Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-06-07
CHARLOTTE CUSHMAN.
Miss Stebbins' Life of the Famous
Actress-InterestiDg Letters
and Anecdotes.

New York Herald.l
Before her death Miss Cushman
placed all her letters and papers in
the hands of her friend, Miss Emma
Stebbins, at the same time express
ing the desire that she would write
the record of her life if it should
ever be written. The choice was a
wise one, as the volume before us
at once proves. 1t is written in an
earnest as well as entertaining
style, and in it we learn much of
the great actress that tie world has
never been permitted to know be-
fore. 1t deserves to rank with
Macready's "Recollections" and
other famous annals of the stage.
The work is very gracefully and
appropriately dedicated to the dra-
matte profession, (Which Miss
Cu8hman loved and honored, to
which she gave the study of her
life, and the loyal devotion of her
great powers, to which she has left
in her example noble and imper.
ishable remembrance"
FIRST APPEARANCE AS AN ACTRESS.
We find the following account of
her disappearance as an actress in
Miss Cushman'S own words:
With the Maeders | went to New
Orleans, and sang until, owing per-
haps to youth, to change Of climate
or to a too great strain upon the
upper register of my voice, which,
as his wife's voice was contralto, it
was more to Maeder's interest to
use than the lower one, / found my
voice suddenly failing me. In my
unhappiness / went to ask counsel
and advice of Mr.. Caldwell, the
manager of the chief New 0rlean 6
theater. He at once said to me,
"You ought to be an actress, and
not singer" He advised me to
study some parts, and presented me
to Mr.. Barton, the tragedian of the
theater, whom he asked to hear me
and to take all interest in me.
He was very kind, as indeed they
both were; and Mr. Barton, after {
short time, was sufficiently i'm
pressed with my powers to propose
to Mr.. Caldwell that | should acl
"Lady Macbeth " to his "Mac-
BETH" on the occasion of his (Bar.
ton's) benefit. Upon this it was
decided that l should give up sing
ing and take to acting. My con.
tract with Mr.. Maeder was an
nulled, it beiHg the end of the sea,
son. So enrapt1red was l with tho
idea of acting this part, and so fear,
full of anything preventing me,
that l did not tell the manager !
had no dresses until it was too late
for me to be prevented from acting
it; and the day before the perform
ance, after rehearsal, | told him,
lie Immediately sat down and wrote
a note of introduction for me to
the tragedienne of the French
Theater, which then employed some
of the best among French artists
for its company. This note was tC
ask her to help me to costumes fol
the role of "Lady Macbeth"
was q tall, thin, lanky girl at thar
time, about five feet six inches il
hight. The French woman, Nine
Closel, was a short, iat person, o
not more than four feet ten inches
her waist full twice the size Of mine
with very large bust; but hel
shape did not prevent her being ,
very great actress. The ludicrous.
ness of her clothes being made tC
fit me struck her at once. She
roared with laughter; but she wal
very good natured, saw my distress
and set to work to see how she coult
help ii. BY dint of piecing out tn,
skirt Of one dress it was made tC
answer for an underskirt, and ther
another dress was taken i'll in every
direction to do duty as an overdress
and so make up the costume. Ant
thus l essayed for the first time tho
part of "Lady Macbeth" iortu
netely to the satisfaction Of the All
dience, the manager, and all TN
members of the company.
MISS CUsHMAN's sALLTE.
Miss Cushman's biography woulc
he incomplete without referenc
to her faithful colored maid.
ANY memorial would be incom
plete which would leave out til
sriend and companion of her wan
desiBgs, The sharer of her trialsan,
her tnumphs the good, devoted
GathGul Sallie Mercer She cam