The Russellville Democrat., 1877-05-31
CHARLOTTE CUsHMAS.
An UnpubIia1scd story. forming one orsbe Important Esenss sn slse Late
 ActrcAs's Life.

ActrcNs's Life.
 Celia Logan prints story which she says is a hitherto unpublished episode in the late Charlotte Cushman's lie. When the great actress was middle aged and ugly, so the writer says, she was playing an engagement at the old National thea ter in Cincinnati. Conrad B. Clarke much Miss Cushman's junior, and very handsome and promising actor, was then leading man of the company. Miss Cushman at once took fancy to the young actor, who, in time, became her most obsequious follower, and Miss Lo gan believes that Miss Cnshman's liking for Clarke was much more than mere admiration. The story continues: Mat ters had stood thus tor some months One evening Miss Cushman was going to the theater alone, when weak, haegard- l,oking woman approached her, with a baby in her arms. She was a small, red haired, fragile looking creature. Laying her hand on Miss Cushman's shoulder, she said: Miss Cushman, I think a woman of your genius and position might have plenty of admirers without taking up with. the husband of poor woman like mep The tragcdicnne paused in blank amazement !" Are you talking of 2" she asked. q am." And you say l have taken your husband from you7' Yes, you, Charlotte Cush man." "I don't know you. May 1 ask the name of this precious husband oi yours. Conrad Clarke" was the reply. "What |" exclaimed Miss Cush- man. sghast; "I didn't know he was married. Yes. this is his baby. F "Good Heaven, woman, yau surprise me. ask you to believe that I knew nothing of your existence until this moment; and now let me go, as I am late But relieve your mind, Mrs. Clarke, as far as I am concerned. When this en- gagement is over The never acts with me again" ," So saying the great actress hurried away. All smiles, l,ows and honeyed words, Clarke greeted her that night. She gave deathblow to all his hopes-not as tenderly as many woman 30 situated might have done, but with characteristic decision. "Clarke, !" said she loudly, in the presence ot everybody, "if you ever dare to open your mouth to me again, I will jump straight down your throat; will, by God" So unex- pected was this shot that Clarke fairly reeled under it.. On learning from his wife what she had lone, he became furi- ous at what he declared was malicious scheme to ruin him and, leaving her, h, swore never to live with her again Annie Clarke easily obtained divorce from him, and shortly alter married an actor named Forrest, of Cleveland, with whom she lived wretchedly, and in a year or two died miserably, her whole career having been sad and unhappy from first to last. Nor was Clarkr's tate any better. He gave himself wholly to drink, sank lower and lower, and finally he perished an outcast and beggar. and was laid in drunkard's grave By q strange series of circumstances Clarke's child was adopted and most tenderly reared by one of our brightest wits-the only one Of his peculiarly caustic kind left, man who wields a powerful weapon with his pen, who has two parties, Tor and against him, one which hates and fears him, the other which loves and praises him-Don Piatt. Some one who passed that night with Charlotte Cush- man told me that on arriving at home after the performance she sank down on the floor, and crouched there in her clothes, in abject despair, until day break. She had been touched in her affections. At middle age g woman often loves more fervently--more with her mind than her heart--than in her green and gala days. She had also been deeply wounded in her pride She had deigned to smile upon an obscure actor, had tried to raise him to an equal position with herself, and he had deceived her as to his status, had neglected wife for her sake. Never after, when his name was mentioned, would she say more than "he is clever actor--a very clever actor. Cincinnati E. Eequrer.