Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-22
MCCULLOUGH TALKS.
His Views and His Career.

al wonder" said lady at the Opera
House during the presentation Of "Nir-
ginius," and in the hearing OF the re-
porter, al wonder whether Mr.. McCul-
Tough is married man. don't believe
any other than such could so play"
The reporter sought the tragedian, and
i'm his private room at the new Mcclure
House, found him snugly escOnced, viii
ling Ia talk and ready. He is Il man ol
about ; feet . Inches in height, broad
and well made, with cleanly-shaycn
face, bue-grey eyes and proiusion ol
curly, light-brown hair. Cordially AMI
ioviality were evidenced 10y his looks
and proven by his manner.
"What did you think OF your audience
last night" began the reporter.
every good, very good indeed and OF
a superior quality, too. The upper
part Of the house a little bare, but half
ms many more would have bought seats
below could they have gotten them.
For 'Virginius' the audience was un-
usually large, Tor that play, grand as IS
its diction and beautiful generally, Is
not snowy play. The individuality
OF the part and the reputation is neccs-
sary To make it Il success. am now
becoming generally connected with the
play and that is great help. The time
was when 500 house was large Tor it,
but last night brought over $500,
care you married man, Mr.. Me
Cullough? ask because | heard it said
no one but a husband or father could so
fill the part of 'NirginiuS.
"Well, | am both, yes, both.
In response 10 further questions Mr..
Mccullough stated that he began the
life Oi an actor in the winter OF '51-'5S,
making his debut as a servant in the
comedy of Belle StratEgem, at the
Arch Street Theatre, Philadelphia. lie
then received as a salary the modest
sum OF = per week, hut inside OF a
month he had the satisfaction OF seeing
this small sum increased without even
so much as a request for 1t on his part,
The next season this young actor was
paid $40 per week, and found himself
cast 10 represent the heavy williams, and
play such parts as Edmund in Lear,
"Antonio' in the Merchant OF Venice,
"Claudius" in "llamlet," &c. In '60-'6l
he was engaged at the Howard Athen-
cum, Boston, under Mr.. T.. l.. Daven-
port where il still fell to his lot to do
the heavy business. But the next sea
son witnessed what was destined 10 be
the turning point in his professional
career. Returning to Philadelphia he
PLAYED one month at the Walnut Street
Theatre, when he made an engagement
to travel with Edwin Forrest.
Were you acquainted with Mr. For
rest?'
Il had met him and he seemed in
clincd to treat me with great kindness.
lie gave me good advice and many val.
liable suggestions. | played "Pythias'
to his damon" Tago" To his
"Othello," IciIius' to his "Nirginius,'
Edgar to his Lear "Macduh'' tn
his "Macbeth,' etc, etc. | derived
great profit from this schooling. Mr.
Forrest was then in his prime. His per
Torrance OF "COrioanus,' Lear
''Virginius' and Canon were the
grandcst ever saw. As Hackctt used
10 say, Forests school was founded
upon the fire and intensity OF Edmund
Kean and the dignity and grandure OF
the elder Conway. Mr.. Forrest had
acted with them, but must have sur
passed them both in his grand voice and
his power to thrill an audience by out.
bursts Of passion, unequalled by any ac-
tor have ever seen,
"Well, how did you get along with
him?"
I'VE did we'll together. | was with
him from 81 to 'G6, until We went to
California. and there ! determined 10
pitch my tent in the land of gold. |
was manager of the California Theatre
several years, and met with gratifying
success until the last two years Of my
management. when lost more than
had made before. The pecuniary de-
tails were diStasteiul To me. To haggle
with employees over the amount they
were 10 receive for services was some
thing could never he successful in do
ing. BESIDES had an irresistible desire
% succeed rs an actor, and this would
have suffered 10 induce me 10 give up the
theatre, even if | could have made whole
bonanzas out OF il.
"When did you take the stage as a
STAR"
an 1874 | was we'll satisfied with
my success for beginner, but i soon
found that in several cities lmade but
little Roadway. l naturally looked
about for the cause of this. The critics
seemed severe, and / thought them so,
but upon looking back and seeing how
most OF the performances
were, began to think they were right
and | was wrong. The critics have
treated me with more consideration
lately, as you remark, and suppose IL I
is because have tried 10 forget what !
have seen in other actors and am learn
ing to draw my inspiration from the
book of nature.
i believe am beginning to under
stand better than ever before the hu-
and the many sides OF Shake
speare. IL is my intention to devote
INV time assiduously to the study OF this !
great master, and II 1 am spared ten
wears longer / hope TO make greater pro-
gress than 1 have made in the last TWEEN
dWhat is the effect upon you OF I'M
favorable criticism"
''Oh, very little; don't care for crit
les. He must be pretty bad one II l
don't learn something from him. 1t a
critic will unjustly attack an actor
through powerful newspaper, the actor