Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-06-15
sfAR'S eARKER
The Changing Fortunes In the
Life OfJOhn NlcCnIlOngh-rrom
an Irish Tenement Farm TO
Highest Stage Triumphs.


These words were spoken in tn,
course of a pleasant interview, tn,
other day, by John Mccullough, aptll
styled BY John McGlenneu, in hi
recent benefit speech, "the prince O
good fellows, aud one OF the mos
popular stars Of the stage, on botl
sides Of the water, as everybody knows
There is no more patriotic or more
enthusiastic American than MoCul
Tough, and may be sure that his friend:
in England. both in and out of the
profession, Gid not esteem him the less
for the love he bears the land Of his
adoption.
| For John Mccullough, though born
in ireland, came to this country when
very young. He was poor and an
orphan, and poverty had been looking
In at the door" of the humble home
where be passed his boyhood for many
a year. Yet the tenant farm which
his father held was once the pride OF
all the country around, and the child's
earliest recollectioRs called to mind a
happy time, which too soon, alas
passed away. His mother had died
when the son was a mere lad, and bis
misfortuneS came not Singly but in
hosts, after that bereavement Sir
Harvey Bruce, the landlord of the
estate, though a kindly man, as Mr..
McCulleueh testified, claimed his
legal rights, and all that appertained
to the estate held BY the family was
taken possession of by law, and father
and son we're driven out from their
home.
"How we'll | recall the time" said
Mr.. Mccullough, and every scene
and incident of that eviction-as it
would. l suppose, be called now. l
was boy Of about twelve years or so,
and the greatest trial to me was the
sale Of pony which | priced most
highly. | couldn't bear to part with
the pony, and Sir Harvey Bruce, who
saw my grief and knew its cause,
kindly arranged matters so that be-
fore long | was able to call the animal
once more my own. 1t was an act Of
goodness which, of course, / have
never forgotten"
Not long after the eviction the
father died, and the boy was left in
the care of an uncle. But, like thou
sands of others, young Mccullough
had heard of the land Of freedom be-
yond the Atlantic, and it was not long
before be decided to leave kindred and
friends and seek home in America.
With all his earthly possessions in a
bundle, the young lad landed in New
York, and with Characteristic pluck
and energy began the battle for exist
ence. He followed various callings
but soon felt within him the desire tc
become an actor. Fortunately the fore
man Of a chair factory in Philadelphia
where he was employed, sympathized
with the aspirations of the future
actor, and often studied With him the
great Shakspearan tragedies in which
Mccullough siterWard attained such
renoWn.
1t was in the winter of 1857 that the
young aspirant for Thespian honori
first stood upon the stage; and he be
gan in Philadelphia his professional
career at the munifcent salary Of foul
dollars a week. For several seasons
he acted the heavy villain" line in
the Shaksperean drama, and made
steady improvement in his art. A
great event in his career was hit
engagement to support the great For
rest in 1862; tor a man as MCCULLOUGH
was not Glow to improve. The grand
Qualities which marked Forests
acting we're made subject of careful
study by the young actor, and to-day
John Mccullough is recognized every,
where as the successor to the famous
American tragedian. His career as
an actor, interrupted only by briei
managerial experience in San Fran
cisco, has been one Of steadily increas-
ing success.
John McCullough's starring expe-
rience dates from only few years
back; yet his representations, with
peerless Virginius at the head, have
won fame and fortune in all parts OF
the country, and gained for him also
the highest honors Of the English
stage.
II have the pleasantest recollections
Of my professional visit to England,
said Mr. Mccullough. mo man could
| have had a more friendly reception in
| London or Dublin, or in fact wherever
| | appeared. But still America is the
land for actors, as for everyone else
| There is nothing that can be said toe
much in praise Of the one country
where honest effort and merit mus
bring all that is worth living for"
did you visit your old home il
Ireland when you were over on thu
other side?"
"Yes, indeed; and curiously enough
at the special invitation of the very Sil
Harvey Bruce, to whom | remembered
10 have often taken off my hat when
lad Of the son of one Of his tenants
You have heard the story of the civic
ton aud how my pony was restored t,
me. When | was playing at Drur,
, Lane in London, | received a not
signed Sir Harvey Bruce. He re
membered the boy John Mccullough
and desired to know if the actor an,
the lad who sought his fortune il
> America were one and the same. | ha,
very pleasant interview with tn
; landlord, aud he gave me a mos
: cordial invitation to visit Irelan'
: and the old homo after the Londo
engagement. 1t was accepted. AM
though the old farmhouse was not a
I | had left it, many old friends an
, neighbors were found to welcome me
I Both Sir Harvey Bruce and his kin.
q lady begged me to buy the old farm o
which / was bora and settle dow
D among them; but l told them that
: would not give up my life and m
s friends in America for anything tina