Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Helen Hunt Jackson, Dec 2, [1870?]
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Helen Hunt Jackson, Dec 2, [1870?]
Subject
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
Stebbins, Emma, 1815-1882
Social Events--Travels
Jackson, Helen Hunt
Finances
Description
Cushman reports her plans and negotiations regarding a house in Newport. She tells Helen Hunt that whenever her name is mentioned, she has to pay more for services since she is well-known among US-American people.
For transcripts, please visit Colorado College.
For transcripts, please visit Colorado College.
Creator
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
Source
Colorado College, Tutt Library, Helen Hunt Jackson Papers, Part 2, Ms 0156, Box 2, Folder 34, letters from Charlotte Cushman to HH, 1869-70. Transcribed by Nancy Knipe, 2005.
Date
1870-12-02
Type
Reference
Letter Item Type Metadata
Text
Carissa Mia,
You have presence of mind! An excellent thing in any body, but especially in a woman. Do you know, dear, that I don't find the people with whom I have been brought in contact, so far, in this "land of the free", very much gifted with this, well, Virtue! For it is a virtue certainly, to have your mind free & unoccupied sufficiently from self to consider & to do what is best for any body else, and this you have just done, just the thing I wanted you to do (& asked you to do in my letter which went to you yesterday.) I thank you very very much for all you have done & all the trouble you have taken in writing to me about it. You will see when you get my letter, how, what I tell you of my plans, [jumps?] with what you have ascertained in Newport; & you will tell me whether you think I am safe to get these rooms at Riggs' or Breweston, not going there earlier than middle of January, which may chance to be as early as I can get there. How do people manage where they take these rooms before hand in this country. Instruct me learned Pundit, for it is so long since I have lived or provided for myself in this land, that I know none of the manners & customs.
Dear, do you know that the Riggs has two prices? And do you know that the Tall Col gave me the prices which he had learned as $15 per week for a private parlour & extra table, & $15 for each person per week board & $10 per week for my maid, which made, what I wanted $55 per week, & now you tell me the Butler who has aspirations & yet is humble, wants from you for my requirements $70 per week, which is just 15 per week more? What does this mean? Will you like a [mediating angel?], ask the [Davies?] fellow "Perche"? Let him see what he can & will do, for I confess that I incline to Riggs' way of being & doing, more than to those who are only [beginners?] If it is a serious matter that I do not go until 14 Jany, I shall strive hard not to be kept for this trouble of mine, in New York, but will be able perhaps to get to Newport a week or ten days earlier. I thought I should perhaps be happier if I put myself into this [Neftels?] hands, for a fortnight before going to Newport, but I dare say I may be able to put off the evil day. At all events you shall with a sweet considerate soul, think on these matters for me, & advise me what to do. I like the idea of Riggs' very much. I know very well the one lodger Riggs has already, but it seems to me that he is charging summer prices. Perhaps you mentioned my name. If you did, that was enough. I have always found that my country people have had the idea that I ought to pay the highest price for everything. I suppose because I worked the hardest to obtain what I pay with, at least this is the "even handed justice" they have meted out to me heretofore.
About the stairs dear, I can manage them, you don't know how bravely I walk about & even up & down stairs-besides I have been a climber all my life, up some very steep ladders, & know all about it. I don't want a fire in my bedroom, at least so far it has not been necessary, but I may require it. I think I shall have to come to Newport a fortnight or so before Miss Stebbins could join me, how about that, in the arrangement for rooms, and how about my having a friend beside Miss Stebbins with me who would have to have another room. Would it be possible? And, if Riggs cannot keep the room for me until the end of first week in Jany what shall I do & when shall I go. Is there not a place called Mrs. Williams a Quaker lady where I can go, or are there not some hotel open where I can get rooms, whenever I can come. Tell me, thou bird!
I can't get a copy of the Independent. Won't you send me the word of welcome like a darling & Believe me your faithful, affectionate C.C.-
P.S. Do you think you could learn for me in Newport what it would cost me to have a nice carriage every afternoon or morning, on such afternoons or mornings as I might require it, always making sure to have the same carriage if possible. The drives about two hours long, & also, the price for the evenings in the event of my being rash enough to go "out o' nights." I always like to know about things beforehand if possible. Don't bother yourself dear if I ask too much of you.
