The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-16
NEW BOOKS.
Charlotte eastman. Life and Letters.

sort be arrested by friendly endervOr n dis
eliminating and genial biography interesting
for ts own sake and thus perpetuatng interest
in its subject may best suhscrvc the kindly end
Such an Office Miss EMMA STrnBtSs has sought
10 full in the memoir entitled charlotte CUsh-
man Ho' Letters and Memories ~ Hr Lie
iHoughton Osgood 4 Coz The fitness Of the
bographor in this instance was attcstcd not
only by long and intimate acquaintance. but
bya profound sympathy and genuine aesthetic
rapport with the gifted woman whose life ia
here portrayed. What is Of equal importance
TO the reader. the material has received effective
and even felicltous treatment. the author evnc-
ing dcxcrity Of literary workmanship which
was scarcely to he looked for from one who has
earned distinction in the art Of expression under
very different conditions.
Ii Is true that Miss StcLbns has strivcn to trace
the growth Of an ingenious mind and to inter-
pref the lessons Of an earnest and energetic
life rather than 10 depict the thousand surface
incidents Of n bright and varied career. There
IL very little gossip IN this volume. and there is
great deal Of patient. thoughtful and saga-
cious appreciation II would have been easy
Tor the writer to make her book amusing. but
che has chosen to make it worthy and admir-
able. Her end apparently will b. attained II
she helps us to IA fuller knowledge Of Il remark
nble woman. and assures 10 u genius which she
esteoms one OF the foremost within It's province.
n firm and adequate place in our remembrance.
We do not suppose that this biography will be
popular after the fashion Of some lately pub
lishcd memoirs that have the vogue Of a
sprightly novel, but it will be esteemed and
treasured by those VINO are able 10 recognize
substantial contribution to literature 1t should
not be inferred however. because Miss Stebbins
has performed her task like student and an
nrtst. and not with Boswellian garrulity. that
her narrative is markedly wanting in anma-
ton. We arc conducted. ON the contrary. quite
brskly from stage t. stage of her SUBJECT : life.
and the serious, reflective tone is relieved 10y
many lively anecdotes. some II which We should
be glad to reproduce ina swift summary ot the
more salient events recitrd in this biography.
Those who like 10 account In large measure
for striking montal und moral qualities hy
hereditary transmission will find support for
their opinions in tracing the descent Of Char
lo;tc Cushmsn. Her ancestor. Robert Cush-
man. was one of the most considerable persons
In that little band Of Puritan refugees who
Betted at Lcyden and afterwards founded the
Plymouth colony. II may well have been that
the famous actress drew from that aust, re and
sturdy stock the directn'ss and consistency Of
purpose and the elevation Of character which
distinguished her alike amid the trials of her
youth and the prosperity Of her later years.
But il seems to have bvcn from tho mothers
ulty, several Of her maternal relatives belns re-
iuafARb,3 i5r musical talents ani pcweis Of
mimicry. That mimctic .it which. implying
Mt once aariness Of observation aud facial
lexibility. forms no small part ~ al actors
eongenital outfit WAS evinced by the subject of
his biography at a very early age. On one
occasion. We are told. when Henry Ware. pastor
Of the old Boston Meeting House. was taxing
yea with her mother. the latter exclaimed sud-
1enly. Charlotte. take your elbows III the
able and your chin out of yodr hands, The
little girl. it seems. was sitting in exact iinia-
ion 81 the clergyman. having caught. too the
precise expression vi his countehnncc. Char
otte, it is added. could at any time set the table
IN n roar 10y the most vivid s~ntatiou Il q
ION chased AMI finally caught, IT Of alc s,r.n.c.
weird. misirus,fu behavior OF parrot.
We do not luA the year 81 M.-s Cushman's
birth mentioned Ia this volume, nor cUn We
ight upon any definite indication - To the az
At which she died. There is indeed, II regret
able want %. ~ clsioa ~ T. dates. ami W are
oiten at a loss o. identify with Tia proper ep5,A
events wAlc. are noteworthy as suggesting or
confirming the young lUd,s yoeaton fog the
stage. II appears. however. that she Mas but 10
years OLD when Il 'hauLs in her latA 20 clltun.-
stances caused her withdrawal iroui s;ho9l.
and We infer that hrr literary attaiuments,
which In after years were py ~ mehns wanting
IN breadth or a. ura'y Were, ior tAe IA 81 part,
sclt-ueIuired. Her voice, on the oNlcr hand,
which WIS OF areat power AID uncommon
range comhuin. q fail 20utralto with an al
most full soprano. rt'eiVcd caici Al cultivation
Through the klndness u family TREND she
soon obtained tolerably lucrative position In
one oi the church choirs. nnG took the first de-
eisive step toward her iutdre calling when she
wes asked 10 sing one or two duets VITA Mrs.
Wood. then giving series %: musical enter