Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-11-16

ieaueTs OF cultured society Wherever she
went. 1t was not beauty. for her plain
ness was proverbial. Was her voice so
| much sweeter than any other? the execu-
ton so much more perfect? The answer
| Is this: The personality OF the woman.
| Let us see what has been said of her.
| Dean Stanley, meeting her in I847 said ::
Great As is the wonder Of seeing a whole
| population bewitched by one simple Swed-
ish girl, 1t sinks into nothing before the
| wonder OF herself" and his mother con
| fessed that wonderful as Jenny's singing
| was. she would rather hear her talk than
| sing. Swedish lady who had always
| known her tells US that the Impression left
on her memory by the great singer was
| OF lone possessed by sort of sacred re-
| sponsibiity for her mission of art In its
lofty purity which she felt that God had
conhded to her"
Even reviewers felt that it was her
| purity of soul which made the wonderful
| Impression upon her audience. From
Berlin a critic wrote: Zone sentiment
| pervades all her art pictures--the spirit Of
holiness" Again at Vienna we are told :
'She is the perfect picture of noblest
| womauhood."
The perfect sincerity of Jennie Lind i'm
pressed all who came into her presence
| ~ Is sdiu slle WOulu not even CONFORM to
the deviations from strict truthfuness
which are expected in society, always re-
fnsing to say: II am glad to see you" to
an ill-tmed visitor; yet so sensitive was
her nature that her sincerity never amount
ed to buntness. One day, shortly before
her death she attended service in the
cathedral in small provincial city. The
dean, who was very proud of his choir,
asked Madame Goldschmidt how she liked
1t. She looked at him with her sweet
smile and said. ~ith unmistakable empha-
sis con, Mr. Dean. your cathedral is in-
deed beautiful"
She never refused to sing for charity,
often saying: 'Is 1t not beautiful can
sing sof" when told how much good
could be accomplished by the money thus
earned. II has been a matter of discussion
why she retired from the 10 the very
prime Of life, especially writing to
friend Life on the has In il
something so fascinating | think
having once tasted 1t. one can never feel
truly happy away from IT, but among the
strongest notes OF her character were love
OF home aud domestic peace II am con-
yinced," said Herr Brockhaus, that she
would gladly exchange all her triumphs
for simple homcy happiness" That was
t"' Tf'lNN W 1I'i t3lLS retirement, not as
some writer's have tried to prove, that she
had come TO regard tie stage as an unholy
place III for no pure souled woman; had
1t been 80 she would never have returned
from time to time, to sing on special occa-
sion-.
Hers was a noble, beautiful life, 80
richly endowed that MendeIssohn. her
friend and patron. could say OF her AS
great an artist as ever lived; the greatest
! have ever known"
The Muse OF Tragedy lent her gracious
presence in Boston when Charlotte Cu-h-
man was born on Richmond street She
was descended from the tu,hmans Of Ply
mouth fame aud inherited great Strengt h
of character, especially from her grand
mother, who was Il remarkable woman.
Charlotte's father failed in business, and
she was obliged To leave school when only
thirteen years of age. The first sentence
she ever wrote for publication was: II
was 4 tom boy" She had good voice
for singing. and through the Kindness OF
an uncle had some instruction, but soon
made an engagement with the Woodward
family, concert troupe, then popular In
Boston, and travelled South with them
1t wss IN New Orleans that her voice
failed. and while consulting the manager
u III
became convinced Of her great talent and
prevailed on her to 20 on the stage From
letters written IN early gtrlhood IL y wi
dent she had wished To become an actress.
but on account of popular prejudice had
never given It serious thought She was
an untlring worker and In 4 few nights
from The time she hal formed the resolu-
tlon she waS PLAYING LGiy HtCtgh with
success She remained in New Orleans
unit! spring, when she went 10 New York
to MI an engagement. Her first thought
was always for her family, and though
only receiving twenty i've dollars per week
she sent tor them 10 leaye the Boston home
and come To New YORK To share with her
the scanty income.
During the next winter the theatre burn
ell and Miss Cushman lost not only her
wardrobe but the contract. She next
went to Albany Tor short time, but re
turned tp New lprk where she made an
engagement % play during the winter and
tp travel IN the west IN the summer At
TINS llfne sht WAS twehty-one years oid.
Two years later, she assumed the manage
ment OF a rundown theatre IN Philadel-
phla, and three years later, played with
Macready in Philadelphia and New York
alternate nights, riding every day and
pay ih@ N''Ar h'SANr
Her next change was TO go to Boston
for short engagement, after which she
went to London.
She had but one companion, girl who
went with her from this country and who
Is known to history as sally" They Were
very poor. and for six weeks lived on one
chop day, and bakers mullins, even going
without all food one day that they might
have money enough 10 buy dozen mullins
at one time, thereby getting the thirteenth.
When they were reduced tn their last five
dollars, help came. Miss Cushman had an
offer to play a minor part with Forrest at
| twenty i've dollars per night She accept
| ed on condition that one night she should
| play first part that an English audience
might see what she could do In the first
/ three acts she failed utterly Then she
\ told Sally she would conquer or die
She threw herself heart and soul into the
| fourth act and conquered au English audi
ence forever. The tide of her fortunes
| had turned She played that season with
| Forrest, and the next year her sister Joined
her in London and PLAYED Juliet to her
Romeo, in Ireland, and finally on the CON
tinent.
With the first money Miss Cushman
could spend for luxury she bought her
sister saddle-ho The horse was care
fully trained, and the sister an accomplish.
ed rider, but on the first day she was
thrown and killed. Miss Cushman never
| racoyarad from har siatar.s daath and snon