You have presence of mind! An excellent thing in any body, but especially in a woman. Do you know, dear, that I don't find the people with whom I have been brought in contact, so far, in this "land of the free", very much gifted with this, well, Virtue! For it is a virtue certainly, to have your mind free & unoccupied sufficiently from self to consider & to do what is best for any body else, and this you have just done, just the thing I wanted you to do (& asked you to do in my letter which went to you yesterday.) I thank you very very much for all you have done & all the trouble you have taken in writing to me about it. You will see when you get my letter, how, what I tell you of my plans, [jumps?] with what you have ascertained in Newport; & you will tell me whether you think I am safe to get these rooms at Riggs' or Breweston, not going there earlier than middle of January, which may chance to be as early as I can get there. How do people manage where they take these rooms before hand in this country. Instruct me learned Pundit, for it is so long since I have lived or provided for myself in this land, that I know none of the manners & customs.
Dear, do you know that the Riggs has two prices? And do you know that the Tall Col gave me the prices which he had learned as $15 per week for a private parlour & extra table, & $15 for each person per week board & $10 per week for my maid, which made, what I wanted $55 per week, & now you tell me the Butler who has aspirations & yet is humble, wants from you for my requirements $70 per week, which is just 15 per week more? What does this mean? Will you like a [mediating angel?], ask the [Davies?] fellow "Perche"? Let him see what he can & will do, for I confess that I incline to Riggs' way of being & doing, more than to those who are only [beginners?] If it is a serious matter that I do not go until 14 Jany, I shall strive hard not to be kept for this trouble of mine, in New York, but will be able perhaps to get to Newport a week or ten days earlier. I thought I should perhaps be happier if I put myself into this [Neftels?] hands, for a fortnight before going to Newport, but I dare say I may be able to put off the evil day. At all events you shall with a sweet considerate soul, think on these matters for me, & advise me what to do. I like the idea of Riggs' very much. I know very well the one lodger Riggs has already, but it seems to me that he is charging summer prices. Perhaps you mentioned my name. If you did, that was enough. I have always found that my country people have had the idea that I ought to pay the highest price for everything. I suppose because I worked the hardest to obtain what I pay with, at least this is the "even handed justice" they have meted out to me heretofore.
About the stairs dear, I can manage them, you don't know how bravely I walk about & even up & down stairs-besides I have been a climber all my life, up some very steep ladders, & know all about it. I don't want a fire in my bedroom, at least so far it has not been necessary, but I may require it. I think I shall have to come to Newport a fortnight or so before Miss Stebbins could join me, how about that, in the arrangement for rooms, and how about my having a friend beside Miss Stebbins with me who would have to have another room. Would it be possible? And, if Riggs cannot keep the room for me until the end of first week in Jany what shall I do & when shall I go. Is there not a place called Mrs. Williams a Quaker lady where I can go, or are there not some hotel open where I can get rooms, whenever I can come. Tell me, thou bird!
I can't get a copy of the Independent. Won't you send me the word of welcome like a darling & Believe me your faithful, affectionate C.C.-
P.S. Do you think you could learn for me in Newport what it would cost me to have a nice carriage every afternoon or morning, on such afternoons or mornings as I might require it, always making sure to have the same carriage if possible. The drives about two hours long, & also, the price for the evenings in the event of my being rash enough to go "out o' nights." I always like to know about things beforehand if possible. Don't bother yourself dear if I ask too much of you.
From
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
To
Jackson, Helen Hunt, 1830-1885
Location
Hyde Park
NY, US
NY, US
Geocode (Latitude)
41.7847232
Geocode (Longitude)
-73.9332461
Annotations
Nancy Knipe added the following note: [Next letter refers to note written on "10th"; no such letter in the file]
Extended Date/Time Format (EDTF) Specification
?1870-12-2
Social Bookmarking
Geolocation
Collection
Citation
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876, “Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Helen Hunt Jackson, Dec 2, [1870?],” Archival Gossip Collection, accessed April 25, 2024, https://archivalgossip.com/collection/items/show/447.