New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-20
THE DRAMA.
Observation-Disclosures MINNIE CUMMINGS


otherwise than sad but the causes, both remote
and proximate. which have led to the sudden awalS-
ening of the Fifth Avenue are of a character so
affecting that this incident must be viewed as ex-
ceptionGlly lamentable. Those causes made
known yesterday. In production filing three
printed columns, which sent to the local news
papers by Miss Minnie Cummlngs--a lady for whose
appearance, in her own drama entitled Sus-
pected," the Fifth Avenue has thus been aroused
from its Summer sleep. Miss Cummings. 1t appears.
had the misfortune, az when she about
sixteen years Old" 10 be "an invalid"
and her husband was In the habit of sending her
the PHILADELPHIA papers to help relieve the tedium
of her sufIerings." How long ago 1t was that the
theatrical impulse thus began to work cannot now
be accurately determined but this was the way in
which it began. Miss Cummings, tender in years
and feeble in health, read the Philadelphia pa
pers"; and she got over it. In general way
1t does not seem that the perusal of those sheets
would have the effect of driving an ordinarily con-
stitnted person into Acting; their more common
consequence is repose; but Miss Cummings was
sick. and therefore weak and if, as her statement
seems TO imply. she read all the Philadelphia papers,
any result whatever might, perhaps, be expected
In her case at all events the result series of
the most wonderful incidents that can well be i'm
agined-not the least deplorabIe of them being the
play of Suspected" and the untimey TeopenIng OF
the Fifth Avenue Theatre IN this blazing July
Miss Cummings began her theatrical career by
going into violent Mysteries in the domestic circle
lone Summers day. while the Cummings family
were IN the lower part OF their beautiful home on
the banks of the Susquehanna." says the circular.
"a loud scream WAS heard from MInnie's room"
Investigation discovered that tho sick girl had
been reading in Forney's Press account OF a
woman named Vaughn, who had been condemned
to suffer death the scailold for having strapged
her infant in barn. Though very SICK, and I'M
able TO leave her bed Minnie firmly said. i Will
save her life" An immense expenditure Of sta
tiouery ensued, in the shape of more than sixty
letters written by Miss Cummings, while she was
propped mp in bed. to the leading lawyers, judges.
| ministers and philanthropists." Governor Gcary,
| cf Pennsylvania. in particular, appears to have
been peppered within an inch of his lite.
| Susan b. Anthony, Anna Dickinson and Elizabeth
Cady Stanton, backed by Forney's Press, took
| hand in the affair; Mrs Vaughn sent to her
! grandfather instead of being hanged; Mrs Lizzie
| Dalton wrote a poem called "A Young Mothers
| PRAYER" and Miss Cummings herself arose and Wis
| tied MoyamensincJ Jail and went TO Omaha, where
( exhibiting predictions and phenomenal strength
on each holiday she conveyed wagOn-loads OF
Injuries to the Jail and the poor-house." and where
she became the victim OF the great Virginia land
swindle" and lost SAC, 000-Sbakespeares favOrlte
number.
! The progress Of Miss Cummings peculiar theat-
| Tcsl training appears TO have been little mixed,
at this tlme bat these aids TO the development OF
dramatic faculty were speedily reinforced b. the
highly animated proceedings of a person named
Codd. who tried to levy backmall on TINS lady. but
eventually "went on his knees. like a craven
coward and plead for mercy" aud by the
amorous demons trations of a sucking lawyer named
Stolrs by whom Miss Cummings says she was
sought" This enterprising explorer does not appear
to have found even her husbands for the statement
proceeds to declare that as nc few years her
iunior not even self-supporting his father never
able to pay his ordinary debts. she laughed at the
bows presumpton." Then the boy tried to kill her
and wrote " letters of confession some signed III
blood from gashes cut III his arm. to prove how be
loved her. and how remorsefu he was for his
fits of madness" lie also gave a false and perverted
version of the case to The Chicago Tribune" aud
that preciptated lawsuit, pending which the pa
terna Storrs "hissed fearful things into Miss
| Cummings ears, while she was i'll in bod, with only
her little daughter in the room -; and at this june
tnre she was "tne recipient of entertainment
gwen her at Plymouth Church by the very leading
ctiz,ns."
When the day of the trial came q" the courtroom
was crowded, and for many blocks the streets were
black with people" Miss Cummings, as usual, wa
sick in bed ;" and did not attend but Good was or
hand, and he poured out his wicked soul IN blast
ing falsehoods." The case went against her; she
never after that, could induce the Chicago papers tc
publish "afidavits,r which is very remarkable con
sidering that they generally willing to publish
anything; for three months she lay hopelessly Ill
with congestion of the braIu." The foreman o.
the Grand Jury said she ought to have hlTed lively,
strong negroes to cowhide" COdd and then, beins
in this manner prepared for the stage, friend " en-
pjneered her debut" and she came forth as Jalt.
Booths Theatre. That was three years ago. SIT
has since written this play of Suspected, "-whIci
is ipferentialIy, all about herself last nigh
she appeared IN 1t, before a numerous assemblage
at the Fifth Avenue 1t a dire failure.
The lesson to be drawn from the experience ant
proceedings of Miss Minnie Cummings is of an edu
cational character Girls of tender age, it is obvi
ons. ought not to read the Philadelphia papers
unless they wish to be preciptated after the laps
of wears. into theatrical life. 1t is necessary t.
add also-after seeing Miss Cummings attemp
TO act-that, even when they do take this fatefu
and irreyocable step, they must not depend exclu
. | siyely on those sources of inspiration Tor thel
knowledge of the art of composition, or for thei
I, | proficiency in the art of acting. person WI
wishes TO write play should first learn how to con
struct dramatic coloquy and a person who wishe
| TO act a part-not dIsputing the magnetic tendenc
of the Philadelphia papers" if taken early. +
light up this divine passion in the feminine BOSOM
should begin by making some slight study OF ex
: preston and eocution 1t does not seem yer
violent assumption that study and practc
in theatrical stock company IS more likely to re
snlt in making actress than either the writing O
sentimental letters in behalf of murderer, or tn
rash and vain liberation OF spoony IDIOTS OF IN
weak submission to domestic injustice, or the cor
$ .itod aud indelicate parading of private misfol
49,. - ,,rloor tattIe as a bid for public attentio