Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-14
MCCULLOUGH, THE ACTOR.
His Last Public Appearance.

Washington Letter to the Cleveland Leader
Joseph Haworth, the young Cleveland actor.
who as the leading man in the "AIoral Crime
com binaton has just closed an engagement
here, tells an interesting story of McCullough's
last performance in public. For a long time
signs of the breaking down were noticeable
and on the night in question, when playing in
Chicago it was seen by the members of the
company that the Governor" as he was
Familiarity called by them, could not hold out
much longer. The play that night was the
Gladiator" with Mccullough as .Spartac,.s
and Haworth as Phdrsarius.
"When we met in the arena scene," said Mr..
Haworth in telling the story. "he seemed to
forget his lines and become confused. It pained
everybody to see him. Placing both hands upon
my shoulders. his whole frame seemed to
tremble with excitement as he asked Whats
next?' 1 gave him the cue and he finished. The
audience applauded, Notwithstanding the fact
that they must have noticed that something
was wrong with him We went out at once in
response to the call of the Audience, and they
called US the second time.
"'They are receiving us spendidly tonight.
aren't they? Come on, my boy, they are calling
US again. he said, as he reached out his hand to
take mine. and go out with me-. Mind you,
this was only the second call, and we usually re-
ceived five or six at the close OF that scene: but
he seemed to think that the audience was more
apprecative than usual. The next time he
seemed to forget himself was i'm the scene
where Us Pharsarius decribed the crucifiXion
OF our men. While was in the midst of my
Those are not your lines l held him up with
one arm and went on with the speech as though
nothing had happened. The applause was
deafening. 1t was evident that the audience
realized that something was wrong with him.
for they showed all the evening their sympathy
with him and applauded because they thought
was doing ali could to help him in making the
performance success. The last act came and
l cannot forget how real the words of the boy
General, you had best go to your tent; you
are unfit for battle"
He had been unfit a long time, but night
after night he persisted in playing, and thus
tried to shake off the mental troubles that
weighed him down. When the curtain went
down the audience remained seated and loudly
called for the Governor He went before the
curtain and said:
''.Lades and gentlemen, if you had suffered
this. Good night
"Those were the last words he ever uttered
before public audience. None OF the company
had gone to their dressing rooms. They stood
around to witness the closing scenes and in
every eye a tear gliStened
"fhe next morning We were all paid and the
company disbanded, but We received word that
the Governor wanted Il rehearsal. Knowing
h ms condition tn and Just to humor him in the
nope that 1t would do him good, we all re-
sponded. We first went through with the
Gladiator
I'VE didn't do very well last night, my boy
ne said to me, but We'll knock EN- out to-
night
He wasn't very choice in his diction at times,
as you may imagine, out those were the words
he used. What a rehearsal that was. AS per.
1ectiy as he ever did in his life he rendered
every t,! y; Iine; For a time we az had nope that
after short rest he would be himself again
and the company be reunited. Into every
word WORD ne seemed to put meaning that we had
committing to my charge his wife and child,
'Phdrsdrius, l give thee more than my life;
guard guar them WE'LL it was witt! genuine sorrow
THAT Mrs. Foster, who took the part of wife to
SodItacus, replied: Husband, husband, do not
send me away; il leave you now it will be for
of her feelings. could not avoid experiencing
the same sorrow, and / turned to look
ah0ther way saw that the prompter, we'll
As Harry Langdon, and Others in the company
were brushing tears from their eyes, and the
little boy we had with us for child parts broke
out in a genuine Cry. Mccullough did not seem
to realize it ALL He acted as though he thought
IL a part OF the emotion TO be shown in the
play I,,on 49, o...
1t was the most realistic performance I ever
saw: His eye lighted up as he said we shall
see Thrace again. and then, as he said: There
tone OF sadness that it set the minds of all who
heard him wandering from the scene before
them. Then his head dropped upon his breast
alru IL seemed as II he had passed away from
us in reality.
"He was SO pleased with the rehearsal that he
wanted to take up 'Richelieu.' Well, we went
through that play in the same perfect manner
that we exhibited in the Gladiator There
wasn't break anywhere. He delivered the
curse magnificently, and while some of the
company could not keep back the tears of
sympathy they felt for the Governor others
were appauding him. The applause seemed to
revive him, and he acted even better than he
had been doing. We could see a CLEAN of his
own self, a flash Of the genius lie possessed
Baradas recited:
His mind and life are breaking fast
"The Governor turned to denounce him. and
as he did SO seemed to realize the full IMPORT of
the words. He broke completely down, and
Was then taken to his hotel in a carriage. That
was the last we saw of him. 1t was the sad
dest day l ever passed, for there was no one in
the company who did not feel the burden that
oppressed US. There was never an actor more
thoroughly loved by his company than was
John -IcCullough."