The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-17
MANSFIELD AS A pRAMATIsT.
He Seems Now to Have Achieved tn
Ambition of His Early Days.

Ambition of His Early Days.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, June Richard Mansfield
used to have an ambition TO achieve q lit
erary success, and in his early manhood
he was in great doubt whether to under
take a literary career or TO become q
painter and a musical composer. While
he was a clerk in dry goods store IN Bos-
ton, in the days of his poverty. he used fire.
quently TO write for one of the Boston
newspapers. and he could have easily OBJ
.ained place upon the staff of that paper,
for he had a vigorous style, good descrip-
tive powers and the imaging faculty, three
qualities which, if combined in one per-
son, make a successful writer for the press.
1t was probably as much chance as am
bition which led him to adopt the dramatic
profession. He began, in fact, as 3 singer,
being compelled from poverty 20 accept a
very humble place in London music hall
He sang well and kept himself free from
the debasing tendencies TO be found in such
resorts, so that he secured a small place IN
comic opera company, and then he
thought seriously OF devoting his spare
time to musical composition. Afterward
he assumed the part of 10 10, the exc
cutioner, In ''The Mikado," where his sue
cess was so great as 20 indicate that comic
opera was his forte Called in as an under
study to play the part of Baron Cheval in
''The Partisan Romance" he astonished
New York audiences by the grewsome
power of his delineation and by the faith
fitness with which he attended to ali of the
details of his part.
This success determined his career, and
since that time he has advanced with Won
derful rapidity, until now he is regarded
by many of the ablest critics as the single
actor of the younger generation upon the
American stage who has the spark of gen
ius. Mansfield's genius asserts itself not
only in his acting but in his purposes. He
has an ideal, and il is his ambition TO at
tain it. He has very great plans regarding
the future of the drama, and his desire is
TO see these plans conSummated rather
than to gain large fortune. The pecun,
larry returns are a secondary consideration
with him, although he knows as well as
any one the value of money.
When he won his most popular success
in his portrayal of the character of Beau
Brummel it was believed that he would go
on satisfied to maintain the distinction
which he then secured. But Mr.. Mansfield
has surprised the public by adding to his
achievements that of dramatic authorship.
His play of don Juan" is not only an act
ing play, but it is literary gem. a sue
cessful play may have little or no literary
merit, and a play which is charming to
read may be worthless when it is staged.
1t is a hard thing to write a play which
has both literary charm and at the same
time is an adequate vehicle for the display of
the talents of an actor. Mr.. Mansfield has
tried for several years TO secure such a
play. He got one in Beau Brummel," but
his collaboration with young Mr.. Fitch,
who was first announced as the author, is
now acknowledged, although there is a
dispute as to the amount of work which
Mr.. Mansfield bestowed upon it.
Don Juan" is his own play from begin
ming to end. He publicly acknowledged
the sources from which he took some of
his suggestions, but the dialogue, which
has a perfect literary charm, the situa-
tions, the stage setting and the costuming
are exclusively the work of Mr.. Mansfield.
He therefore appears before the public not
only as an actor but as a writer of plays,
and thus adds to his achievements that of
authorship. No one could have written
the play of Don Juan" who did not pos
sess the literary instinct, the power TO an
alyze character accurately and to make
vivid to reader or nearer that analysis,
and to suggest by means of the illusions
which the literary artist is the master of,
the local coloring and the flavor of another
time than that of the present generation.
These qualities are possessed only by the
literary master, and in displaying them
Mr.. Mansfield has discovered talents which
only his intimates have hitherto suspected.
Besides that he possesses a sense Of humor
and the power of expressing it, the quality
of wit and a capacity for epigram-traits
which are not essential to perfect literary
development, but which, when possessed,
add greatly to the powers of writer.
1t is Mr.. Mansfeld's intention to write
other plays. He is considering some of
Anderson's fairy stories, which he thinks
can be staged satisfactorily. If he goes on,
as is now his purpose, it is quite possible
that he may be TO the American stage and
drama what Moliere, who wrote and acted
his own plays, was to the French drama in
the time of Louis XIV.
E. J. EDWARDS.