Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-17
ADJUSTMENTS.

WAMfhlb lHEATER.-lhe MCCul-
Tough engagement closed here on Sat-
urday night with the largest and most
fashionable audience that our theater
has been patronized with on the
closing night of the week for many
years. The Chickasaw Guards, in
spite of a pelting rain storm, turned
out nearly fifty strong, and in full
uniform, and preceded by a full brass
band escorted the eminent tragedian
from his hotel, by way Of Main and
Jefferson streets, to the theater. Mr..
Mccullough occupied a seat of honor
in the private carriage Of Mr..
?. c. Bethel, and the actor was
heartily supported by General Peter
Tracy. The vehicle was drawn
by four handsome and beautifully ca
parisoned horses and the procession
presented a most animating spectacle
as it passed on its way to the theater.
The Chicks" occupied front seats in
the parquette, and in their snowy uni
forms they drew a large share of at
tention from the remainder of the
audience. S~hakspeare's Richard III
was the programme of the perform
nee. AS is we'll known it is not the
Richard of history, for the last Of
England's fourteen Plantagenet rulers
was a different sort of person than the
ideal Ofthe great bard whoreally turned
history inside out to manufacture his
Richard and make him as hideeus
a character as could well be invented.
This was doubtless a popular creation
in Shakspeare's day, as he basked un-
der the smiles and patronage oftheVir-
gin Queen Elizabeth, a representative
of another house, whose cause was
likely to be strengthened by casting
all possible oblOquy upon a rival house
long before overthrow. The real
Richard" was an able ruler, a wise
statesman, and a better man than
Shakespeare made him, and though he
fell at BOsworth field, as the poet re-
cords, yet it was not by the hand of
Richmond" However, the Shaks-
pearean Richard had a most power
full representative in the person of Mr..
John Mccullough. 1t was not as
strong as hat given by Barry Sullivan,
because the latter is beyond doubt the
best Richard ever seen here. But
Mccullough is second to no other in
the part, and he was fully appreciated
by the audience, as was attested
through their repeated aud earnest
plaudits. Mr.. Charles Barron also
performed Richmond with fine
effect.
During the progress of the play,
and at the close of the third act,
Mccullough was called before the
curtain and presented with a beautiful
floral shield, about four by three feet
in size, and woven with the monogram
of the Chickasaw Guards. In re-
turn for the compliment the actor
made a few remarks, to the effect
that the many courtesies shown during
his weeks stay in Memphis might
well cause the greatest actor in the
world to be proud of so much honor.
He would not be spoiled by them,
however, and hoped to show by the
time he returns again that they have
not been %unworthily bestowed. Re-
turning his most heartfelt thanks, and
complimenting the sons of Mars, who
sat directly in his front, Mr.. McCul-
Tough retired behind the curtain,
while the audience clapped their hands
in earnest appreciation of the incident
and the speech.
The Mccullough troupe left by the
midnight train for Chicago, where
they appear tonight. Throughout
the week of the tragedian's stay he
performed to excellent houses, and
the engagement was the most success
full Of the season, both in an artistic
and a financial sense. 1t proves con-
clusively that players of merit will
always do well and be properly appre-
ciated here. The Mccullough matt
nee Saturday, when Julius Caesar was
performed, drew one of the largest
audiences ever inside the building.