Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-28
Charlotte Cusl,,.an's Craze

A recent pilgrim to the grave of Charlotte
Cushman was guided to the place of her rest
by one of the workers employed about the
cemetery, who incidentally pronounced upon
the deceased a comprehensive and remark
able eulogium. s:She was" he said, soon
siderable of woman for play actress y
We!l-she was; and it is all the more to be
regretted that her grave is not marked by a
monument, noble in design and stately in
character, commemorative of her massive
genius and her splendid life. The place of
her sepulture is on the eastern slope of the
principal hill in Mount Auburn Cemetery
Hard by, upon the summit of the hill, stands
the gray tower which overlooks all the sur
rounding region, and constantly symbolizes,
to eyes both far and near, the perpetual
peace of which it is both guardian and image
All around the spot tall trees give shade and
music, as the sun streams on their branches
and the winds of summer murnur in their
leaves. At little distance, visible across
green meadows and the river Charles-full
and calm between its verdant banks-rise
the 'sdreamy spires" of Cambridge Further
away, crowned with her golden dome, towers
old Boston, the stored city which Charlotte
Cushman SO much loved. Upon the spot
| where her ashes now rest the great actress
stood, and, looking toward the city of her
home and heart, chose that to be the place of
her grave; and there she sleeps in peace,
after many a conflict with her own stormy
nature, and after many sorrows and Gains.
What terrific ideals of the imagination
were made by her to be realities of life!
What burning eloquence of poesy by her
was made to blaze! What moments of
pathos she lived! What moods of holy self
| abnegation and of exalted power she brought
to many sensitive soul. Standing by her
grave on which now the myrtle grows dense
and dark, and over which the small birds
swirl and twitter in the breezy silence, re-
membrance of the busy scenes of brilliant
life wherein she used to move-the pictured
stage, the crowded theatre, the wild plaudits
of delighted multitude-comes strongly on
the mind, and asks, in perplexity and sad
ness, what was the good of it all. 10 her
but little. Fame and wealth were her cold
rewards, after years of privation and labor;
but she found neither love nor happiness
and the fullest years Of her life were blighted
| with the shadow of a fell disease and an i'm
! pending doom. To the world. however, her
career was OF great and enduring benefit She
| was noble interpreter of the noblest minds
OF the past, and thus she helped to educate
the men and women of her time-to emo
BILE them IN mood, to strengthen them in
duty, to lift them up III the hope of an i'm
mortal life; and therefore she did not live in
vain. It is but little likely that the Ameri-
can people will ever lose her name out of
their remembrance; and it is name that
never can be erased from the rolls of honor
! able renown. All the same there should be
suitable memorial at her grave marked
now only by small white stone, bearing her
name on it's surface. Such memorial
would come with grace from the people
honoring their fidelity to benefcent life
and an lllustrious memory, and testifying to
all the world that genius and virture are not
forgotten by those whom they dignity and
bless.