National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-09-22

luc CNOuplleueu anu NeTbuLllc RcuJlelnau
who appears at Albaugh's Grand Opera
House next Monday evening has been hap
PLY described by the Brooklyn Eagle as "a
phenomenal actor" Nature has been very
bountitul to Mr.. Mansfield in bestowng
upon him not only temperament which
embraces art upon all sides, but in providing
biln with rare measure Of that genius
which, we have been so frequently informed,
mainly consists OF an infinite capacity for
taking trouble, With such n combination
of qualities 1t is not strange that man not
yet 80 years OF age should have made his
way to the forefront of his profession.
Mr. Mansfield was born In the Island OF
Heligoland, situated in the North sea, at
the mouth Of the river Elbe. His father,
an Englishman, died when the lad was 8
years old, and his mother, Nine. Ruders-
dorff, the celebrated Russian singer, came
to the United States and made her home In
Boston, where she acquired social as well as
artistic distinction, and enjoyed wide
friendship and popularity until her death,
which occurred quite recently. Young
Mansfield, meanwhile, was being thor
he acquired that accurate knowledge Of
European languages and character which
has served him to such purpose In the
peculiarly unconventional work to which
he now devotes himself.
When he came first to America his mother
procured for him position In a Boston
mercantile house. This was scarcely case
Of "natural selection" for youth whose
frame tingled with the artistic sense from
his tongue to his toes aud back again to
HIS finger tips. Bu: he went at his work
seriously and In a short time attained q
prominent position In an uncongenial
field. Growing tired OF business, his
mother sent him TO Europe to study
painting. He painted and sold many
pictures, but, grayitating to London,
he found his attention more absorbed by
dramatic than by pictorial art. This did
not quite suit Nine. Rudersdorff, who,
like all good parents on such occasions, cut
of the supplies. The inevitable promptly
ensued. Young Mansfield, from being A
"curled darllngn of London society, was
compelled to enter upon IN rie de
BOhenle, and whose wishes to understand
the experiences OF the next few years will
find them writ In the book Of the chronicles
of Henri Murger. Our good friend wrote
articles for magazines, painted pictures,
composed oratorios, operas, sacred aud
profane songs, sonatas, waltzes, and Irish
jigs. In other words, he learned to starve
successfully In many different and highly
intellectual ways. For the small considera-
tion of five-shilling registration fee
D'Oyley Carte procured for him an engage
ment at German Reeds drawing room en-
tertainment at $40 a week. Mansfield, ex-
hausted by his recent struggle for exist
ence, sat down to the plano, but tainted
after playing few chords. The manager
regarded 1t stage fright, and discharged
the youngster, who was once more in the
wilds Of Bohemia, with, however, a weeks
salary In his pocket. When reduced TO
the greatest straits he met w. s.
Gilbert, whom he had known in
"other" days, and who now sent
him to the provinces as Admiral Sir
Joseph Porter, with .the salary of $l5 q
week. Mansfield stuck to the good ship
Pinafore for some time, and, having made
great success of his part, applied for
"more money" when he was promptly
discharged. Lydia Thompson's husband,
Alexander Henderson, then engaged him
for comic opera at the Globe Theater, aud
from that time his services were IN constant
requlsitlon. Having acquired this training,
he returned to America, aud made his first
appearance at the Standard Theater, New
York, In "Les Manteaux Nolrs," but his first
great success was achieved as Baron de Chew
rial, In "a Parisian Romance,n part for
which j. II. Stoddart had been cast, but
which, after few rehearsals, that gentleman
refused to play as having in It "nothing for
me.n There was, nevertheless, much In II
for Mansfield, who, as the dark, sullen,
forbiddiDg, and terrible Chevral, scored q
splendid success.
Mr.. Mansfield has proved himself the best
Of all possible Ko-KOs during the long run
Of John Stetsons "Mikado" Company al
the Hollis Street Theater, Boston, and hi;
Prince Karl, Mt the Museum Of the same
city, made him "solid forever with the
HubbltCs. As at italian tenor singer In the
comedy "French Flatsn he has won the
favor Of the press, while either his German
Professor in "Caprice" or his barytone part
in LES Mantoaux Noirs" would haye made
the reputation of many anothergood artist
The peculiar novelty OF Mr.. Mansaeld's
work consists In the fact that his French
men, Germans, and Italians are cultivated
people of the natlonalities they represent
and have little in common with the trad-
tional Bowcry Dutchman or other foreigners
! Of that ilk.
The gentleman who plays Prince Karl