The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-07
THE WIFE OF MR.. MANSFIELD
Beatrice Cameron Has More Than
Ono Claim to Distinction.

Beatrice Cameron Has More Than
One Claim TO Distinction.
There is not anywhere. perhaps. Il
mere beautiful family attachment than
EXISTS between Richard Mansfield, his
wife, Beatrice. and their little son.
George Gibbs Mansfield.
Beatrice Cameron Mansfield is n di-
rect descendant of Priscilla Mullin, OF
the Mayfower. She was born III Troy
y. Y. and was Il young girl when she
went on the stage. Her apprenticeship
III minor parts was brief. In the
s. ing &c SIS Richard Mansfield was
about to begin his caree-, as an indie
pendent actor and manager. Already
be had astonished the English and
American public by his marked versa
tility as Baron ChevrIal in "A Partisan
Romance" as Nick Vedder in Plan
quotes rip Van Wrinkle, as Il mon
ccled, English-accented Ko-Ko in The
NiikaGo," and as Mrs. Fishes leadiLs
hlan. He had Il play called Prince
karl,' which he determined to make
his Owl investment. Among those Who
were Introduced TO MIN for roles was
Beatrice Cameron. Mr.. Mansfield
made her his leading lady at once.
Miss Cameron held this position /.
consecutive yearS-a record duplicit-
ed perhaps in one other instance only
that of Ellen Terry and Henry Irv-
ing. During this period she played the
leading female roles in Prince Karl"
DIR. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde" Mon
sieur," King Richard ILL.," Don
JUAN "Nero." Ten Thousand IA
Year. 1.-THE Scarlet Letter." The
Merchant Of Venice Arms and the
Man" 1.-The Emperor Napoleon The
King of Peru" "Rodion, the Student, =
Castle Sembras'' and The Devils
Disciple"
Mr.. Mansfield often proclaims that
he has never known and does not be-
lieye there ever was Il better Portia
or Lady Anne than Beatrice Cam
eron's. He has repeatedly acknowl-
edged his Indebtedness TO her for the
assistance and inspiration given him
by her performance of Rama in George
Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man."
IN Mis-. III AK sd1lC ouI
thor's THE Devils Disciple" and her
Hester Prynne in 1.-The Scarlet Let
ter
Miss Cameron was one of the first
American actresses to appreciate and
indeed to act Ibsen in this country. It
was II winter i'll the early '9Os that
she first acted Nora in The Devils
House." Mr.. Mansfield placed his COM
pany and scenery at her disposal. The
criticisms of the time gave her praise
that must have gratified her as much
as they justified her pioneer excursion
into the realms Of a then not under
stood, unbiased and considerably ridi-
culed type of drama.
After an extended courtship, many
hours of which were spent in the sad
die, for both are devoted TO horses,
Mr.. Mansfield and Miss Cameron were
married about ten years ago. She re-
tired from the stage early in 1898, and
since then has appeared only in Il re-
vival OF Arms and the Man, pre-
scented for one Eight in New York by
Mr.. Mansfield as n compliment to his
wife, whose friends had expressed Il
desire to see her play once more.
One child, a son, has blessed the
union Of Mr.. and Mrs. Mansfield. He
was born in 1897, and was named
George Gibbs Mansfield, after a friend
of his parents, and many are he Gto-
ries told of Gibbs precocity. He has
never been taken 70 a theatre to see
his father act. Mrs. Mansfield divides
the year between the town home Oh
Riverside drive, New York city, and a
couurr UIaca the Grange. on the
western heights of New London, Conn.
In town she INDUCES herself in as ac-
tive a social life as her larger interests
in her domestic illustrations permit.
In the country she devotes her leisure
t. gardening. She has several special
ties. Among them are a wonderful
rose garden which she has cultivated
from a couple of hundred varieties sent
her by Mr.. Mansfield from California
when he was last there, Il charming
collection Of old~zfashfoned Towering
shrubs and her beds Of salad green's
Kansas City Star.