Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-23
THE TOPICAL TALKER.

| SaIutary-TaiIors and the Spring-Some
| Biographical Facts About Mr.. manteli.
| THE variety of nationalities domiciled in
Pittsburg was well illustrated in q line of
| builders seated on a wall at dinner time yes
| terday in the heart of the city. They were six
| in number. One was a negro, two Italians, one
Sclav of some nationality, and the rest pre-
sumably Americans or Irish-Americans. And
they were seemingly happy family. for they
talked, laughed and ate together with vigor.
The other day a strange combination of lam
| guages, and most of it bad language l don't
| doubt, presented itself to the pedestrians on
| Grant street about noon. An italian and Chi
| nese laundryman were in violent dispute outside
the latters store Both men we're greatly excited.
They gesticulated necessarily, and their voices
rose high, but what they were fighting about
was past every bystander's comprehension. 1t
was certainly not about the linen OF the Ital-
ian; he was beyond suspicion on that score.
A T the hottest hour of the afternoon yester-
day truck heavily laden with iron in
turning from Fifth avenue into Smithfield
street jammed a wheel into the gutter. The
two strong horses tugged with all their might.
the bystanders few to the wheels and shouted
and pushed and gave advice after the liberal
fashion of volunteers, but the truck did not
move. Usually the driver whips his torses un-
mercifully in such a case, but it astonished me
to notice that the man who held the reins,
hardly used his heavy whip at all. Il was a
novel and grateful sight. The horses were
doing their best and the driver did not lash
them. But it was Puzzing. Getting closer 1
found out that Mr.. Dean, the agent of the
Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty. ETC.. was
one of the volunteers at the wheel. That ex-
planned the mystery at once.
=
0THERE is not a great deal of poetry in our
business" said high-class tailor to me
the other day. but we can appreciate the bless
ings of a real spring as thoroughly as Mr..
Tennyson. 1t means about a hundred per cent
more business to US, that's all, this sunny
weather. and we have been enjoying bigger
trade this year than we have had for some
years"
The appearance of the store, with several
dozen coats labeled '"Try on" Uttered about in
dicated that this beautiful spring had message
of resurrection even for cutaway coats and
trousers in fashionable checks and stripes.
Continuous unreasonable weather such as the
20 months up to March last brought us Is dis
astrous to tailors, and especially to those who
cater to men with money enough to indulge
their vanity or fanciful whin1s in clothing. The
man who buys clothes simply to be clothed is
not affected by such little things the weather,
but the dandy and the dressy man are.
=
IN answer to several correspondents give
few details about Mr.. Mantelrs origin and
early life. They are from reliable source.
Robert Mantell was born at Irvine, Ayrshire,
Scotland, in 1856, and is just So years of age.
his parents being in well-to.do circumstances,
he received an excellent education. 1t was
through his love for amateur rheatricals that
he came to adopt the stage as a profession
When quite a young man he was often called
upon to reaG or recite poems, monologues, etc.,
and upon one occasion, unknown to his folks,
he agreed to play the leading part in a drama
that was to be enacted for the benefit of some
local society. Among the audience was An
elder brother Of Mr.. Mantell's, and when he
discovered that the hero of the play was his
own brother his surprise found vent in the fol-
lowing words: 'If that actor isn't our Bob"
Of course the gravity of the situation was
broken, but tour Bob" as he is still called at
home, received a most hearty reception at the
hands of the audience, who fully comprehended
the situation. The usual parental reprimands
followed, but Mr.. Mantell made mp his mind to
become an actor, and he carried out his inten-
tion. He made his first professional appear
ance at Rochdale, Lancashire, England.
lie next supported Miss Marriott. who is re-
tions of male characters and later he support
ed the knights in their tour through the British
provinces. In 1874 MIR. Mantell first came to
America, intending to join the Boston Museum
forces. but failing to secure favorable open
ing, he returned to England. where he re-
manned for time, creating special parts in new
plays and playing leads for many of the bright
lights Of the English stage. In 1878 he revisited
this country as the juvenile man of the Nodes
ka company, and attracted some attention at
the time by his quiet ahd forcible acting. At
the close of the season he received an offer from
Miss Wallace, then famous English trage-
dIenne, with whom he played Orlando Romeo,
Charles Surface and other similar parts, and
then for three years he acted Richard III,
Macbeth, etc.
Then John Stetson engaged him. The en-
gagemen. fell through, however, and the young
actor cast his fortunes with Messrs. Brooks
and Dickson, who were then in want of lead
ing man to create the principal part in
"Romany Rye" After tour in that play he
was engaged by Miss Fanny Davenport for
Loris Ipaaot in Fedora" which he played
for two seasons with brilliant success. After
that he was starred in "Called Buck" His
career since that time as star is too well
known to recite to our readers.