Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-07-09

PAULINE CUSHMAN'S FAMOUS TOAST.
but went south the next year, playing in
those cities which had not as yet ranged
themselves openly and boldly ON the side
of the Confcderacy.
There are those alive today who rcmem-
berwell the night when Pauline Cushman
made her dramatic exit from the scene of
her many triumphs. She bad been play
ing a long engagement in Woods thea;er,
Louisville, and had had brilliantly sue
cessful season, both socially and profess
sionally. The city was full of carefully
reppesscd secession sentiment, and Pau
lire was the center of attraction to the
large contingent Of paroled Confederate
officers who made the place their tempe
rary home. One of those gentlemen, with
view 10 making a sensation and anger
ing tine loyal residents, dared the popular
actress TO drink toast to Jefferson Davis
in one of the scenes of the 'Seveh Sisters"
the play then on the boards, and she gave
him her werd that she would.
Tho play went on smoothly and quietly
until the fateful moment came. Then,
with brilliantly flashing eyes and smile
that was scornfully triumphant, albeit she
was moro than a trifle pale behind the
rouge that she had thought best to wear
for this one night, Miss Cushman ad /
vanced to the front of the stage and, rails
ing a wineSlass on high in her slender
hand, said clearly, deliberately and def
aTrly: Here's to jefferson Davis and the
southern Confederacyi May the south al
ways maintain her honor and her rightsr'
The house became a pandcmonium on
the instant, and the terrified manager,
who had never believed that the dashing
actress would carry out what he consid-
cred an idle boast intended to advertise
herself, rang down the curtain before tho
wineglass touched the laughing lips
That night Pauline was discharged
from the company, and the next day she
was the idol Of every southerner who heard
the story. Every door and every heart
was open to her, and when, after being
lioniZed for some tine in Louisville, she
was sent beyond the lines on account Of
her openly expressed hisloyalty the people
Of Nashville, considering her victim of
Yankee tyranny, welcomed her enthusias-
tically and lauded her to the skies.
Not for many months was the truth
even suspected. No one save the actress
herself and those under whose orders she
was working knew that previous to that
sensational episode in Louisville she had
made a confidant of Colonel Moore, the
provost marshal of the district, convinced
him of her stanch loyalty, taken the oath
of allegiance and entered the secret service
of the United States.
Her narrow escapes were many, but per.
| haps the narrowest was when she was
captured by the famous guerrilla, Jack
Morgan. Out on scouting expedition,
misadvcntures on the road had caused
Miss Cushnan to seek temporary shelter
in the house of a small planter, and Nor
gan, swOoping down upon the place in
his unexpected fashion, had found her
there and straightway suspected her OF
being what she really was-a spy. Not
wishing to take the responsibility of de-
Gliding upon her case, he concluded to turn
her over to General Mckinstry, the pro-
vost marshal, and she was sent to the
headquarters Of General Bragg, known
because of his wiry, angular physique and
his cold, reserved, unimpressionable man.
| ncr as Cast Iron Bragg"
To the fact that the excitement and anx.
iety which she experienced made her too
! i'll to rise from the rough pallet in her
UfircI Silc OWtl tic pFt><'TNdtiD0 ner
! life. Even the grim general did not care
| to hang woman, spy though she was.
who was so sick that she could not stand
! upon her feet. and, taking her cue from
| this unexpected leniency, tie clever &C.
tress grew worse instaad of better daily.
Her case seriously puzzled the skilled ply
sician called in TO diagnose it. Her cap
tors were beginning to suspect that she
was quite well enough to be hanged II she
| wanted to be when General Rosecrans'
| advance guard came rafting into town
and restored her to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness.
Amajor's commission was given her
honorary, Of course, as it is in all cases
where it is bestowed on women-but in
her eyes of inestimable value as expressing
something Of the army's feeling regarding
her.