cushman was L"cg Der
tram, in "Guy Mannering." Her success was luime-
date and decisive. and Mr.. and Mrs. Maeder pres
emily secured Tor her engagement to sing In New
Orleans. There, neutrality-suspicious. because of some
malien influence of the climate or in consequence OF
an fort that she made to change her voiceShe to-
tally lost the capacity to sing, and SO ended her eN-
perience as vocalist. This disaster made her an
actress. Mr. Barton. an English tragedian then act
ing in New-Oreans advised her to act and gave her
some Instructions and at length the night of this
actors benefit she appeared AZ Lady Macbeth. This
was the beginning of the dramatic career IN which
she has since become illustrous.
The performance of Lady Macbeth aroused in New
Orleans much public interest and even enthusiasm,
md with the prestige of this success Miss Cu'hman
returned to the North and sought an engagement ia
New-york. Hamblin gave her an opening at the
Bowery and her first appearance was ELECTED there
This portion of her life much retted with various
kinds of trouble and--not to pause, upon matters
that are trivial now-it may he said, III summary
comment that she had to make her way against
many obstacles and that she gained no victory With
ont hard fighting On April % 1897, she appeared
mt the National Theater under the management Oh
James H. Hackett IN the character of Eomeo !; and
twas during this OVERWHELMINGLY, on tie 18th
ofMay 1S37-that she first acted Meg he71ties. In
the Fall of that year she was enrolled as member
M of the dramatic company at the Park Iheatcr where
VI she acted many parts-notaby those Of Gone1L
Emilia. and Gertrude with Forrest--and where she
made remal kablo hiI as Nancy, III Oliver iwlSt."
From this house she went to Philadelphia where for
n time she was the manager of the Walnut Street
Theater In 1914, when Macready cane for the
second time to tie Park she was engaged, at ms
special request. TO cooperate with hun; and her
success 1t that time was such materially enhanced
herreput alton. 1t led also, TO one of the most im-
portant steps of her life since 1t inspired her with
the resolve 10 cOnCHer name on the English stare
Miss Cushnan went to London in 1915. MI For
rest was acting at the Prncesss Theater and an OPP
portunity was obtained of eecting her appearance
there. She made the plunge as Blanca, in fazio :;
and though coldly received during the first two acts
she aroused in act third, pTOdigiOus enthusiasm
The personation was, in fact. splendid triumph Oi
mind and fire, ard Miss Cushman was at once ae-
knowledgcd as actress who i'll a certain class OF
characters had no superior in England. Her en-
gagement a, the Princess Theater was contlu
through eighth -four lights, aud she aftcrwdid inaue
the British provincial tour with extraordinary sue
cess In 1850 she returned to America, and was
thereafter seen III many cities by great aSsembages
of admiring spectators. In New-fork she appeared
at Broughan's Lyccuin, at the As or Place Opera
House. ard at the Old Broadway Theaer Her name
md her fortune had now been made, and on May To-
1852 at the Broadway, she received benefit and
took formal farewell Of the American stage. Her
second visit tn England ensued and upon her re-
turn she reappeared in this city, at Burtons New
Theater, Is BiGRca and afIerward made the tour OF
the provinces. TINS period Of professional eXetOh
lasted from September IS, 1857, to July 6, 1858.
when she again took leave of the American public
II was during this engagement that she first enacted
Cardinal Holsey, giving an embodiment which has
long been ranked with great contemporary imperson-
atoms of Shakespearean character.
IL il not difficult to UNDERSTANDABLE consider
that Miss Cushnlan was a woman of weird genius.
somber ina gnation. great sensibillty, aud cehbate
condition; that she had been victorious by force
rather than by sweetness that for her conscientious
mind and highly nervous organization the practice
Of the dramatic art terribly earnest ana that
frequently she was the victim of diseasel-in what
way she often came to believe that the limit Of her
labor was reached that the end of her life
and that her retirement from the public view was
needful. With natures that see widely and feel