Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-02-23
Cushm.n "Reminiscences

- TALK WITH MANAGER PUGH-AN EN-
fLANATIoN OF KISS CCsHNAN's ~FAAA-
WILLS
There is one act ~ justice that should be
cone 10 the memory q; Miss CGshmau,' said
Mr I. =. Pugh. who has acted as her agent
Tor The last four years. "snd that rs IN con-
nection with her last theatrical engagement
IN New York, this city. Baltimore and the
west L inside the engagement myself, ana
nave all thedOcumentS and re pers 10 sup pOrt
my assertions. Messrs. Jarrett a Palmer
made the announcement OF her 'farepel APP
ptsrance' entirely on theirown responsibility
arc without her knowledge. had arranged
with them for a five weeks ensagement At
500 per night and $50 for matinees ITlt
had been considered by either Miss Cushman
or myself as her farewell, the terms would
have been At least half the house or we
would have managed them ourselves
Miss Cushman felt very much aggrieved
when she learned OF the action of tbs.
managers and wrote me about IN. aud AZ
one time * threatened 10 lead 10 a III f'icultv
Jarrett & Palmer excused themselves FOR
the announcement on the ground that Miss
Cushman had written them a letter in which,
as is very posi- BILE. she asked them to give
their best attention 10 the scenery and de-
tails, as she thought or hoped this might be
Ter last appearance But, having no kuowl-
edge Of the manner I'm which they intended
10 coustrue this language, she entered mean
while into her SUBSEQUENT engagements with
Chicago, ST. Louis and Cincinnati. Sue in-
tended 10 expose the matter when In New
York, but persuaded her not 10, as it would
lead the public 10 consider the managers as
her last appearance in those cities. She was
sn excellent business womsn-indeed, 10 L.
hard 10 End many men SO clear healed. sac
had the reputation OF being close; this was
because OF her strict business habits. Sue
demanded and would receive every cent
due her. but She had tender heart,
quiet. were liberal. She was generally
loved and respected by those who a,ts1
with DER. She treated them all, high ami
low, with respect. aud oftentimes affection.
nj 4 =
when addressing the ladies OF the company
When brought her on 10 act at the Chestnut
the whole company was demoraliZei. But
she soon brought chaos out OF disorder. At
first IL was diffcllt, but when they saw her
acting at rehearsal as II she was before a
crowded audience they soon Initiated her.
remember once when page was unable
properly 10 approach her throne as a messea-
ger IN "Henry V" when she performed
Queen Cstharine, she finally descended from
the throne and acted the page herself, In
order to instruct him with as much grace aud
dignity as i'm her own. character. Bat she
most amusing Incident was al rehearsal OF
the little comedy OF " Simpson & Co." At the
Walnut, when her acting was SO luiicrous
and she was so brimful OF fun that her sup
port was hardly able 10 utter their words for
laughing. One little French lady, particu-
larry, could not look at her without bursting
into laugh, and Manager Hall, who was
present, had to leave the theatre when
ever he saw her acting IN that part,
as he could not restrain himself from
laughing at the remembrance OF the
rehearsal. She had a fund OF humor, was
brilliant In conversation and took and
enjoyed joke hugely. i remember when
we were travelling ON the Pennsylvania rail-
road at one time, she was taken a sip OF
tron-water through tube, in the cars, how
she enjoyed joke OF mine, that III she kept
on drinking iron water she would certainly
have an iron constitution and become an
iron clad was her merry reply, and the Idea
tickled her immensely for some time after
wards. suppose she was worth about
SGCO,0O0. A son Of her sister Susan, a gsa-
tleman named Edwin eastman (he had hi is
name changed by law, is, believe, her only
heir. She has been suffering from cancer IN
papers that that did not Kill her, as she died
OF pneumonia, caused by a cold contracted
rom exposure TO the weather short time
ago. Her last appearance on the stage was
az the Globe theater in BOSTON, P,tUd.
Tunes.