Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1882 — Charlotte Cushman's Grate. [ARTICLE]

Charlotte Cushman's Grate.

The famous tragedienne, Charlotte Cushman, is the most distinguished woman buried in Mount Auburn. Her monument is modeled after the Egptian obelisk recently erected in Central Park, the shaft being twenty-five feet in height. This rests on a suitable foundation, and the entire structure is nearly thirty-four feet. The only inscription is the name “Charlotte Cushman,” which, indeed, is all that is required. Miss Cushman was a native of Boston, and was the oldest of five children. Her father was bankrupt, and she went on the stage for the purpose of affording a support for those she loved. She developed an extraordinary dramatic genius, which was fully appreciated by the public, and her role included the highest range of Shakespearean characters. Hence she drew immense audienoes, and as a result her professional emoluments were of an unparalleled amount. She was always highly liberal to her relatives, and left them an estate estimated at a half million. Miss Cushman was the only distinguished tragedienne that went through life unmarried. The reason of her celibacy is unknown, but it may be supposed that her bold, masculine manners were too repulsive. She had one admirer, however, but no one knew the reason why he was unsucessfuL Perhaps he shrank at last from offering his hand to one of such hauteur aud autocratic disposition, or some pique may have led her to reject him in hope of a more distinguished match. Whatever be the reason she remained Charlotte Cushman, and gave a noble example of the dignity of maiden life. She selected a lot in Mt. Auburn some time before her death, and showed her usual taste in the preference of locality. Is is prettily situated at the base* of a gentle eminence, and has a fine view of Boston, with the Charles River in the distance. The tragedienne remarked at the time of making the purchase, “Here I shall be m Bight of dear old Boston.” Immediately after her death (February 18,1876) a small headstone bearing her name was erected, which eventually gave place to the above mentioned obelisk.