National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-05
JOHN MCCULLOUGH,
4 Few Funny incidents i'm the Life OF the
Great Actor.

A Few Funny Incidents i'm the Life OF the
Great Actor.
In 1866 Forrest went TO California on one of the
Pacific Mail steamers, taking Mccullough with
him. During the voyage there occurred number
ofincidents which well illustrate the character
of the famous old actor. He was suffering greatly
from govt, and, in addition, the passage being o
very stormy one, was much afflicted by sea-sick-
ness. One day while in this condition, groaning
and swearing on deck in his own peculiar fashion,
he came face to face with Captain Bradbury the
commander ofthe ship, and for a moment looking
at him as if he would annihilate him. blurted out
"Damme, sir, did you know that no one ever
had any reasonable excuse for going TO sea except
ing the patriarch Noah?'
well, well-ah, no-ahl Mr. Forrest" stanl-
mered the captain, and then, recovering himself
and entering into the spirit of the occasion, he
asked: "What was NOahs eXcuse?" To which
Forrest at once replied: why, damme, sir if he
S had staid at home he would have been drowned
On board this same vessel, during the same pas
sage Mr.. Mccullough recalls that there was an ex-
ceedingiy doleful Methodist preacher, Who after
The habit of many gentlemen of his calling, spoke
more through his nose than his mouth and made
himself very disagreeable. On Sunday It was an
nouneed that this gentleman was to preach in the
cabin, and Forrest, who was always fond of good
sermon, asked his young assistant If there was any
probability that the minister would do well Nc
Cullough, in spirit of mischief, replied that he
was very sure he would, and at last induced For
rest to go into the cabin and listen to the services
When they commenced, however, it was at once
evident that the preacher was one of the most dis
mai, drawling and uninteresting of his kind, and
from time TO time during the discourse Forrest,
who was situated that he could not we'll get out
of the cabin gave vent to his outraged feelings by
loud, though halfstifed explanations of 40
Lord, Lord: o my God, my Godr' The preacher
was evidently much pleased with these demonstra-
TONS which he took as evidences of his own power
in awakening penitential thoughts in the mind of
the actor, and the next morning at hint from
Mccullough, who was bent on keeping I'D the
joke, he called on Forrest in his stateroom to con-
verse with him regarding his soul.
At the outset however, his good intentions were
nipped in the bud. He knocked at the door of the
cabin. Come in" growled the deep voice of the
actor. The dominic opened the door and found
Forrest lying half in and half out of his bunk.
moaning with seasickness and racked with govt
aha! it is you, is it?" cried the actor. You
arc just the man l want to see. want you to tell
me what your Masters opinion was of the sea-"
Ny Master, sir; my Nasterr' said the solemn
faced preacher who do you mean?'
"Why, who should mean but the Sayior?' re-
piled Forrest Don't you known what He did
when He went to sea-"
parsoif:
well, them" Numbered Mr. Forrest, "Tl tell
you. He went TO sea only once, and then He got
so disguised that He walked ashore again.
With this the actor turned over in his berth
with groan, and the parson left the cabin in dis
may.
Arrived IN San Francisco, Forrest and McCul-
loGgn played in very successful engagement and
the latter became so great favorite that he re-
mained there after Forrest returned TO the East
He remembers that at that time he first became in
timately acquainted with Edwin Adams who was
then one of the reigning favorites of the Pacific
slope and of whom it is said that he was so genial
sunny-tcmpcrcd, and attractive that by the very
force OF his magnetism he could keep room full
Of Sunday-school teachers MP all night. In regard
to! one of Adams peculiarities Mr.. Mccullough
feelingly says: ~ don't think Adams really liked
10 drink He certainly did not like whisky for the
sake ofit, but it was only that he wanted to be
social, and delighted in seeing those about him
good-humored and happy"
An incident which happened at this time vii