Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-08-03
CHARLOTTE CUSHMAN.
THE STORY OF HER LOVE AS TOLD by CELIA
LOGAN.

THE STORY OF HER LOVE AS TOLD by CELIA
LOGAN.
Perhaps the very last actress that any
one would suppose ever experienced the
tender passion-much less suffered from
tue Iaugs Of unrequited loye-was Char
lotte Cushman, and yet twice in her life
she was ready TO sacrifice everything for
the man of her heart.
Miss Cushman received a common school
education in Boston her desk mate was
the daughter of an actor, which led TO fire.
quent conversations upon theatrical mat
ters, and to an interest in them of such ex
tent that Miss Cushman determined as
child, that should fate compel her TO be her
own bread-winner, 1t would be in some
walk of public life. She had barely reach
ed the age of sixteen before she was deeply
enamorcd OF a young gentleman who had
his way 10 make in the world, and speedy
marriage being thereby prevented, she had
little thought or hope but TO do away with
the obstacles which separated them.
Circumstances soon compelled her 10 cast
about for some means of self-support, her
mother being a widow with several chill
dren 10 provide for. Miss Cushman had a
pretty, sympathetic, singing voice, and no
great power, but much sweetness.
Mrs. Wood was an English ballad singer,
| among the first of that class TO make great
sensation in this country, and during her
| engagement in Boston, Miss Cushman
managed to be introduced TO her ; and fl nal
| ly, under Mrs. Woods auspices, she made
her appearance in the concert room, being
announced simply as "young lady"
Her success was sufficiently pronounced
| TO determine her to continue in that mode
of life, or at least until her betrolhed should
have become able to marry her; but he
! took great umbrage at what he stigmatized
as "unwomanly proceeding" and declared
she had disgraced him. Hot words follow
| cd on her side, and after much alteration
and mutual pain, the engagement was
| broken of, and Charlotte Cushman was
free to follow out her destiny as great
artistic.
She went her way, and he went his. Az
ter much hard struggling, il led him into
| the establishment of store-a sort of trim
ming store, combined with ready-made un-
1 w NANeAih6 ioA ahu
which he prospered. He is now one of the
foremost merchants of the kind in Boston.
Long years elapsed before the two met
again. Charlotte was famous, aud he afflu-
ent and influential. They met as strangers
meet, were introduced, and ever aflerward
maintained amicable but not amatory rela-
tions, for he had married in tho meantime.
A few years ago l was in Boston, and
dropped into his store TO make some pur-
chases. 1t happened that Miss Cushaman
preceded me by few steps. As soon as
the iioor-walker caught sight Of her he hur.
rled of and returned with the proprietor, a
hale, ruddy- faced, white-haired gentleman,
| ofquiet and dignifed bearing, They took,
| rather than shook, hands, he holding hers
for a moment, and then side by side they
walked to the back of the store.
To see those two calm, self-contalned old
silver haired people, one would have little
suspected the heart-rendng romance which
hung over their youth. 1t is all very fine
to despise money, but the lack of it fire.
quently changes the destinies Of entire
lives. Had Miss Cushman's lover been on
| ly sufficiently we'll of 10 have married her