Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-07-31
"REMINISCENCES OF MCCULLOUGH.
Scenes Recalled In the Life of the
Busy but Unfortunate Actor.

"REMINISCENCES OF MCCULLOUGH.
Scenes Recalled In the Life of the
Busy but Unfortunate Actor.
''Poor John McCullough. the TRACE
dian, in madhouse,n writes an AGO.
uaintance of the unfortunate actor.
lis fruitful theme. A man who re-
ceived the plaudits of millions of his
countrymen, moving toward imbe-
cllity in the very prime Of life, should
BE- warning to those who attempt to
overwork the brain and keep up the
convivlaities of life at the same time
McCullough's greatest role was the
Roman father, Virginlus. With
what tenderness, pathos and horrible
reality he drew his beautiful stage
daughter to the reeking sham bles
and saved her life by ending it. None
can forget the wonderful power with
which he portrayed Virginius after
reason had fed, and now pitifully ne
calls the fair Virginia to his side when
his own hand had placed her beyond
the reach of harm. Mccullough was
always great in the heroic drama. He
had the voice, presence and splendid
physique-al the requisites for good
actor-added to a fine memory, keen
perception and indomitable will
Good company was his bane. He
had perhaps more wealthy friends
and big 'spenders' of money who lik>
ed him than auy other actor in Amer
lea. They loved to be in his company
and he was always at his best when
in theirs.
"a few years ago." said his friend,
u was at a banquet at Wizards Ho-
tel, in Washington, rendered to Nc
Cullough. He was about ending a
successful two weeks engagement in
that city. 1t was ON Saturday night
and along toward midnight, after he
had met his death at the hands of
Richmond on the battlefield of Bos
worth at the theatre, lie appeared at
the banquet table and was greeted by
brilliant array of congressman,
statesmen, judges, army and navy
officers and journalists. Justice Mil.
Ter, of the supreme court of the United
States, presided. Blaine was there
and General Sherman, his brother
John, the senator, Joe Blackburn and
scores OF other noted men. The silver
shafts of Sunday sunrise were near
ly visible before the curtain rang
down on that rare menu, feasts of wit,
flow Of soul and Widow Ciquor.
There were many bright sayings.
Mccullough neatly responded to the
praises showered on him and recited
The IDIOT Boy which is just now
suggestive, but none were as bright
and witty in that assemblage of brains
as Blaine and Blackburn. They were
continuallr chatting each other in
humorous way.
81 know a clever fellow from
Maine who graduated from my state
as Yankee school teacher, whom l
fear will never be president, was
among the thrusts that Blackbur n
launched
keep your nose clean, my son ;
you may grow and become speaker
yet" was Blaine's reply.
This badinage was long after most
of the 'walnuts and wine had disap
peared. 1t was also some years pre~
vious to the statement made by Neal
Dow that Blaine had alwas been a
teetotallcr, though l do not mean to
insinuate that the man from Maine
was 'lushy' in the least on that &C
casion. Blackburn was the more
soluble of, the two. Liquor acts on
the Kentucky Senator like key on
the spring of a lock-it winds him up
to make him go, and he goes like a
blue grass race horse.
But to MCCULLOUGH. A little over
forty years ago he was Oh his way
till Ameriky,' from Coleraine, near
Londonderry, ia the North OF Ireland,
but about thirty years ago he was
wheeling smoke in the PHILADELPHIA
City Gas Works. That / am told is
the technical name of the work done
by the laborers. Then he became a
chairmaker, then joined the Booth
enian' Dramatic Association in TIE
alley at Sixth and Race streets, and
finally secured a place on the boards
at the Arch Street Theatre under
Wheatley and Clarke Here he be-
came favorite at once, aud it was not
long before he made his debut in a
Shakespearean character-Otheil
at his benefit at the above named
theatre in SO or 80. | was under the
impression that John Dolman, ST.,
the Walnut street lawyer, played
Iago on that occasion, but Mr.. Doll
man, says he has no recollection of it,
though he might have done do, as he
played that character SO often with
other OH Hos Mccullough went
with Forrest and stuck by the grim
and gruff old tragedian longer than
any other actor. He studied the old
actors ways in his portrayal of great
characters. He improved some of
them and made bad imitation of
others.
"His California Theatre venture in
San Francisco rnined him financially.
Although he had the backing of Raj
ston, toe banker, who commlttea sui
eide, and other rich friends. The
theatre proved TO be an elephant he
was glad to get rid of. Then he star
red throughout the United States and
Canada and made the reputation he
now enjoys as one of the leading ira
gedians of the country. He made
money fast and spent it with free
hand. 1t was not until the last few
years that he could be iaducsd to gar
ner up his earnings. His friend, Mr..
w. II. Thompson, the President of
the Boatman's Saving Bank of St.
Louis. prevailed upon him to establish
bank account with him, and but for
his efforts the unfortunate actor and
those dependent upon him would be
penniless.
Years ago, when a poor chairnak-
err, John Mccullough married good
little country woman of his own dis
trict of Kensington. He has two sons.
To his credit be it said that he never
put aside the wife of his early strug-
giles by divorce. and although be has
lived in q measure apart from her, he
has provided generously for his fam
lily. 1t is singular, too, that since lis
mental malady has become apparent,
he has lowered about his old home
mora than ever before and become
more intimate with those who bear his
name"
A Boys Composition.