New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-11
EPISODES IN THE LIFE OF JOHN NC CUL
LOUGH

From, The 81 Lons Spectator.
lust outside of the white and busy city of London
derry Ireland-now known on the charts of the ma
isstic steamship companies Neville, John McCul
lon Oh the actor born just fortyfour years ago
His father was thrifty farmer tenant of Sir Har.
yey Bruce the greatest landlord in all that region.
His farmhouse was the largest, and whitest, and
best within half league OF Londonderry. One OF
JohIjs earliest recollections was the great white
honse. the pride of the Deighborhood. His next was
the death of his mother, event which took place
when he was quite child. The elder Mccullough.
n oood-hearted rollicking man, beloved by all hia
nerhbors fell into loose ways after his hesrthstone
was broken, and prosperity soon deserted him. The
inevitable came, as 1t nearly always does IN lreiand
the aay of distraint and eviction. The landlord
hal warm side for the unfortunate farmer, but ha
performed landlords stern duty. With his eyes
moist at the Sr q The hs amy ann
away his fayorite horses his pony, and even HID
dogs That was the season of deso ation-the era of
boysh despair Soon after the father died, and tho
Youth was passed over TO the care of an uncle.
At the age Of sixteen the untutored lad had heard
of the grand free land across the sea- He had heard
oppressed lrishmen tell perhaps, OF distant coun.
try where all men enjoyed an equal chance, and
where every day brought forth new promise. Ha
had longing to go there and try his fortunes and
s osu ss in bundls andSet him aboard ves.
sci bound for New York. de landed In New York,
utterly unknown and friendless. He had relative
in the New World; he did not even know the namo
of a single inhabitant OF the continent Then and
there he began the struggle tor existence Through
mental ways he drifted TO Philadelphia, and while
wheeling coal at the gas-works working in achair
factory fancy for the theatre crept into his 0oul
The boy who had left Ireland without knowing
that Shakespeare had lived or written. was seized
with desire to be an actor. 1t Is not worth while
10 speak here of the patient industry aid tae stu
dIous, sustained efforts when nited nun nom
'supernumerary TO the the tutelage OF " the Mon
arch of the American stage" and eventually left
MIN at the head of the Interpreters
of the classic drama.
Last summer Mr. Mccullough went to London to
crafty the ambition, perhaps, that had long filled
his bosom--to play III the worlds metropolis, IA tho
Ill No and lab Fen ,aA.
drama. Quietly aud unostsntatiously ne began his
engagement at niEoric Drury Lane, even - the IN
known genius, Edmund kean, "leaped upon tho
writer's put it, he. took down from dusty shslf,,
where Macready had left IT, majestic, classic
igure-the Roman Father-and oreathed new life
into it. His success was emphatic and pronounced.
The morning after his first appearance, while Lon
don was reading OF his success letter was brcught
10 his chambers bearing an Illuminated crest IL
was from Sir Henry Harvey Bruce, of Downhili
County, Ireland, Lieutenant of County London
derry, the old landlord of the McCulloughs. Tho
writer said that no remembered son OF his old
tenant Mccullough, who had gone to America at an
early age. He had been struck by the name Of tho
American actor on the boards at Drury Lane
Theatre and he was anxious TO know whether the
emigrant boy and the tragedlan were one and tho
same person. He asked permission to call. Ii was
granted and next day Sir Harvey Bruce presented
Rmsslf-a hale, rosy man Of seventy, looking like
bustling burgber OF forty-iiye. Ii only required
few minutes 10 identify the actor with the boy who.
as the son Of the sea nj, naa Sise
Harvey and Lady Bruce rolled by IN their carriage.
Young, happy, rich, powerful The Old gen.lema
was delighted. lie extended an invitation to tho
actor TO come and dine with him at his home in
Portland Square. He went. Doors were opened TO
the man of genius which would have been closed 20
q milIonaire from the New World. At that dinner
there were lords and viscounts, and ladies
whose plumes had waved at the Queens
leyees and the actor was the honored guest.
After hls London engagement Mr.. Mccullough
went over Ireland to visit the scenes OF his child
hood. The Bruces received him at the doors of
their castle, and the bells Of Londonderry must
have welcomed him with sweet music when he
drove through the ancient streets The white farm
bouse which had borne itself majestcally Ia his
youthful eyes, had shrunk to humble dimensions;
hedges seemed smalle and roadways narrower, bus
there were hearts there to welcome MN, that had
only grown broader and tenderer with the lapse OF
wears. The fame of the actor had proceeded hiins
and as he drove about from village TO village with
+ al " Rruee there were crowds ~ receive him. and
,rhi;.-halred men To claim relationship and remind
hm of episodes in his boyhood days. In telling tho
st,rv of lis visit Mr.. Mccullough says: Both Sir
Haryev Bruce and his kind wife begged mo to buy
The did farm on which was born, and settle down
AMONG them; but told them that would not give
m nv life and my friends tn America for all of ret
Tod bless this land Of grand possibilities. wher
horest effort and merit bring al that worth hv
Inc forl What has Is not done for met think O
the destiny that might have been mine II had set
Had among the downs Of Londonderry, and nsvd
thsnked the ship that frt carried mo across the -
20 srdcntly ~ In those days lnst summer, when
looked into the hard. pinchcd fAces Of tho KIND
hnartsd pcaaantEy whose lives were wcaung AWa1
Ina ERE radon where hrSt eaw the Light"