New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-06
SOME OF MANSFTELD'S TREASURES
THEY HAVE JUST PASSED THROUHh iHH
DANGER THAT is EQUAL TO
THIRD OF FIRE.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mansfield have just
moved into their new home In Riverside anu
the chaos OF the process has brought 10 '"'
surface many treasures which the actor mas
accumulated during his career and whlcn recai'
significant associations. Among the most
precious OF MIR. Mansteld's accumuiations are
a pair of antique shoe buckles presented 10 MIN
by the widow Of Lester Wallack. they were
given to Mr.. Wallack by Charles kean' ana
both of these great predecessors or Mahs"ei"
wore the buckles in their performances Near
by Is another pair OF shoe buckles. Ihey were
the gift Of the Dowager Lady Freake, given TO
Mr. Mansfield on the occasion Of a dinner at her
country seat at Twickenham tonce shootihs
box of James I'D. and they were worn Tor many
years by David Garrick Lady Harrington
gave them to Lady Freake. Charles Wyndham
wore these buckles the first night OF his per-
Torrance Of David Garrick." The note accom-
panying the buckles says: From Lady Freake
to Richard Mansfield, for his fine performance
OF Richard H."
The stick which Mansfield carries In Beau
Brummel" was once the property OF the MS
toric dandy Mansfield In London, just be-
fore producing this play. searching among the
antiquarians for small belongings Of the beau
At dinner one evening he heard that a walk
ing stick OF the beaus reposed. dust-covered
and neglected. in a little pawnshop in Cheap
side Thither he went next morning. The price
asked for the cane outrageous. But ny
chance Mr. Mansfield the name OF the
pawner on the ticket attached. and he went to
search for the holder. The search lasted for
five days, but in the end he got the ticket and
sent a boy In to redeem the cane. Mr.. Mans
field has also snuffbox said to have been the
property Of George Brummel. but not so well
authenticated.
Among the many souvenirs which he retains
OF characters which part OF the history OF
his achievements none present a more Singh
lar history than that surrounding a patched
champagne glass When A NJ. Palmer pro-
duced THE Partisan Romance" at his Union
Square Theatre. J. H. Stoddart refused the part
of Baron Chevrial because he saw no oppor-
tunty in II. and young Richard Mansfield
stepped forward to make the part. The
hearsals so pleased Mr.. Palmer that he brought
Mansfeds dressing room on the first night
Of the play champagne glass from valuable
set Of his own which he bought in Paris and
gave it to the actor 10 that night. wishing
him good luck But after the supper scene.
where every one else cheered, Mr.. Palmer
wrung his hands for his precious champagne
and that his glass would be dashed to pieces.
Neither had Mansfield. SO at that moment he.
toe forgot his triumph in concern for the ruined
treasure He gathered the fragments himself
and took them to an expert member. The glass
MAS restored with remarkable skill. but the
singular thing about IL was that. with less
Imagination than II takes for astronomers TO
see bears and scorpions In the stellar arrange
ments the lines of the break described four
leaf clover. Mansfield is just little superst
tious and so is Mr.. Palmer. He gave the glass
to the actor. and sent the rest OF the set 10
stand with the historic one.
One piece of fun OF which the actor Is fond
is associated with the knife which he uses
when, playing Shylock. he seeks the pound OF
flesh nearest Antonio's heart. That knife.
common enough blade. which he bought in
second hand store, he keeps wrapped in silk
and cotton, locked in a glass cabinet. When
some pretentious ignoramus by chance gets
near him. the actor tells him in a whisper that
he is going to show him the greatest treasure
on earth. for which antiquarians the world
over have been searching for centuries. With
iniunctions 70 secrecy, he unlocks the cabinet
unwraps the cotton and silk and assures his
victim that he beholds the identical knife with
which Shylock offered to cut from Antonio the
famous pound Of flesh Once Mr.. Mansfield was
exhibiting It with elaborate preamble to the
OF circle of children. bur when he
to the pon. OF just what this wonderful thing
was. one Of the little ones spoke up with resent
ment: "Aw. there wasn't Shylock. He
a make believe in story"
UOPE fPrEDHOOP