The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-11
THEATRICAL NEWS
A Fresh Bundle of Richard
Mansfield Stories.
Incidents of Some of the Ac-
tors Eccentricities.
TRIP THROUGH KANSAS
He Thought IS Miles an Hour
Too Fast.
Other News of the Plays and
Players.
TRIP THROUGH KANSAS

Richard Mansfield's special train Of
nine cars was whipping through Kansas,
running west from Kansas City, says
the Chicago Record Herald. The actors
own private car was, against his usual
custom. attached to the extreme rear of
the train, so that like a whip lash it
got the full benefit of all the speed.
Three of the stars Kansas City
friends were dining with him in his car.
He was on his way to open in Denver,
and they had come out couple of nun
bred miles from the Kaw to wish him
good speed on his western trip. The
whole party was at the table and Mr..
Mansfield was lifting spoonful of soup
to his lips when the train plunged round
a sudden curve. The effect was some
what disconcerting, and Mr.. Mansfield
called his old waiter.
Jefferson he said. Il would like to
speak to the conductor"
The conductor came back through the
train, took off his cap, and asked what
was wanted.
How fast is the train running Just
nOW2' asked the actor.
About eS miles an hour, sir
"Well, aren't you afraid purred the
tragedian, THAT my guests will get in
digestion by eating so fast?"
The conductor went forward. and in
few minutes the speed OF the train
slackened Derce2tibly.
l.
cific coast from San Francisco to Ia
coma. 1t was five hours late, and soon
it became apparent that it would not be
possible to reach Tacoma in time to
open the performance at the regular
hour Presently Mansfield sent the fol-
lowing telegram to the manager OF the
Tacoma theater:
Hold audience until $3.50. Train I'M
avoidably delayed
The Tacoma manager got that mes
sage and groaned. The house had been
sold out. and no performance meant
a loss to him of more than $1,000. He
had had experience with other actors,
and he felt certain that $50 meant at
least an hour later. He knows now that
Mansfield is the most exact OF men. At
500 he decided to dismiss the audience
and return the money. The people We're
practically all out of the house and the
bcx office was empty when at $40 Mans
field and his company walked in.
A dialogue followed which was warm
and emphatic on both sides. 1t took
place between the local manager and the
actor in the lobby of the theater. tt
happened that one Of the theater par
ties had been late in leaving its box,
and was passing ont through. the lobby
as Mr.. Mansfield and the manager were
throwing vocal red pepper at each other.
One of the ladies' detached herself from
the rest Of the party and introduced her
self to the actor.
.'I1r Mansfield" she said, however
Dduly you may IeeI ABOUT the aDanOOQ-
ment of this performance, the disap-
pOintment is really ours. We Tacoma
people have been looking forward to
seeing you for years We had bought
and crowded every seat in the -sOuse
Now we are not to see you after all
You may not come back here again for
five years. So you see our misfortune
is really greater than yours. Instead 81
blaming the local manager it seems to
me you should be thinking what you
can do for US"
1t was a fiattering little sDeee-a, pref
tily made. and the tragedian's rancor
was appeased.
4 am going to play in Seattle to-
morrow evening" he said. and if you
madam, your husband, and your friends
! will be my guests on my car I will glad
/ ~ take you over to Seattle and give you
a box d t the performance"
The invitation was accepted. and the
1 trip vas made. On the way a sudden
/ friendship developed between the actor
and his new found Tacoma friends.
/ They impressed on him. aCain and
I again. the great loss which Tacoma felt
/ in missing his performance, and finally
reused all the chivalry in Mansfield s
nature.
Ladies'" he said. st viii cancel nv
matinee enga cement in Seattle and will
take the train back to Tacoma on one
condition. That is that you accept and
distribute all the tickets in the house
for that performance among your
friends in Tacoma
The splendid courtesy was accepted
and Mansfield actually Cancelled his
matinee enga cement in Seattle, the seats
for which had already been practically
sold out, returned the money, put his
scenery and company On the special
train, and doubled back to Tacoma
/ where performance was given al
which the .souse was packed and not a
person present paid cent for his seat
Some years ago DR.. and Mrs. Loring
of Washington. D. C, were the recip-
tents of a similar compliment from the
actor As the result of friendly wager
as to the success of one Of his ventures
"A wager which Mansfield taking the
mega tive side, lost-he gave a special
performance of "3eau Brummel' al
what is now Chase's theater in Wash
lngton, and everybody in the crowded
house was the guest Of DR.. and Mrs
LCring