Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-03-11

MS. ACNULLOOGh. -IhierenOWneo &C.
tor opens an engagement for one week
tonight. at the Memphis Thester, 10 Viz
ginius. The following critical notice OF
Mr.. Mccullough was written by Rev. Mr..
Murray, Of the Boston Golden Rule:
The success which attended the pro
duction Of the great tragedies Of Shaks-
pearc, through the two weeks engage.
ment of Mr.. Mccullough at the Boston,
shows that the public will sustain these
plays, when they are properly presented,
And this implies not only a trsgedisn
equal to the requirements Of the immor.
tai characters, but a well-bslanced sup
port, and ample provision in the way OIL
scenery end accompaniment. These
conditions have all been fulfilled
Mr.. M~cCullough's "Coriolanus," "Rich.
ard Third" "0thello," and Lear y
are all gteat presentations: so good
that one hardly knows wich to give pre-.
ference. Such a realistic illustration oil
the supremacy Of conscience, and such q
vivid portraiture Of the satanic quality
in nnholy ambition, as are presented 10
his Richard, we have never before seen.
It was at ence a lecture, a sermon, and q
living picture-wonderiul yet dreadful il
its fidelity to the creation of the poet
Every student Of Shakespeare is apt Ia
make an "0thello" Of his own, as well az
a Hamlet" and to judge actors by the
figure seen with his minds eye. And SC
it happens that equally competent
critics often disagree as to certain
points in an assumption. Bat q
more artistic, effective and human per-
formance Of the parts Of "0thello'
and "Isgo' As contrssted with the
demonisc %style-than that given by Nc.
Cullough and Louis James, will rarely
be seen in conjunction. The pathos and
grandeur Of King Lear have no equal in.
terpreter in this country, and Mr.. Nc
Cullough may be said to be the only
Virginius that one need care to see,
since Edwin Forrest died. II is q pref
~ test of the popularity OF Shsks
peare's plays, to extend the season fol
their production By the engagement o.
another eminent tragedisn-the sccomp
lished, versatile aud fAvorite Edwin
Booth, who is now playing some Of BIZ
best roles. But the opportunity for studJ
BY contrast and comparison is all thu
better for being so near, aud the indica.
tons are that it will be we'll improved.
The great drama Virginius, which vii
be played tonight by Mr.. MuCulloch.
was written by James Sheridan Knowles
son of James Knowles, an eminen
teacher Of elocution and author of
dictionary of the English language. d
was born at Cork in 1884. The famil,
removed to London in 1892, and her
young Knowles received his education
After holding for some time a commits
sion 10 the army, he became an actor
and made his first appearance at tn
Grow Street Theaier, Dublin; but h
never attained much eminence in thi
profession, Subsequently he lived for
several years in Belfast and in Glasgow
, as a teacher Of elocution, and il was a
, this time he laid the foundation Of hi
I fame as a dramatist. His Csius Graceful
was frat performed at Belfast in 1915
1t was followed by Virginius, his mos
effective piece, afte.ward recast for th
London stage, where McCready took tn
principal part. BE wrote thirteen otht
. plays, but none Of them exhibit greF
genius, They are, however unquestiol
ably the best acting plays" produce
c by an Englishman 10 modern timel
About tho year lS45 he %reliDquished th
r stage from religious scruples, and i
= 1852 joined the Baptist church. q
%latterly distinguished himself BY his r,
ligious zeal. In 1851 he published
little controversial work displaying COZ
G adorable acuteness and ability, 9TH
Idol Demolished by its own Priest" i
r answer to Cardinal Wiseman's lecture
on transubstantiation. Mr.. Kuowle
e died at TOnquay, in Dsvonshire. 10 d.
r cembsr, 1862.
: Ms. JoHS RIcKABY, who managed tn
Memphis Thester the present seasc'
e left our city to-day. Mr.. Rickaby'
, improvement over the past management
his excellence as a business man aud hi
worth as q reliable, intelligent an
courteous gentleman, endear him to gu
people, who deeply regret that he leave
us. While it is not easy to supply Ml
Ricksby's place as manager of th
Memphis, we hope that atleast a reliabl
gentleman will succeed him. We hearth
concur with the Avalanche, which says
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Rickaby have mad
many friends during the season whic
7 has passed, and the separation cause
many regrets. As manager of the thea
! ter, Mr.. Rickaby has won the thanks an
regard OF the amusement loving peopl
OF Memphis. During his adminiatratio
the theater has been refittsd, the stage
setting vastly improved, aud the list G
8 attractions made superior TO apytbin
we have had for years. So far as we hay
. known the greatest satisfaction has at a
times been given by the most courteou
r treatment and perfect impartiality. Nj
o Ricksby is a gentleman who, in his ca
pacity as public servant or private ind
Q viduAl, has never, by word or act, don
ought to forfeit the respect Of the Deopl
e Of Memphis He goes to New York
q join the E~vAngsline Combination, whic
he will take TO the Pacific coast. H
: carries for himself md his charmiu
I wife the kindest wishes of the people q
e Memphis,
= The Appeal, too, expresses our sent
mentS in saying:
d While We regret TO lose him, we wis