New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-16
THE ENGLISH STAGE.
IMPRESSIONS OF JOHN MCCULLOUGH.

A DELIGHTFUL EXPERIENCE IN ENGIAND-THEAT-
HCAL MANAGEMENT IN LONDoN-UNIoN OF
ACTORS FOR BENEVOLENT PURPOSES.
John Mccullough, the actor was passenger on
the steamship Arizona of the Guion Line, which ar
rived here yesterday forenoon. number OF his
friends, among them w. j. Florence, went out to
meet him in G.. J. Osborns steam yacht
Corsair. The party met the Arizona at
Sandy Hook. and at Quarantine MI. Nc
Cullough Joined his friends on board the COrsar.
Arrived i'm the city he took lodgings at
the Startevant House. and there TRIBUNE reporter
met him in the afternoon. In the course of CONVEX
sation Mr.. Mccullough said
II have nothing to say about my English ex-
pcrience except what is delightful was gratiied
exceedingly with my reception and treatment by
the London press and public, and my associations
with the English actors have been particularly graft
flying never enjoyed anything more in my life than
have this summer. never received so many marks
of kindness from the profession in my life
as did on leaving London-letters and kilograms
bidding me godspeed and wishing me we'll Ali
the American actors who went this last season
were charmed with the whole treat
ment received from their English brethren. Mr.
Booth left delightful impression in London and
am sure they will he glad to him back. Mr..
Irving was very kind and Toole. You've no
idea what great blg-hearted fellow he u.s. and SO
greatly beloved in London that am afraid we shall
never see him in America again. And besides being
a
Is a man OF whom every actor ought to be proud.
ran over to Paris, too while away. and twice
visited Ireland. Coming back we had unusual
summer passage, with heavy sea and wind and
every breath Of il dead against us; but that
ssTsa GUas tne Az9na carried Us through it in
the deiightful companiopship of Lawrence Barrett,
A. NJ Palmer aud Joseph Brooks. a wideawake
manager If several Western theatres"
-, What do you think in general way of the Lon
+" AS a rule think they do things remarkably
well over there but then they afford to. We
differ from them in some respects in several they
excel us. iii Othefs we excel them. They are older
and have SO large a population to draw PATRONAGE
When play is ouce well started it runs long time
III London. | was greatly pleased with the union
Of the actors for benevolent purposes. They have
theatre has its own fund BY the payment of dues
from members and subscriptions from wealthy ac-
tors aud lovers OF tue stage the players of small
parts are maintained respectfully in of injury
or illness. The Old Drury Lane Fund. which was
started in Garrck's time. has become immensely
rich was present. at the annual meeting of the
General Dramatic Fund, and that evening the sub
scriptions amounted to FL, 100 The Queen herself
sent generous gift"
Did you see the Meiningcn Companyf"
Several times. and vas very much interested in
William Teli' and schilers Robbers So far f' as
the scenery and the acting of the principal clarac-
tiers are concerned, the performance at Booths
Theatre. in which Mr.. Booth, Mr.. Barrett and Mr..
Bangs appeared, superior to that OF the German
eS SS"fet thus '1 eonnt ase
Bur it is IN the general effect rather in the man
agemcnt of the crowd that the Germans excel. In
the mob scene in julius Cesar the trial scene of
scene in William Tell the effect e i is wo sn
Everybody in the great crowd is interested in the
happenings; you see it in their faces and motions.
Iley are a actors, or at least all those in the front
who control the others. They are not bit
like supernumeraries, who walk
on the stage and stand. The is like a great
historical picture, only more beautiful for here
yoa have life and motion that are not on the can.
The manner in which the colors are grouped is
marvellous, too"
" Do you think the company will come to Amer
lea T"
The expense would be enormous that do not
produce the plays here with all the detail they did
at Drury Lane, the venture would be bound to
be successful. The actor who played Mark Amtony
would please here. He liz wonderful actor and
very popular III London. He is stud wing the Eng
nsh ,angnage now and although he did not know
WORD when he came to London, lac converses ex-
ceedingly we'll now"
Mr.. Mccullough said hat he would be inthe citv
a short time and would begin his season on Septem
Der in the West. He will begin his engagement at
the Fifth Avenue Theatre on November IA.
HOW TUE ACTOR BROUGHT THE YACHT TO THE CITY.
The friends of w. }. Florence have been mystiiied
for the last week because he crossed the Atlantic
week ahead of his friends who came
by the Arizona When pressed for rea-
son Mr.. Florence has pleaded early
engagements. and soon as possible has turned
the conversation TO the good Qualities of certain
mineral waters. Yesterday the actors friends had
the mystery cleared How this came about is
best told in the language of mutual friend, who
said YESTERDAY; Sunday night %S, Billy left word
Called srs at once c p1 the h. fn Avenue to he
later ne down dressed in the latest Yacht in,
suit. We all went down town and boarded Mir
OsbnrIs beautiful yacht Corsaiv aud steamed down
to Quarantine Ia Met John Mccullough, AS we
neared the Arizona Florence held the wheel and "a
Billy could not leave his post Mccullough went
aft for his greeting"
Was il hearty oneW
Nothing like il was ever seen. Billy was so
OvcrJOyed that he IDsisted sharing the honOrs of
steering the yacht with Mccullough" But said
Mccullough. do not know how to take the part
OF Piiot."
Never mind replied Florence "TlI show you
how. So hold in Nav starboard Bit"
% tarboald it lis, sir
"'Steady.'
STEADY IL is sr.'
Port your helm BY the fo'c'sle, ycllcd Florence.
"Ccar away To the lee'ard"
" Vigorously Mccullough worked, )" continued the
informant. for some time turning and twisting the
wheel until New York ueared. Then he relin-
pushed his position, firmly beleying-as he does
stil-that he brought the yacht into the harbor. In
fact. however. he only held the supplement
tary wheel while the yacht steered in The pilot
house. But he did not know il because Florence
had it all cut and died with the captain. Now we
understand why Billy crossed the Atlantic a
week ahead of Mccullough"
TALK WITH a. NJ. PALMER
WHAT THE MANAGER OF TuE UNION SQUARE THEA
TIRE DID AND SAW WHILE ABROAD.
" 1t was my frat trip to Europe, and | went
only for pleasure" said A. NJ. Palmer mana