The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-01-20
McuLLoueH's DAUGHTER.
The Child Who Called Him Father, But
Could Not Wear His Name-True Story
of the Great Tragedian's Life
and Love.
lChicago Herald


it is undoubtedly due that some new stories
of the great tragedian's career and private
life have gained currency. One OF the ru-
mors which have started the many friends
of the great actor was to the effect that
among some of his personal property stored
in Norton's Theater in st. Louis, was paid
up life insurance policy for S65, 900 in favor
of his little daughter, known to many men,
bers of the dramatic profession as "Birdie"
Mccullough. II was not generally known
during the great tragedian's life that his
marriage in early life was a very unhappy
one, and that he had been estranged for years
from his wife and son, to whose home he was
finally brought to die. Neither was it known
to the public at large that Mccullough in
later years contracted a marital relation
with prominent actress, whom he was I'M
able to make his lawful wife by reason of
his inability to procure divorce from his
first wife.
Only a few intimate friends knew the
truth. All others seeing the interest the &C
tor took in the child, its resemblance and the
love he bore the mother, drew their own con-
illusions, and sometimes drew them much
broader than either he or she deserved.
The child, Birdie, was the fruit of this lat
ter union, and is now in the care of her
mothers friends and relatives in this city,
attending school and giving every evidence
of developing into beautiful and accom-
plished woman. She is now going on twelve
years of age, and besides her striking resem-
blance to her father, gives evidence of hav-
ing inherited to marked degree histrionic
ability. But she does not bear her fathers
name That has been withheld from her, and
her friends sincerely hope it will be until she
arrives at years of maturity when all will be
made known.
AS is we'll known Mccullough left no will,
and his property, worth $4,000, went to the
family from whom he was eStranged. He
had always said he would provide for his lit
tie pet daughter. and frequently named the
amount as $4,000, but John was shiftless in
business matters and the most he ever did
was to take Daid-up life insurance policy
for S, 900 for the little ones benefit, and
this together with the ACQUIRED interest
has amounted to $4,000. The money will
be invested in city property, the income
from which will give her a competency for
life. This is vouched for by one conversant
with the facts as being all there is to the ru-
mOrs afoat. There was no policy for $50, 900
or any other amount found among the ac-
tors effects. pod the existence of the one for
5000 vas Known 10 McCullough's
most ii'+i~ .- ..., j.
This was sho, : ne of the dead TRACED
ian's most intim. ,ew York friends vest er-
II had hoped that this episode of Johns
life would be kept out of print, but see
that i was mistaken. / suppose though it
had to come sooner or later, for there is
hardly member of the theatrical profession
who die lot know it. Birdie is but pet
name cf the child. Her real name is Yir-
ginia. S digestive. eh? Well. think of the
many ties poor Johns mind reverted to his
Virginia when he played the Roman
Father His intimacy with her mother be-
gan VIII he was in California, and she was
the leac g actress of his company. What
beautifI girl she was then! Not long since
| saw l'icture of her taken as 'Agarita in
the Sea # Ice, and it shows tall, slender
girl, wi. bright, laughing eyes and a wealth
OF dark brown hair that hangs on her
ROUNDED shoulders in masses of curls
Her tace is as classic too as that of a
Grecian goddess / have read somewhere
that artists are not to be Judged by the stern
rules of society that govern other people. |
fear John was imbued somewhat with this
idea. At all events he acted on it in this
case. Twelve years ago Birdie" was born,
and to this day that
MEMORY LOST HER HOLD
on his distracted brain, poor John never
failed to care for and protect her. A couple
of years ago he saw that he ought to provide
for her future, and he took out life insur-
ance policy of So $50 in her favor The pay
ments on it are all right and the money will
be invested for her sole benefit. At present
she is living with her mothers brother-in
law near Chicago. She looks very much
like her father and is an extremely bright
child. Last year she carried off the
Junior honors of her school. 1t is only
reasonable to suppose that she exhibits the
dramatic ability of her parents. and it is not
improbable that she may adopt the stage as
profession when of proper age. 1 don't
think that Mrs. Mccullough knew of her ex-
istence. In fact i am of the opinion that
this publication will give her the first news
of it. BRIDES mother is at present IN Cali
fornia. Poor woman; her lot is a hard one.
How hard, none but she and her God can
tell. Despite her error, she has kind heart,
and that she feels keenly the anomaly of her
position the following letter which received
from her shortly after Johns death shows. /
would not permit it to be published had not
the other appeared; but, as it has, it may
awaken sympathy for her, and God knows
she needs it:
THE MOTHERS LETTER.
"KANsAs CITY, Nov. 19.-MY DEAR Mr..
. l have just received-forwarded to
me from Chicago-your kind token from
Johns coffin. How can / thank you. Not
in words. You must try and imagine how
you would feel under like circumstances,
though even you can hardly realize my un-
happy position. OF course the world at large
John, but there are some friends who know
all the circumstances of our lives, what he
was to me, what l was to him since I was but
eighteen years old, and that we have passed
almost eighteen years of our lives together,
and yet you are the only soul that has ex-
tended to me one ray of sympathy. / know
that it is the way of the world, but just now
it does seem very, very hard. Birdie seems
to feel the loss of her papa very deeply. She
is very silent child at all times, but some
times l see tears in the little eyes and ask
what is the NATTER All she replies is my
papa You were good enough to say you
would like to know from time to time about
her affairs. l have been made her guardian
and have sent notice to the company that
the money must be ready when called for,
but think it will have TO remain where it is
until find a safe investment. / am doing
well myself, and am on my way TO Califor-
MIA. Once more accept the heartfelt graft
| tude of yours most sincerely"
Miss Bayard.