The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-23
OF the Latest in Drama
ROBERT MANrELLs TROUBLES.

| ROBERT MANTELL' s TROUBLES.
Mrs. Robert B Aantell, whose death
was announced a couple Of days ago,
started in professional life as an amateur
in the Western company from which
| Marie Burroughs graduated. 1t was the
success of the latter actress at the Mad
| ison Square that tempted her companion
! to the regular stage. Charlotte Behrens
! reached New York in humber capacity
| than Miss BorroUghs for she made her
| metropolitan debut in a Bowery theatre
| as the tortured heroine of a nihilistic
! melodrama. Her acting, says Hillary
! Bell. possessed considerable force and in
! igence. and she attra cted more attention
I than was given to the play. At that time
! r. B. Mantell, lately started out on
starring tour, had employed several lead
/ ing women without success, and hearing
| Of the talents of the new actress, he en-
| gagged her for the position. The unhappy
! fate that often governs theatrical peo-
pies affairs led Mrs. Mantell No. l to be
the first champion and admirer of Mrs.
Mantell No g. Mantels wife, Marie Shell
don, the Coincidence of the company, es-
pOused the cause of the newcomer,
warmly, and proved so good a friend to
her that presently Charlotte Behrens was
established not only as leading lady of
the organization, but as an intimate in
the Mantell household. Marie Sheldon
the comediene Of the company, espoused
the cause of of the newcomer warmly, |
and proved so good friend to her that |
presently Charlotte Behrens was estab- /
lished not only as leading lady Of the or
ganization, but as an intimate in the Man !
ell IA
ger youthful. She was the mother Of /
tire children. She had fought the long |
fight that carried her husband from OBJ
security to popularity, and the scars of |
that battle left their lines in her face. /
Charlotte Behrens was young, reasonably
comedy, with a perfect figure and a foot
that could not be rivaled in the dramatic
profession. Robert was susceptible and
a divorce was inevitable. Charlotte Beh-
rens' husband challenged Mr.. Mantell to
a duel, but the meeting never took place
Mr.. Hume secured a divorce, Mrs. Man
tell secured a divorce, Mr.. ManteI and
Miss Behrens got married. The venture
was prosperous in one way, unfortunate
in another. Mr.. Mantell had married, in
stead of engaged, clever leading woman,
and his expenses were much diminished.
But this economy turned out to be no saw
ing after all, for by the terms of her di-
vorce decree the first wife was allowed
an alimony which Mr.. Mantell could not
pay, and as her lawyers were always on
the watch for him our once fashionable
actor could not enter the state in which
he made his first and most profitable
success. While he lived happily with the
him through thick and thin Mantell was
one of the most considerable actors. He
had been for some years a member of
Miss Wallis well-known company tour
ing the English provinces when he came
10 this country to better his fortune. He
was playing a small part in THE Ro-
many Rye" at Neblo's Garden when Fan
ny Davenport discovered in him a pos
sible Loris Ipanoff. She engaged him for
the role, and her judgement proved so
correct that on the first night of Fedora
Robert B. ManteH made a success equal
to her own. Thereafter he was the cyno-
sure of every eye. He became a matinee
idol andprosperously filed the sentiment
tai part left empty by the death of Harry
Montague. A. NJ. Palmer ard Daniel
Frohman engaged him to star in Hugh
Conway's Called Back at the Fifth
ious salary of $500 week. The play
failed but MantelI still remained in favor,
and Steele Mackaye engaged him to open
the newly built Lyceum Theater. In
those days r. B. Manteu possessed his
own house, his wife and thriving family.
Now he has lost his house and its Lares
and Penates. Broadway knows him no
more, and the nearest he comes to New
York is HobOken. All sorts of luck went
out of the Mantell household when our
actor fell in love with Charlotte Behrens.