The San Francisco call., 1897-05-16

himself to his audience in very pleas.
ant light.
During that same year I met many per-
sons of distinction of whom / have most
pleasant memories, but from among them
all one face stands out clearly-that of
the young sculptor's firm friend and warm
admirer, Charlotte Cushman.
l stood much in awe of her at first, for
she was large, masterful woman, who
came and went with a great rustling of
skirts, and she had firm, decided way of
talking, and a sharp way of looking at
people, which was to shy child such as I
was exceedingly discom posing.
She had large, wide face, with full
forehead and prominent chin and a
small nose, and 1 privately thought her
very ugly until she swooped down on me
one day and lifting me to seat in her
capacious lap set herself to the easy task
OF winning share of my heart.
Older persons than 1 have felt and
yielded to the marvellous power of fascina-
tion which Miss Cushman possessed, in
spite OF her lack of beauty, and it goes
without saying that quickly fell VIC
tim to her wiles, and thought her one of
the most wonderful of women ever after.
After the death of Mr.. Akers 1 was for
some time domiciled with lady resident
OF Portland, Maine, whose acquaintance
with notable people was wide. In her
pleasant, and hos pitable home Artemus
Ward Charles F. Brown) was frequent
and welcome guest, and many delight
full romp did l have with MIN, although
he gravely assured me that he ''didn' t
like children" and that my claim on his
attention and consideration lay in the
fact that was "the oldest person for my
age and the smallest person for my size"
that he ever met.
One thing about the humorist always
troubled me in those days, and that was
that his extremely long and thin nose
had decided leaning to one side. When
he became aware of my absorbing-but
carefully epressed-interest in the mat
ter, he told me several tales to account
for the idiosyncrasy OF this prominent
feature of his pleasant though unhand-
some face. As all these stories were strik-
ingly dissimilar, however. and never by
any accident gave the same reason for
the departure OF his nasal organ from the
path OF rectitude, 1 derived little real sat-
isfaction from his humorous and elaborate
explanations.
In this house, also, l met many mem
bers of the once notable. "Hutchin son
Family" which even then had passed the
meridian of popularity, the Tribe of
Asa" being the only re representatives. in the
concert field.
Abby Hutchinson (Mrs. Patton) was a
pretty, soft-voiced woman with a charm
ing manner and a smile that won her
friends everywhere.
Asa, with his big beard and deep voice,
and "Mrs. Asa" his plump and sweet
tempered wife, were always pleasant to
me, and l greatly enjoyed playing with
the children, especially with little Den
nett" who was very bright and winning
though somewhat spoiled and childishly
domineering in his ways.
l well remem ber my happiness when l
was once allowed to go behind the scenes
with the tribe" at one of their concerts,
and listen to their singing from the dress
ing-room instead of sitting tamely and
prosaically in the audience. Indeed, J.
was so excited and happy on this occasion
that l got in every body's way and both
cred the singers to such an extent that
was never allowed the privilege a second
time, but that once was enough to make