Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow Cushman, May 6, 1865
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow Cushman, May 6, 1865
Subject
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
Cushman, Edwin "Ned" Charles, 1838-1909
Cushman, Emma Crow, 1839-1920
Patriotism
Social Events--Travels
Relationships--Networks
Political Affairs
Booth, Edwin, 1833-1893
England--London
Description
After Lincoln's assassination, Charlotte finds herself in a state of shock. She is also concerned about Emma Crow Cushman's baby and its wellbeing. A note from Charlotte should introduce Emma to some members of London's society.
Credit
Library of Congress, Charlotte Cushman Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Creator
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
Source
LoC, CCP 2:785-786
Date
1865-05-06
Type
Reference
Letter Item Type Metadata
Text
[785] My darling will forgive her auntie. who loves her & +++ so dearly. if she only gets a short note this week. instead of her usual long wordy letter. I have been much occupied [underlined] in the early days of the week. much bothered. much troubled. & a feeling of fatigue upon me. which made me long +++ & take it. anyhow & any when I could get it. On Monday 1st May. Your dear letter of april [sic] 3d H '.S." arrived [?]. such a dear long satisfactory letter. will you believe, I was too busy to read it until I went to bed. when it comforted me in many ways. Tuesday 2d. I was very busy writing to your Grandmother. uncle charles [sic]. & Mr Morgan [?] on business on Monday. Col. Stebbins & mrs [sic] Noble arrived very unexpectedly. & since then, you may imagine I have not had much leisure. Yesterday, I read your dear letters of the 11.' 12" april [sic]. one from your father & one from Mr Macalister with my accounts +++ which I had to go carefully over last night before going to bed. & preparatory to answering this[?] morning. which I have done very conclusively before commencing my note to you. I was so glad to get your letter & one from dear Ned, for wh I will get you to kiss him - & I will write to him next week: Your last letter was not a very late date having St Louis on the 13th. & N York on the 19th. Your fathers letter dated 17". brought me intelligence of the effect produced on people by the frightful Tragidy [sic!] at Washington on the 14" ah I cannot tell you of its effects upon me all here. It was terrible as it seems to have been everywhere. ++++ +++ +++ such +++ +++, as seems to go up to heaven following that poor martyr's soul. for if ever there was +++ it was abram [sic!] Lincoln. God bless him!
[reverse] all peoples abroad of whatever language. are sending public & private words of sympathy & condolence & +++ their +++ as to +++ +++ +++ possible administration. as connected with his past. +++ & +++ & prejudices. They stand still. looking on with a fear & a timidity. in doubtful conjecture. The most violent opponents are silenced in speculating on the chances and the possible consequences. abroad [underlined] !! +++ all +++ own that the Rebellion is down dead, The Times correspondent now writes with comparative respect. & speaks of the South as '+++' & "rebels" instead of 'confederates' & 'beligerents' [sic] all is well with our country - which our good true friend Mr Seward is spared. but I have been much +++ down with anxiety about him. To day [sic] we have news. That his assassin has been found & identified in Paine [underlined] but when will they get that miserable drunken +++. Booth! - Poor little Mary[?] - she has escaped much torture & suffering. Poor[?] little Edwina[?]. her look of tragic terror in her litlle photograph. was +++ a reflex of this dreadful crime. whose name will attach to hers & all her family. forever & forever! I said by the Transcript [Boston Daily Evening Transcript?] of the 18". That +++ had asked Booth to give up - his "+++ +++". & I saw that in Boothes [sic] reply. he could not let go the opportunity of a little flourish about his political ++++ & opinions. but it may have been thought necessary in consideration of his professional future. Though I cannot see how he can even hold up his head again - or present himseld to a public.
