Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow, February 22, 1858

Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow, February 22, 1858

Relationships

Relationships-- Intimate--Same-sex

Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876

Cushman, Emma Crow, 1839-1920

Social Events

This letter is the first one available from the time after Charlotte Cushman's breakup with Matilda Hays. It is a prime example of Charlotte's longing for Emma Crow whom she met shortly before this correspondence at the beginning of 1858.

Credit

Library of Congress, Charlotte Cushman Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 

Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876

LoC, CCP 1:53-54

1858-02-22

Reference

[53]: If I confess to the pleasure I felt in seeing your +++ letter of the 3^rd Feb[ruary] (postmarked 5^th) will you find therein a proof of the love which you ask me to declare, or will the exacting heart of my dear “little love” as for “more” like a +++ “journey +++". Alas how can I tell you but in deeds: words are so poor, & I have to write so many. That I am in truth tired of them. Would you desire better proof than that +++ should each have dispatched a letter to the other on the self same day? Was not this true sympathy?. But ”love[?]” mine, how is it that the letter which I enclosed for you to forward for me/upon business to be seen/ should have been +++ +++ & answered & the answer forgotten - & my “+++ +++ letter love” – as she +++ herself. should suffer +++ to be all this long wich without a +++

 

[reverse]: Did my note frighten you that you were making a monster which you could not easily subdue? No! Are you ill? I pray +++ no. I should indeed be sad! Why then am I so long without a word of reply to my letter of the 4^th: Or do you think that yours of the 3^rd should bring a response from me before you write again? You are naughty & dont deserve the comfort which you say you find in my picture, a naughty pet, & I am half +++ to take it away from you when I come back again – or else not come back at all. What would you say to that? At all counts I shall not be with you so soon as I expected not before the 8^th if at all. Now if you had written as you ought, very likely I should have come on the 5^th but every day you delay I will stay away longer. Ah, is that not unkind?  No no, I will come, pet, but not before the 8^th April. – You will be glad to hear that my success here has been

[54]: very great. The friends whom I met in the boat coming down have been stopping in the same hotel & have been more than kind & attentive so that I have not had an opportunity of feeling lonely, in fact have not been able to command as much +++ as I should have liked. I remain here until next Sunday the 28^th, when I go to Mobile, where I remain until the 14^th March (remember that your letters take six days to reach me here & seven to reach me at Mobile “Battle House” so don’t let me lose any letters you may find +++ +++ to send.  Most likely I shall stop here two or three days on my return from Mobile & +++ for Memphis on the 17^th. I remain in Memphis until the 27^th. I think it only takes 3 days for a letter from St. Louis to Memphis – on the 28^th I go to Nashville – where I remain until the 2^nd of April – then I believe I go to Louisville for a night or two & then on to you [underlined twice]. I should have been very very happy to have had you with me here, darling. New Orleans has been very gay & my good friends of the boat & here are great friends of your Father +++ & Mrs[?] Harry[?] Stone of New York – they would

 

[reverse]: have chaperoned you in all the parties +++ [tape over parts of words] opera goings?, balls +++ & I should have had the comfort of your presence when +++ my morning & evening labours & you would have been very happy. +++ +++! I must now content myself with a three days visit to St. Louis. But you will come to Rome! I have sort of faith that you will come. The Stones? are promising to come & we should make a very merry party. I am glad you are reading Ruskins Modern Painters - he is a true poet. if one may use that +++ of a prose writer & one cannot faithfully read him without his proving?. Do you know his Stones of Verse +++ will? Do you continue to like +++ son? Tell me what you like best!

Tuesday 23^rd – I have waited, hoping last night would bring me a +++ from you – but, no! Na, my little love +++ from the pretty dream, if so, I shall not hear again, ah will. I will hope & believe notwithstanding appearances which are so cloudy Bless you my child I hope you are not ill only forgetful. I can easier bear the latter than the former. Believe always in the  +++ affection of your loving friend

Charlotte Cushman

 

Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876

Cushman, Emma Crow, 1839-1920

St. Charles Hotel, New Orleans, LA

29.992544

-90.107379

St. Louis, MO

38.6268039

-90.1994097

[1858] added by archivist;