New-York tribune., 1878-05-25

| had created for herself station which surpassed
| the advantages of greater rank and wealth.. io
| this was added an almost childish slmphclty' ENJOY
| ing life in all its phases, and taking the Ioush
| and the smooth with equal serenity Nothing was
too great or too small for her to undertake III the
| service of friend She would give as much effort
| to right the wrongs of poor seamstress VINO hau
fallen among thieves in Rome as TO the needs OF tne
| highest among her acquaintance.
The DESCRIPTION of Miss Cushman's home life in
Rome is ain admirable piece OF picturesque COM
position not surpassed in interest by any portion OF
| the volume. Her house was in one OF the most
agreeable localities of the city, but few minute
walk from the far-famed Pincian hill. glow
of warmth and comfort, combined with
certain elegance, pervaded the pleasant
rooms. The walls gradually became covered
with choice pictures and such sculpture as
there was space for; but the chief beauty of the
home consisted in its antique carved furniture IFS
abundance of books and its general air of comfort
anc freedom from show. Miss Stcbbins gives an
amusing account of the ways and dohgs Oh inc
cratic Italian servants Of the family; but sun
more remarkable feature found in tho dogs ana
horses whom the writer justly considers as Dut hte
lower than the best specimens of the human race.
The following picture of one of these mute iavofltes
presents a character which can hardly be matched
among the canine prize-takers at the recent eX-
hibition -
Other members Of this household there were. surely
NOT unworthy of mention. nasInuch as they were
admitted to close cOmpanonship ana certainty Wclo
not less faithful aud devoted than the human cFeati's
who composed II; at least In our esIimalOh MIsS
Cushman loved animals always, and especially dogs uu
horses Among the the most worthy OF note was
"Busbie" or rather Bouche Dhu," or Dlack muLle,
her original Highland appelation. Busme came % ron i
EdiubuTgh brought by friend, who was inuch luh-
pressed by the dogs behavior on the tram She was u
In one place and there remained without moving lhe
whole journey. she was very handHe 1uT ,nt T,cc
terrier with the human eyes and attributes OF lat
Her first appearance was not hcraded win rapture ~
Sale for she had been neglected as to her coat Wmc
hungn ged mats all over lana the orders
and there was much care and VeXati0n anticipated anu
little provision of the comfort which lay cushioned III o
wooy treasure. SO Salie rather rebecd at the prGs
pect; but Miss Cushm3n sald; S%ale % you @ S SaIic, G
your any oy 1o oicd Ter in NV arms down stairs aud
tie little thing licked all the way down. ana Oy lo
time cot TO the kitchen l was completely won over"
This was the beginning OF deep friendship. dcyOcd on
both sides, which lasted, without nav, iOr l0uIlS.li
years and indeed, the friendship was not confined TO
Saie and herself The loving doghear took us an ID,
and never perfectly content unless sue c0uu hano
us all together 10 her mistress she was tperecty Ge
voted BUSHES general demcapor was discreet ana
sensible in the exreme We all thought she understood
Way vol Of Speaking for herself which almost human
She loved driving pa7sonaely ana was the nsl one 20
announce the app oach OF the carrage however soud
asleep she seemtdtO be, she would rouse up ana give
herself shake OF preparation Whenever the souh1 Ol
those special horses feet heard In the street Car
rages without number would pass ana leIhss, put
would be ready make her way down, and leap INTO the
carriage taking herplace In sublime cohtenneh. lgo
or that into the country, around the Old walls hcr
great 10y was to put down to with the carrase
Come on; how slow you are and then coursng along,
ahead, low the ground ike ieckess hairy ouOit
as DIR John Brown calls OF her cOmpatr1Ots, the
happiest Of the happy. But Bush was not always per
mI'ed TO 60 soihvae9 ired and upbanny on these
occasions faculty for speech would come into pay.
She would 40 10 Salle, and lying down nat on her
stomach with her hiud legs stretched out straight be
hind her, working her head up ana down ana moving
her forepaws from side to side she would utter pc
|
mucn like speech as anything could be which was unn-
| telliGble. 'What IS II, Bushr' sallle would say.
Have they gone without YOU little TomSn III iS9
! BusDie's tones would grow hlgh ana h!sterlca,
| and she would have TO be taEen up and much
would have another complaint to make she awaSs had
her OF milk with little TEA III H. ana u some
61Re5 % Sei 10 6e foretten She Would Try
first attention 10 herself by sitting up on heT
the arm Of the sofa solemn aud grave ike little sphinx
II this man9uvre failed, she would go on TO sae ana
Whisper to one Of u.s. you forget Bqsbies r. The
viction, thought so" aud 20 away to make good the
deficiency. The movement OF which have spoken with
her fOrepaws Miss Cushman called piaylhg ihe phn9
.'Play the piano, Bushie," she would say and Bush
knew perfectly well what was meant, and would go
through the performance, accompany ing u Win rev
words OF recitatve with great gravity and ecat End
was The ana GUC I me aOs she e
hlled as nothing else can because theTe T. ] n ~,
the complex and subtle movements OF the human ihnd
dog nothing so absolutely loving, faithful ds
itI% insvi1s tho sEya dog nature Bushe was a great
traveller; she went with her mistress every @ sIe
travel by rail, that II scarcely ever occuried III al .He
long journeys on the Continent ahd especlay III
France where they have hearts aud no bowels OF com
passion, and machines where Oiicia duty Is
concerned that abe was con1scaed put in the
black hole. wise and, quiet, that even the
ynxeyed guardians of the trains never discovered %
She knew perfectly well that she was cOnraDand, ana
submitted any kind OF restraint patiently Ihcn her
JOY when we arrived ana sne Gouu Tt ed bt n o
could doubt that well as sound logic had eXer
| cised her brains on the SUBJECT
The influence of Miss Cushman's professional life
ON her personal character is treated by the author
with equal sense and delicacy. As she wisely sug-
gess the ban which has so long hung over the stage
has been partly if not entirely, removed, and there
is no reason why its vast capabilities for good
should not be universally recognized. 1t is too
much the custom, she remarks to dwell upon the
temptations of an actors life; and it may be
doubted if these are greater than elsewhere.
| Miss Cushfhan was accustomed to say that her
| experience behind the scenes had shown her de-
| cided average in favor of goodness, honesty and
| purity of life. There are many instances which
would do honor to any station. of modest sefsacr-
! flee and devotion-wOrthy mothers excellent wives,
faithful friends There is class more kind to one
another, none generous their faults all lean
| TO virtues side and when their sins OF omission
| and commission are reckoned up, candid judg-
ment will admit that their qualities predOm-
| mate. Miss Cushman well knew how to harmonic
| the discOrdances of this peculiar realm, where she
rcigned with the same undoubted sovereignty as
everywhere else. Her mere presence on the boards
seemed TO give new life and value to the most ncOn
| gruous materials
| The perusal of this volume Will confirm the i'm
] pressions of Miss Cushnan's rare and beautiful
! endowments of character, which were produced by
the many admirable encomiums on occasion of her
retirement from the stage. 1t is certainly written
in the spirit of reverent friendship but not of full
| some aduaton. The abstinence from undue or mis-
| 10 ;te aud