Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-06-01

cott made an impressive Portia. but
her modulations often led TO inaudi-
bility, and she should tone her voice
on a higher plane. All the other
characters were well taken. This
evening 'Pygmalion' and 'Galatea'
and Tanning of the Shrew.
In lighter and more graphic style
the Sunday Netcs gives the following
sketch of our young tragedian:
Jumping from real estate office
to depicting Brutus and his stentorian
dialogue on professional stage, isn't
much Of a jump-to r. ID. Mclean.
The rest of us, | opine, may not be
able to 50 successfully and similarly
jump.
1T was from pleasant II. Grattan
Donnelly that first had the idea that
the mantle of a great artist and actor
is pretty certain 10 fall upon the broad
shoulders Of young Mclean. Then |
witnessed his Ingomdr and Br1fUs and
! fell into Donneily's way of thinking.
The career OF this new comer-for
his is that TO a certainty-is full OF in-
terest. Two years ago he made his
initial bow on a professional stage al
Kingston. y. Y. Three years ago and
he did not know "a professional actor.
First the leading support 10 Miss Ma
rie Prescott, and this year starring
equally with her and coming an en-
tire stranger TO Philadelphia, he
meets with remarkable press notice
and cordial receptions. 1t is small
cause for wonder if the prognostica-
tions of enthusiastic, kindly H. Grat-
tan Donnelly should come true.
Il was ushered into the room of the
Young Roman at the Continental one
day last week, and there had n pleas
ant chat He was the manager of
leading real estate firm in New Or
leans early in 1897. when Miss Marie
Prescott came to the Crescent City by
invitation of the Crescent City ShakS-
peare Club, TO give a performance Of
Hamlet. Mclean was u member of
the club. and played Horatio, this
being his first appearance with a pro
fessional Miss Prescott put on 'Pyg-
malion and Galatea, by request, and
Mr.. Mclean was asked TO play Pyg-
malion This he did for seven per
formances Later he received a prop
oSition from Miss Prescott 10 come To
New York as her leading man, and
after many inward debates and much
hesitancy the young man, then TWEEN
ty-seven years of age, accepted
The study that Mr. McLeanhas put
in can scarcely be comprehended by
the Prompter's readers. but it is a fact
that he had never seen Romeo, lingo
mar. MalorLo, PctJUchiO or similar parts
played, and his acting was therefore
his own and based upon ardent study
and many sleepless nights. Once only
had he seen Salvini play in VTgiHius.
He has been on the stage for two
wears, knows the parts of Shakes
pearean plays, and that too, thor
oughly. He loves Roman characters,
and will devote his best years only to
such parts.
Mr. Mclean was born in New Or
leans, his father being Colonel Shep-
herd, n Nirginian, and his mothers
name being Mclean. He took the
latter name for the stage. He Is n
nearer resemblance in physique TO
John Mccullough than any actor liv-
ing. and he has an arm like village
smithy. He is a trained athlete, can
box like Billy Madden, went for years
through regular gymnastic training,
and he is more often boisterous than
some critics like.
When does the season closeT
queried the prompter as he was tax
ing his departure.
At Chicago, two weeks from now,
and | will not be sorry We opened
the season August 10. and have been
at it steadily ever since, playing South
Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, Ala
bama and Louisiana. We have our
coming season laid out TO cover the
very same places. Where do we rus
ticate? ! go to Shepherdstown, Va,
where my father still resides, and
shall study and yell amid the rocks
and woods on the farm to my hearts
content. Miss Prescott, | presume,
remains in Chicago. Good-day."
The only error in the above sketch
is in the reference to Mr. McLean's
parentage which his worthy father is
described "a a Nirginian, with the mil
itary title OF Colonel, Mr.. Henry
Shepherd, the father of II. d. Mclean,
it is true. is a Virginian by birth, and
now resides at the ancient homestead
of the family near Shepherdstown.
Virginia. but he has passed the great
er portion of his active manhood in
this city, engaged in large mercantile
and real estate operations, whereby
he realized wealth at a comparatively
early age. and in a brief period Of sue
cessful and sagacious enterprises; and
with all the losses from the decline Of
values in our city which he has suf-
fered with other large capitalists, he
has managed TO preserve the bulk Of
a large fortune. after giving the rare
and conspicuous example Of CONNER
cial integrity and honor. Of settling
with dHte-belium creditors, from which
claims he had been discharged by the
wreck and ruin OF our civil war, still
maintaining a large interest in our
city in which he has resided for forty