The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-19
NJ. JOHN MCCULLOUGH, ACTOR

80. s.ously ridiculous ~ Il may appear
wv. 80 national Cyclopedia Of Amerl
,,,,,ropby nor Applcton's Cyolopeiia o.
ssu biography deemed John Mccul.
vorthy one line in their records Of
Ioss Americans. dead and living, although
s,.cs he left vacant In the dramatic life
'.' r. country remains vacant to this day
y wi. Ia IN philadelphia November s, 1886
IA bis remains now lie In Mt. Morish Gene.
\, west Philadelphia. The pail -bcareri
Ara william j. Florence. John B. Carson
y. Thomson. William NJ. Conner. VIM.
= Johnson, Joseph Jefferson. NJ. w. Can
s,,s william winter Henry Edwards, j.
a. Caller and John A. Cockerill.
subsequently a number of his friends
-.,ob,v John w Mackay--arranged that there
MAUD he erected at his grave such monu.
.,e,t as might perpetuate his name. This
=. ,,aced in position and formally dedicated
A. November %. 1883. 1t IL an imposing
,.a,orial. and beneath its stone canopy
.,.nds bust Of colossal size portraying tn !
a.,a artor In his favorte character OF vir-
-ipius. The dedication was witnessed by
an imposing gathering Of prominent people,
,,ary OF whom were brought from New York
q special train. The Introductory address
v,s made by william F.. Johnson. we'll
vnown lawyer; the Grafton by the now deeply
lsmpnted steele Mackaye. and an elegy was
rad by the poet William Winter.
the, proceedings OF that occasion have
heep preserved in a volume which also con-
tsins a sketch Of McCullough's life by Mr.
winter. But 500 copies of this book were
ptinted by the De Winnie Press. and the
narrator now has before him copy No. !. a
perscnal gift from William n. Conner. now
deceased, but then the proprietor OF the
St James Hotel in New York City. and Nc
. cullough's time manager.
~
The sketch by William Winter is probably
the most complete story of the actors life
that was ever prepared, and from 1t the young
people of the present generation can learn
much about the greatest tragedian the Amer
. lean stage has known since the days of
Forrest, and whose successor has not yet
1 lifted his voice before tho footlights. From
Mr.. winters sketch we learn that John Nc
Cullough was born at Blakes, near Coleraine,
| londonderry. on the seacoast of ireland, on
November A. 1SS2-the year that is memorable
/ in this century for Its association with tho
F death Of great men,
| His parents were situated In humble circum.
stances and were poor. His father. James
Mccullough. was small farmer" His
mother, Mary. died in 1874, leaving her son
! join, then lad Of 10, and three daughters.
Their father was unable to provide for these
CHILDREN and shortly after the mothers death
| they were obliged to seek their fortune in
America.
When John Mccullough, youth of 49,
F came to America, says Mr.. Winter he could
+ read, but could not write. He had received
no education and he was in ignorance OF
literature and art. Dying thirty eight years
later he had become man Of large and
varied mental requirements, a considerable
{schoar in the dramatic profession. and the
|most conspicuous heroic actor of his time on
THE American stage. Such career, begin
ming in obscure and ignorant pGnry and
lending In culture. honorable eminence. pros
Iperity and fame is extraordinary, and In
dramatic annals It makes John Mccullough
Ia memorable name
no ancestor Of his was ever on the stage.
Dramatic faculty. however, is one of the
peculiar attributes Of the Irish race In
IMcCullough 1t was developed by the acct
|dent Of his meeting with stage struck"
|workman in the shop Of the Philadelphia
|chairmaker This person, whose "spoutlngs"
ana whose general vagariea had at first been
suggestive OF lunacy. made him acquainted
with the tragedy OF Richard the Third"
Fumulated in him taste for reading Shakes
Peare acquainted him with the delights of
Fehearsal: introduced him to theatrical
oolety and finally took him to the theater
Itself '"'''''
ne nrst dramatic performance that he
~inessed was, according to his own recol-
Eecuon' performance of Shells tragedy of
ine Apostate.' From this time onward
Fl read with avidity every play that he
ouid obtain. and without the distinct inten-
ION OF becoming an actor-probably with no
view whatever to the future. but only from
patural relish for this pursuit--devoted his
ne and thought TO the study of acting,
McCullough's thcatericai career, beginning
i'oi and ending in 1884, covered period
twcnty-seyen years. His first engagement
as made at the Arch Street theater. under
~ management Of William Wheatey and
onn Drew. and his first appearance there
sas made on August Is. 1857. as Thomas In
me Bellies stratagem.
t'a rise IN the dramatic profession was |
.saual. In the early days of tho American |
'sse It was more difficult to win position |
uan II is In these times of speculative thea
Na' management, when all the arts OF ad- |
uuflng are pressed into the business of |
fame. Every step Of the way |
~ tnen to be made with tosome effort. |
acre were many obstacles to be surmounted |
y many hardships to be endured. The |
's'ory OF such actors as Cooper Forrest, |
ostn' a, A. Adams, z. l.. Davenport and |
.nslson teach the same lesson of persistent |
a0't and of patience under priyation.
~
Hcsuilough. In his quest of professional |
psognitlou, had the usual trying experience.
ne was In earnest and he proved the |
Hesfty Of his talents, the force OF his
4+s1acter and the sincerity of his devotion by |
P'eauiast adherence to that service of the |
sma which was the purpose of his life.
Y noVitiate at the Arch street theater lasted |
w the summer OF 1860. when u. L. DAY.
'forI az that time manager of the Howard |
-e'aeam, In Boston, engaged him at that
where he remained for one season.
III " ls@-6l. In the ensuing season he
= oack again in Philadelphia. engaged at
walnut Street theater. under the man
snent Of Mrs. Garretson.
.'sre he WAS when presently he attracted
~ Tr ~. ~ L.. - x.l