The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1877-05-31
Charlotte Cushman's first Love.

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A. CLEVELAND COKE.
Charlotte CIIshman's first Love.
The following is from sketch |
by Celia Logan. in the New York |
Sunday Dispatch:
Perhaps the very last actress that
any one would suppose ever expe-
ricnced the tender passion, much
less suffered the pangs of unrequi
ted love, was Charlotte Cushman,
and yet twice in her life she was
ready to sacrifice everything for the
man of her heart.
Miss Cushman received com
mon school education in Boston;
her deskmate was the daughter o.
an actor, which led TO frequent con
versations upon theatrical matters,
and to an interest in them to such
extent that Miss Cushman deter
mined as q child that, should fate
ever compel her TO be her own
bread winner. it should he in some
walk of public life. She had bare
ly reached the age of sixteen before
she was deeply enamored of
young gentleman who had his way
10 make in the world, and a speedy
marriage being thereby prevented,
she had but little thought or hope
but to do away with the obstacles
which separated them.
Circumstances soon compelled
her to cast about for some means of
self support, her mother being a
widow with several children to pro-
vide. Miss Cushman had pretty,
sympathetic singing voice, of no
great power. but much sweetness.
Mrs. Wood, was an English bal
lad singer, among the first of that
class to make great sensation in
this country, and during an engage |
ment in Boston Miss Cushman
managed TO be introduced to her,
and finally under Mrs. Woods aus
pices, she made her appearance in
the concert room, being simply an
nounced ''as young lady" Her
success was sufficiently pronounced
to determine her to continue in
that mode Of life, or at least until
her betrothed should have become
able to marry her, but he took great
umbrage at what he stigmatized as
IAN unwonanly proceeding" and
declared she had disgraced him.
Hot words followed on her side,
and after much alteration and mu-
tual pain the engagement was bro
ken off, and Charlotte Cushman was
free to follow out her destiny as q
great ortiste.
She went her way and he went
his. After much hard struggling it
led him into the establishment of
store-a sort of trimming store,
combined with ready-made under ,
for ladies' and childreR--in
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 IA
NOUS, and he sffiuent and in6ucn- /
tial. They met as strangers meet, I
we're introduced, and ever after
amicable, but not anna '
-ory relations, for he had married :
IN the meantime. |
A few years ago was in Boston, I
md dropped into his store to make t
some purchases. 1t happened that $
Miss Cushman preceded me by a /
Few steps. As soon as the floor
walker caught sight of her he hnv-
lied off and returned with the pro- L
orietor, hale, ruddy faced, white
haired gentleman, of dignifed bear ?
NO. They took, rather than shook
hands, he holding hers for a mo- e
nent, and then side by side they n
walked to the back OF the store. t
To see those two calm, self-con- 0
aimed, old silver haired people, one Q
would have little suspected the b
romance which hung p
,ver their youth. 1t is all very fine c
% despise money, but the lack of it K
frequently changes the destinies of n
,ntire lives. Had Miss Cushman's 4
over been sufficiently well-of to "
lave married her at the blooming II
# their love, in all probability the 4
tage would never have known her Il