, 1880-10-03

too limited for hia vaulting ambition. He hat
listened to the glowing stories from the land q
iAntic: BE embarked for America, aud at ttt
age Of IL he landed in New York with 81 cents
in his pocket, without a friend in the country
but with a stout heArt under his coat.
His introduction to the works Of Shakespeare
was under rather amusing circumstances. Nc
Cu1lough obtained a situation to shovel coke In
ions. it is said, named Burke, who combined a
weakness for stimuauts and passion for
poesy. in moments Of splritnous and dramatic
throat with the handiest stick, tell him to con-
slider himself Julius Cesar murdered, and recite
oyer his supposedly bleeding corpse the grafton
OF dfdrc antony. Continuous pounding on the
part Of Burke made John acquainted with the
TACT that such being as Shakespeare had existed
and that be was the author Of several works
c1lIed phys. Burke was 6tlge-st and
John became similarly arected. He be-
Ean gan 10 sn,qut speeches, the pair
sna %Sa' that aaf With teE eas
lamentation and heroic appeal. What became
Of the embryo trageafan burke We cannot shy,
but !. Mccullough, through the friendship OF Tie
as star IN that little armament. 49, He % then G be-.
gan course ,lc Of sef.stqdy and by hard work
the winter Of 1876 at the Arch Street Theatre.
Bellies Strategem." and started with the modest
stipend Of 81 week. William Wheatleigh, tho
manager OF the house then, was attracted by
re- h3 ar OF thn younK actor end engaged
Actors then were not phid the salaries OF to-day.
IN those daysi Is often said their expenses were
lighter; but this is not so. The average actor
Of to-day plays but one part during theenttre
season. and can walk through the year ia IN cx-
trcmelv slender wardrobe Then they were
often cast for many different parts in week,
and it was only BY rigid economy that young
actor could In time become tho possessor Of a1
OUTFIT suihc!ont to dress the roles even dceently
$Nt14
Cullough plnyed the heavy villains Of the Arch
Lear" 1',toalo ID The Merchant of Venice"
This was the surfing point OF his theatrical
minute details Of his Subsequent engagements
at the Howard AthcnEuu the Walnut-Street
Theatre, Philadelphia, his five years experience
with Edwin Forrest, his progress as an actor,
and hisa1gnai fare % I'm In saR Fran
in that city, but, like most actors, financial re-
sponsibiitties and acting did not go we'll to-
getner.
After remaining there some five or SIX years
he determined to branch out as q star. For a
long tsmo it was uphill work with him. He
PLAYED the leading parts then now found IN his
very much different from what 1t is to-day. His
association with Forrest had been fruitful. He
Of he dramatic f,re ind Intensity Of that great
actor, an excellent knowledge OF his con-
eep5op5s and e bis has hmerhoas By
CAEClul slu0y mGAutUQEH AAa ouECtt0cu
in commanding an admiration for some Of his
portrAyals similar to thar won by Forrest IN tho
same roles. Those who remember, even three
years ago. his crudities. his fnarttsttc method,
ind his inefficient knowledge of his own powers.
are surprised ut tho change exhibited tn such
roles Vtruinius, Lear, the Gladiator and Oucuo.
It Is very easy to fix Mr.. McCullough's posi-
don On the American stage at tho present time.
In the hear rier roles Of the drama-such as Lear,
Virgilius, the Glndfator-he has no equal. In
those characters requiring tho most subtle
treatment he is not nearly so satisfactory. How
ever, in such roles he shows progress every
time he reappears. In bis assumption OF 0thelO,
Hamlet Richelfeu, Richard H., ETC., critical in-
terest will more particularly centre during the
coming engagement
The present support, Of Mr. Mccullough ta
strong, among the members being Messrs. Fred
3. Wnrde, Edmund 4. Collier, John 4. Lane, II.
A. Langdon. Miss Kate Forsyth, and Mrs. An-
gusta Foster. The bill for the first wcek-the
engagement will 1Pst two weeks-witi be: Mon
day, "virEinius"; Taesday, "othello";;
Wednesday night, Hamlet" y; Thursday. "Vir-
ginius"; Friday, " King Lear; Saturday aft.
ernoon, "Othello"; Saturday night, 'Hichard
ILL.,; Sunday night, Jack Cade."