[786] It[?] was [?] very strange. That I should have +++ the assassinaton of Mr Lincoln. before we knew how he had been attacked- with a theatrical character apart from his being in a theater! These instincts of mine are peculiar. Poor wretch. I fear he will +++ +++. a wretch so desperate will take his own life first. Poor Mrs Seward poor Fannie. my heart bleeds for them. I should imagine - the horror of the +++ - would have deprived her of every +++ of a nerve. The +++ account of it in the Transcript of the 18". took all power from my limbs & I was terrorstricken since then. I have not possessed them in quiet for a moment. You will say every thing to Anna Seward for me. will you not. I feel that any expression from you will say better than I can +++ my sympathy. my sorrow for her +++. next week I will try to write myself - I want you to bring me the best photograph of Mr Lincoln. Mr Johnson. Grant Sherman and Shiridan & Stanton! - We had a picture taken of +++ from a photograph & it is hung up at the +++ draped with black! Mrs Adams was here at the time & we +++ much. She is prepared to have you go & see her in London. which you must do as soon as you arrive. Let Ned put on his card to Mr Moran[?], secretary of Legation & Mr Alward assistant Sec[?] Legation & to Mr Adams. - "Introduced by Miss Cushman." - & if I am not there it will have the effect of taking you among them if go [both words crossed out] whether you are presented [underlined] or not [underlined]. I want Ned to be presented in London. & Moran who is a nice simple fellow - will tell him exactly how to do & how to behave. & about the consular
[reverse] uniform. used at foreign courts. which +++ want Ned to have [last four words underlined]. I hope to be in London when you come - but I may not. You will perhaps stop a little while with Miss Williams in +++ so as to see Rosalie & Mabel. Miss Holland is +++ up her school at +++ & so is Miss +++ & the two girls have to have other schools. Rosalie tells[?] her grandmother that her father is going to send her in sumer [?, sic] to school. I wish he would send +++ of them there, = I hope you will keep your ___nurse over yur voyage. rather than +++ dear baby +++ +++ chance of danger!I want him to have the breast just as long. as he wull take it. I will pay the nursis [sic!] passage over here & back. if you will keep her why dont [sic] you propose to Mrs Hykes to [crossed out] unless there exists some good reason why you should be watched [last five words underlined] & taken care of this summer. to remain +++ this +++ so that you wont be such a large party +++ about. you pay her her wage [both words underlined] & then something to +++ her board. which would cost you less than her living here. & let her or +++ herself during the summer & then come out later [underined] & join you to come here after the summer is over for next winter care of baby. I +++ you are saved great anxiety by Mrs Hykes having +++ care of baby. but then, when I am with you. you are +++ +++, so +++, any our +++ wet nurse [both words underlined]. However do as you will about her [underlined]. only you must not +++ the wet nurse! he must have her for the joy[?] up[?] what is money to me compared with his wellbeing after his teeth have come. I wont [sic] mind. but he +++ have good wholesome breast milk [?] = +++ will be +++ +++ some interest money 1st of June. & he can pay nurses fare out of it. +++ in the East. it wont [sic] so much matter. & perhaps. if after all we conclude to bring on here for the sake of baby is having the breast. +++ [end of letter missing?]"
[reverse] all peoples abroad of whatever language. are sending public & private words of sympathy & condolence & +++ their +++ as to +++ +++ +++ possible administration. as connected with his past. +++ & +++ & prejudices. They stand still. looking on with a fear & a timidity. in doubtful conjecture. The most violent opponents are silenced in speculating on the chances and the possible consequences. abroad [underlined] !! +++ all +++ own that the Rebellion is down dead, The Times correspondent now writes with comparative respect. & speaks of the South as '+++' & "rebels" instead of 'confederates' & 'beligerents' [sic] all is well with our country - which our good true friend Mr Seward is spared. but I have been much +++ down with anxiety about him. To day [sic] we have news. That his assassin has been found & identified in Paine [underlined] but when will they get that miserable drunken +++. Booth! - Poor little Mary[?] - she has escaped much torture & suffering. Poor[?] little Edwina[?]. her look of tragic terror in her litlle photograph. was +++ a reflex of this dreadful crime. whose name will attach to hers & all her family. forever & forever! I said by the Transcript [Boston Daily Evening Transcript?] of the 18". That +++ had asked Booth to give up - his "+++ +++". & I saw that in Boothes [sic] reply. he could not let go the opportunity of a little flourish about his political ++++ & opinions. but it may have been thought necessary in consideration of his professional future. Though I cannot see how he can even hold up his head again - or present himseld to a public.
