Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow, Feb 3, 1858
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow, Feb 3, 1858
Subject
Relationships-- Intimate--Same-sex
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
Cushman, Emma Crow, 1839-1920
Intimacy
Description
This letter is most likely the first one that Charlotte sends to Emma after they met in St Louis, MO, and fell in love. The preceding week, Charlotte had to leave for Cairo and Emma had prepared basket full of food. Cushman mentions the age gap and deems Emma's perspective on her to be naive but refreshing. Cushman calls Emma "little love" and "child love."
Cushman explains to Emma how to handle the letter correspondence and how they could possibly meet again soon. The plans involve one of Emma's sisters and meeting again in Chicago. Cushman also informs her about leaving the country later in the year, in June 1858.
Cushman explains to Emma how to handle the letter correspondence and how they could possibly meet again soon. The plans involve one of Emma's sisters and meeting again in Chicago. Cushman also informs her about leaving the country later in the year, in June 1858.
Credit
Library of Congress, Charlotte Cushman Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Creator
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
Source
LoC, CCP 1:49-50
Date
1858-02-03
Type
Reference
Letter Item Type Metadata
Text
[49] Who but the dearest "little love" in the world ever would have been so thoughtful for the comfort of his mistress. as the one who put up such a nice. delicious lunch- as that which [both words inserted] was brought to me on Monday last. & "comforted me +++ much" to my tedious journey to Cairo! Who ever would have done it half so daintily.- in such a pretty basket. Such nice little +++ . & such a nice choice of provisions, & over & above & on the +++ of all [last five words underlined]. sent me such a pretty. nice, sweet loving clever note. as the dear "little lover" I have inspired in my "old age". who made my time pass most quickly and agreeably [?] in St Louis. after she
[reverse] dawned upon my path, & who proved the devotion she professed in so many +++. That it seems vividious [?] to +++ +++ any. & yet she must be thanked as sweetly as words can [underlined] thank her for the lunch which was most most [underlined] acceptable,. for the sweet companionship at +++ +++,. for the charming +++,. made more memorable by the declaration [underlined] which came on the occasion. thus marking the day as "bright in the calender", & giving her a new & most agreeable interest in the +++ world. which will perhaps too often give my heart a "hand full" towards the setting sun. I have to thank you dear for all of these. & I do thank you & love you very much for these, & more than these, for the bright tears you face +++ at parting. Bless you. my
[50] "Child love" for this proof of your interest in me - it is very sweet to be loved. by a young fresh heart. & the enthusiasm of +++ is too precious not to be gathered up, as I gather yours dear. We shall meet again. & may you +++ find cause. to see the little idol which you have raised upon my altar. tremble[?] to pieces at your feet! You see me with the eyes of your loving heart I would I could prevent any change in your vision - mais, hilas! Time will change you. & you will someday wonder you even could have declared so +++ a love for me [underlined]! However. I will trust you more than most "little lovers" & believe that you will even be +++ [underlined] & devoted [underlined]! - I hope to return to St Louis. by the the 5h [sic!] of April. if any thing should chance to prevent this. I shall hope to see you in some way. before I leave the country at the end of june - perhaps your sister would
[reverse] come & see me in Chicago. on the 12h [sic!] of April & you might get permission to come with her. would not that be charming, then we should be in the same house. But I hope to be in St Louis [underlined] in April!
We are caught here by a bad snow storm & do not go on until morning. This gives me an opportunity of sending you my word of loving thanks. which I +++ most friendly. You must write to me "child love". as often as wou will. I shall only be too pleased to +++ of your hand writing. until the 21st of Feby write to me St Charles Theater [?]. New Orleans. from then to the 6h [sic!] of March - to Theater Mobile. after that, the week of the 22d [sic!] of March I shall be at Memphis - (always direct Theater) [?] the week of the 29h [sic!] March. I shall be at Nashville. but you must calculate for the length of time it takes a letter to reach these places last [underlined] mentioned. and now good night & God bless you, sweet heart, think of me as lovingly as you will & believe me ever your faithfully attached
Charlotte Cushman
[reverse] dawned upon my path, & who proved the devotion she professed in so many +++. That it seems vividious [?] to +++ +++ any. & yet she must be thanked as sweetly as words can [underlined] thank her for the lunch which was most most [underlined] acceptable,. for the sweet companionship at +++ +++,. for the charming +++,. made more memorable by the declaration [underlined] which came on the occasion. thus marking the day as "bright in the calender", & giving her a new & most agreeable interest in the +++ world. which will perhaps too often give my heart a "hand full" towards the setting sun. I have to thank you dear for all of these. & I do thank you & love you very much for these, & more than these, for the bright tears you face +++ at parting. Bless you. my
[50] "Child love" for this proof of your interest in me - it is very sweet to be loved. by a young fresh heart. & the enthusiasm of +++ is too precious not to be gathered up, as I gather yours dear. We shall meet again. & may you +++ find cause. to see the little idol which you have raised upon my altar. tremble[?] to pieces at your feet! You see me with the eyes of your loving heart I would I could prevent any change in your vision - mais, hilas! Time will change you. & you will someday wonder you even could have declared so +++ a love for me [underlined]! However. I will trust you more than most "little lovers" & believe that you will even be +++ [underlined] & devoted [underlined]! - I hope to return to St Louis. by the the 5h [sic!] of April. if any thing should chance to prevent this. I shall hope to see you in some way. before I leave the country at the end of june - perhaps your sister would
[reverse] come & see me in Chicago. on the 12h [sic!] of April & you might get permission to come with her. would not that be charming, then we should be in the same house. But I hope to be in St Louis [underlined] in April!
We are caught here by a bad snow storm & do not go on until morning. This gives me an opportunity of sending you my word of loving thanks. which I +++ most friendly. You must write to me "child love". as often as wou will. I shall only be too pleased to +++ of your hand writing. until the 21st of Feby write to me St Charles Theater [?]. New Orleans. from then to the 6h [sic!] of March - to Theater Mobile. after that, the week of the 22d [sic!] of March I shall be at Memphis - (always direct Theater) [?] the week of the 29h [sic!] March. I shall be at Nashville. but you must calculate for the length of time it takes a letter to reach these places last [underlined] mentioned. and now good night & God bless you, sweet heart, think of me as lovingly as you will & believe me ever your faithfully attached
Charlotte Cushman
From
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
To
Cushman, Emma Crow, 1839-1920
Location
Memphis, on board "The Baltic" Steamer
Geocode (Latitude)
35.1490215
Geocode (Longitude)
-90.0516285
Location (Recipient)
St. Louis, MO
Geocode Recipient (Latitude)
38.6268039
Geocode Recipient (Longitude)
-90.1994097
Social Bookmarking
Geolocation
Collection
Citation
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876, “Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow, Feb 3, 1858,” Archival Gossip Collection, accessed April 25, 2024, https://archivalgossip.com/collection/items/show/82.