The morning call., 1894-08-12
A TENDER STORY.
The Last Days of McCuI-
Tough, the Tragedian.
PatheticaIly Described by Joseph
Haworth, Who Was His Pupil
and His Friend.


In the early part of the season of 1888.
my second year with Mccullough, l first
detected symptoms of his mental weak
hess, writes Joseph Hawortb, who was
his pupil aud remained his friend until the
end came. in an article contributed to
+ Dohahue's Magazine.
:ItwGs, in philadelphia, while we were
piGying ""Yirginius," with the Governor,
: as we loved. TO call Mccullough, in the
-tlkTe role: Ip the first scene, l. as Iclllus.
addressed him, ana, to my surprise, he
hesNated in his reply. as if his tongue
we're partially paralyzed.
Captain Conner, his manager and warm
FRIEND w no was always solctOus for Me-
CullOugh'S health, became alarmed at the
ofr.reeurring lapses of memory, and ad-
.ysed himto go abroad. This advice was
-: followed at the close of the second sea-
son. Mccullough visited Carlsbad and
ether places. but on his return to New
y 0rk 1t was evident that no cure had been
Effected.
= Toward the latter part Of September we
reached Chicago. where we we're billed TOT
a two weeks engagement.
On: the second Monday, September ".
1884. came he Gladiator"
:. 4 he "'GoveTnOr" entered the tneaIer
quite late. docking strangely daZed. He
" as dressed about S:15 o'clock and com
inenced his final public performance. The
5Jfece ran without blemish until the sec
0fd aet, where the brothers meet IN the
.yrsna.. Spartacus recognizing Phasarlus.
Thsy embrace at a certain cue, which
8: AIrCul5ouglf gave me. L rushed to MIN
and threw NV arms about his neck.
10 MY anlaZe ment he did not respond by
word or action. ! looked up to see what
was THE matter. The tears were in his
dear Old eyes. He was trembling like a
leaf from head TO foot, and in accents
: DT1gkeu by his emotion he clasped me about
the neck and said:
@For Gods sake, Joe, give me the line"
II did So. We finished the scene for
!. .Wh(ch we were accustomed to receive hye
aa3it SIX recalls; on this occasion we were
given only two, The Governor turned
-io:me as We came of and said:
They (referring to the audience are
<featiug us gloriously tonight"
Ia the next act the Governor" could
not remember his speeches. and to keep
the scene up l spoke the lines and my
own. BE looked at me in a hepless sort
If. way for some time. then said Cloud
enough for the audience to hear, My
hoy, YOU are speaking my lines"
The audience laughed and some Kissed.
I paid 10 attention 10 this demonstration
and delivered the famous crucifXi0n
speech. At the conclusion l grew hys-
terieal and sank upon the floor at Sparta
Gus feet. Mccullough, with none OF his
old-tme power, delivered this line, II
swear for This TO make Rome h WI"
The tears were rolling down his suuken
cheek.
Later In the play Florus addressed Spar
tacus as follows: General. you we're hest
go to your tent. You are not fit for bat
tie"
Thu oudianoa oDrIauded and laug5ed
and Kissed again, thinking it rare joke
TO see Che great actor in his cups. They
did not know the truth.
Now the climax was fast approaching.
The scene was reached where Crassus, en-
acted by John a. Lane, stabbed Spartacus.