New-York tribune., 1908-09-20

the factors of inheritance character temperament
training environment never negligible. are seen 10
be dominant In ruauv such cases the measure OF
success achieved could scarcely have been duph-
Gated II another field OF endeavor-
Accident and the Stage
IOHN MCCULLOUGH'S choice of the stage was
y largely due TO accident though. as developments
indicated Il for the stage that Nature had n
tended him. When ne came TO America from Ire
land in 1917 he could not write MS name. and
apprenticed to uncle N Philadelphia VINO was
chairrnaker bv trade Near TO McCuIlOughs bench
was that Of q StageStTuCk workman and Met ullOuSn-
CHANGING to Overhear one of this wOrkInanS deCaIna
tiOns was struck with wonder Then curiosity 20
learn more of the thing for himself awoke within
him
He taught himself 10 read soon began 70 study
Shakespeare. and joined dramatic club In
1887 ne secured engagement at the old Arch
Street Theater Philadelphia. and before MS mind
gave wav twentv-seven wears later. and II
sary TO Contine HIM N an asylum. he had gained
rank one of the most powerful and versatile OF
American tragedIanS-
While Edward H Sothern unlike Mccullough
inherited his fitness for the stage the force OF
circumstances bevOnd parental control that started
him as an actor. When boy he made fairly good
exclaimed with i0v. Heaven be thanked The lad
need not De an aCtOri' But Young SOthern 5 talent
as a painter did not develop, and when chance and
his own persistence made small place for him n
one Of his father plays. he did ms best Ii was
very bad best; he had only one line TO say and to-
tally forgot that at the critical moment But this
failure in a sense. was his making 1t aroused his
fathers pride. ne determined that his son should
not prove dISCredt to the family and bent al his
skill and energy TO helping the Young man
Like Sothern another of the most brilliant actors
owed a debt TO what Is called chance and ike
Sothern IS said TO have been against the wish OF
his parents that he made MS entrance the stage
In his early DAYS Richard Mansfield eudeavored TO
earn his living and TO gam distinction painter II
London He failed BY almost actual want he was
driven 10 do turn n a music hall Some of his
first attempts the stage were failures and though
soon he began 10 make his way comedian. II was
a chapter OF accidents that enabled hIm 70 achieve
his first great triumph At the time Mansfield was
playing a role II IOlanthe AZ Baltimore and
twisted his ankle while dancing Barred from par
tIcIpar1Ou IN the comic opera he New York
and there fell IN with y NJ Palmer. manager of the
Union Square Stock Company. - Partisan Ro-
nance was about 10 be put or there. and Mans
rIeld cast for a trlfing part
The role OF the Baron was the only important one
IN the play. and II 20 be taken BY the veteran
James II. Stoddart- This part was not at all 10
Stoddart taste, though he consented trv It But
when he saw the costume he was 70 wear ne reheIled
again and only PaneTs protest that II he refused
the play would be ruined. made hITu Weld Finally
ne was 50 overcome by nervousness thar his wife
happening 10 come into the room surprised hIrn IN
q state OF ablect misery and straighrvav insisted
that he be relieved of the objectionable role Then
Il vas that Palmer recalled having seen Mansfield
closely watching hun in rehearsal and accordingly