Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Helen Hunt Jackson, Nov 6[?], 1870
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Helen Hunt Jackson, Nov 6[?], 1870
Subject
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
Stebbins, Emma, 1815-1882
Cushman, Emma Crow, 1839-1920
Jackson, Helen Hunt
Illness
Social Events--Travels
Journalists/Writers
Description
Both Charlotte Cushman and Emma Stebbins are wretched from the passage to the US.
Helen Hunt is publishing with Fields & Osgood.
For transcripts, please visit Colorado College.
Helen Hunt is publishing with Fields & Osgood.
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
1870-11-06
Type
Reference
Letter Item Type Metadata
Text
Dearest friend-
You will have begun to think that your sweet words of welcome must have failed to reach me, since you have read no acknowledgement therof [sic], but I have not been able to write & am not now. I am much confused by the voyage from which I have not yet recovered! Steadiness enough to write to you, or any body seems, so far, to be denied me. I am not in possession of my own soul, & cannot sleep. If this is only a temporary effect of the voyage & the bright nervous weather into which I have come all very well, but if it is to continue an effect of climate upon weakened nerves, I had better go back to the steady heaviness of dear old England for I am unable to keep my mind steadfastly to any one thought or thing sufficiently long to resolve or settle it. I am in confusion dire, don't know the day of the month or week or year, almost forget my own name. When these things do get settled you shall hear from me again. Meanwhile this word will tell you that every body finds me looking so well that they hardly believe I have been suffering! Will this satisfy you as to my physical being? Our voyage was very tempestuous if not dangerous. We suffered much in nervous anxiety as well as in every other disgusting way which one can suffer at sea. I suppose that it one reason why I am not steady as yet. I am remaining here until the 15", when I go to Mrs. Garland, Hyde Park. Duchess Co., N.Y. & there I shall remain, I think, until after Xmas-but you will hear of my movements very soon again & shall know of any change in my plans. Perhaps if you carry out your plan of coming here to N.Y. the last of this month to remain for a time we may arrange a meeting even before flitting to Newport. You will let me know your positive movements as soon as you know them will you not dear?
I can quite imagine how you must feel at parting from your mountain. You are particularly fitted for being "on the Height" -- I long for the quiet of the country, & shall fly at the earliest moment.
No, dear, I had not seen that Fields & Osgood were going to publish for you. I am so glad you are out in that form. You write so sweetly & so naturally that it is good to read you! Tell me about it!
Emma Cushman had an awful passage with her chicks. She has just gone to Boston or rather Cambridge to her sister Mrs. [Cass?] for a week before going to St. Louis. She returns here, passing through on the 14' - it is to see those dear children -- the last bits of my house which has tumbled around my [devoted?] head - once more before they go to their Western Home - that I remain until the 15", else I would be off at once, as soon as I settle my boxes! I have taken a room, here, with my kinswoman, Mrs. Cushman where my boxes trunks &c can be got at easily, as I pass through in my wanderings, & this will always be my foot of Earth when any intelligence will be obtained of me, & from which any thing will reach me. Do you know this house? There are some very nice rooms in it if you ever have to take rooms in New York, & just now there is one unoccupied. Mrs. Cushman is a good woman. The widow of a half nephew of mine, has had a hard struggle to support three children by a boarding house, but has brought them up beautifully.
Emma Stebbins is very poorly, much broken down by the voyage & the nervous atmosphere here. She is with her brother No. 2 W 16" S' & I am now going to her.
Forgive all my short comings. I did not think to commit so long a note as this when I began, but the thought of you [extends, spreads?] out my words.
God bless you, dear, let me hear from you at your best leisure, & believe me Ever most lovingly,
Yours,
Charlotte
You will have begun to think that your sweet words of welcome must have failed to reach me, since you have read no acknowledgement therof [sic], but I have not been able to write & am not now. I am much confused by the voyage from which I have not yet recovered! Steadiness enough to write to you, or any body seems, so far, to be denied me. I am not in possession of my own soul, & cannot sleep. If this is only a temporary effect of the voyage & the bright nervous weather into which I have come all very well, but if it is to continue an effect of climate upon weakened nerves, I had better go back to the steady heaviness of dear old England for I am unable to keep my mind steadfastly to any one thought or thing sufficiently long to resolve or settle it. I am in confusion dire, don't know the day of the month or week or year, almost forget my own name. When these things do get settled you shall hear from me again. Meanwhile this word will tell you that every body finds me looking so well that they hardly believe I have been suffering! Will this satisfy you as to my physical being? Our voyage was very tempestuous if not dangerous. We suffered much in nervous anxiety as well as in every other disgusting way which one can suffer at sea. I suppose that it one reason why I am not steady as yet. I am remaining here until the 15", when I go to Mrs. Garland, Hyde Park. Duchess Co., N.Y. & there I shall remain, I think, until after Xmas-but you will hear of my movements very soon again & shall know of any change in my plans. Perhaps if you carry out your plan of coming here to N.Y. the last of this month to remain for a time we may arrange a meeting even before flitting to Newport. You will let me know your positive movements as soon as you know them will you not dear?
I can quite imagine how you must feel at parting from your mountain. You are particularly fitted for being "on the Height" -- I long for the quiet of the country, & shall fly at the earliest moment.
No, dear, I had not seen that Fields & Osgood were going to publish for you. I am so glad you are out in that form. You write so sweetly & so naturally that it is good to read you! Tell me about it!
Emma Cushman had an awful passage with her chicks. She has just gone to Boston or rather Cambridge to her sister Mrs. [Cass?] for a week before going to St. Louis. She returns here, passing through on the 14' - it is to see those dear children -- the last bits of my house which has tumbled around my [devoted?] head - once more before they go to their Western Home - that I remain until the 15", else I would be off at once, as soon as I settle my boxes! I have taken a room, here, with my kinswoman, Mrs. Cushman where my boxes trunks &c can be got at easily, as I pass through in my wanderings, & this will always be my foot of Earth when any intelligence will be obtained of me, & from which any thing will reach me. Do you know this house? There are some very nice rooms in it if you ever have to take rooms in New York, & just now there is one unoccupied. Mrs. Cushman is a good woman. The widow of a half nephew of mine, has had a hard struggle to support three children by a boarding house, but has brought them up beautifully.
Emma Stebbins is very poorly, much broken down by the voyage & the nervous atmosphere here. She is with her brother No. 2 W 16" S' & I am now going to her.
Forgive all my short comings. I did not think to commit so long a note as this when I began, but the thought of you [extends, spreads?] out my words.
God bless you, dear, let me hear from you at your best leisure, & believe me Ever most lovingly,
Yours,
Charlotte
From
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
To
Jackson, Helen Hunt, 1830-1885
Location
128 E. 16'th' NYC, NY, US
Geocode (Latitude)
40.7351163
Geocode (Longitude)
-73.9876228
Extended Date/Time Format (EDTF) Specification
1870-11-~06
Social Bookmarking
Geolocation
Collection
Citation
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876, “Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Helen Hunt Jackson, Nov 6[?], 1870,” Archival Gossip Collection, accessed September 25, 2023, https://www.archivalgossip.com/collection/items/show/444.