[786] It[?] was [?] very strange. That I should have +++ the assassinaton of Mr Lincoln. before we knew how he had been attacked- with a theatrical character apart from his being in a theater! These instincts of mine are peculiar. Poor wretch. I fear he will +++ +++. a wretch so desperate will take his own life first. Poor Mrs Seward poor Fannie. my heart bleeds for them. I should imagine - the horror of the +++ - would have deprived her of every +++ of a nerve. The +++ account of it in the Transcript of the 18". took all power from my limbs & I was terrorstricken since then. I have not possessed them in quiet for a moment. You will say every thing to Anna Seward for me. will you not. I feel that any expression from you will say better than I can +++ my sympathy. my sorrow for her +++. next week I will try to write myself - I want you to bring me the best photograph of Mr Lincoln. Mr Johnson. Grant Sherman and Shiridan & Stanton! - We had a picture taken of +++ from a photograph & it is hung up at the +++ draped with black! Mrs Adams was here at the time & we +++ much. She is prepared to have you go & see her in London. which you must do as soon as you arrive. Let Ned put on his card to Mr Moran[?], secretary of Legation & Mr Alward assistant Sec[?] Legation & to Mr Adams. - "Introduced by Miss Cushman." - & if I am not there it will have the effect of taking you among them if go [both words crossed out] whether you are presented [underlined] or not [underlined]. I want Ned to be presented in London. & Moran who is a nice simple fellow - will tell him exactly how to do & how to behave. & about the consular
[reverse] uniform. used at foreign courts. which +++ want Ned to have [last four words underlined]. I hope to be in London when you come - but I may not. You will perhaps stop a little while with Miss Williams in +++ so as to see Rosalie & Mabel. Miss Holland is +++ up her school at +++ & so is Miss +++ & the two girls have to have other schools. Rosalie tells[?] her grandmother that her father is going to send her in sumer [?, sic] to school. I wish he would send +++ of them there, = I hope you will keep your ___nurse over yur voyage. rather than +++ dear baby +++ +++ chance of danger!I want him to have the breast just as long. as he wull take it. I will pay the nursis [sic!] passage over here & back. if you will keep her why dont [sic] you propose to Mrs Hykes to [crossed out] unless there exists some good reason why you should be watched [last five words underlined] & taken care of this summer. to remain +++ this +++ so that you wont be such a large party +++ about. you pay her her wage [both words underlined] & then something to +++ her board. which would cost you less than her living here. & let her or +++ herself during the summer & then come out later [underined] & join you to come here after the summer is over for next winter care of baby. I +++ you are saved great anxiety by Mrs Hykes having +++ care of baby. but then, when I am with you. you are +++ +++, so +++, any our +++ wet nurse [both words underlined]. However do as you will about her [underlined]. only you must not +++ the wet nurse! he must have her for the joy[?] up[?] what is money to me compared with his wellbeing after his teeth have come. I wont [sic] mind. but he +++ have good wholesome breast milk [?] = +++ will be +++ +++ some interest money 1st of June. & he can pay nurses fare out of it. +++ in the East. it wont [sic] so much matter. & perhaps. if after all we conclude to bring on here for the sake of baby is having the breast. +++ [end of letter missing?]"
From
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
To
Cushman, Emma Crow, 1839-1920
Location
Rome, Italy
Geocode (Latitude)
41.894802
Geocode (Longitude)
12.4853384
Social Bookmarking
Geolocation
Collection
Citation
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876, “Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow Cushman, May 6, 1865,” Archival Gossip Collection, accessed April 25, 2024, https://archivalgossip.com/collection/items/show/109.