The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-09-11

When the late Richard Mansfield. the
greatest exponent of Shakespearean
drama in the United States and one
of the best known actors on the .Nmer-
can stage was at school in England
the boys gave performance of The
Merchant of Venice" Mansfield acting
Shylocll. The bishop of Litiletield
was a guest that day, and at the con-
clusion OF the play he asked the youth
full Shylocli to come forward so that
he might speak to him. says the New
York Globe. Shaking the boys hand.
he said
Heaven forbid that l should encour-
age you to become an actor. but should
you. if / mistake not You will be il
great one
Many years later an Interviewer
asked the actor what he thought of
his act.
.'Since Garricll's time there has been
no actor but myself" replied the actor
promptly.
Where the reporters sense of humor
was it is hard TO tell. for he wrote
up MI. Mansfield as a terrible example
of theatrical egotism. Evidently he
completely missed the twinkle in the
actors eye.
Self possession, which he had
learned in adversely. never deserted
him AS an example, too. of his hui
NOR if rightly understood. it is told
that at the end of one of the acts the
manager, then Mr. Palmer, came into
Mr. Mansfield's dressing room. Young
man, You are acting superbly," he said.
That's what | am here for. You
must excuse me: l am very busy" and
Mansfield proceeded with his makeup.
touching up the lines of his face for
his third act.
Cant you see how it is done?" he
once said to super"
'.Yes. SIR replied the man. ''but if
I could do it like that would not be
working for So a week" 'Three dol
lars week. said the actor musingly.
well, if you only get So a week you
can do it any way you like"
Following is the actors own story
of his early career told to some friends
in New York several years ago:
II went on the stage because was
poor. had an excellent education
and started life as an artist. was
living in Boston and had many friends,
SO sold every picture l painted as
soon as it was finished, but soon my
list of friends began to decrease. and
with every picture sold I lost a
friend until at last l had not COM
panion left and no market for my
wares, and returned to London.
You know what the life of young
painter is like. had to give up my
art and go into business, but at the
end Of year l made dismal failure
and returned to art. But l made no
money and was SO poor that | could
not pay for my lodgings. Sometimes
the landlady would shut me out. and
then l would wander through the
streets all night and sing ballads. II I
got few pennies would invest them
In hot potatoes, and after thoroughly
warming my hands and pockets
would proceed to make meal and
warm my stomach"
A grim smile stole over his face at
this thought. and then he added:
Some people wonder why | am not
one of the boys. They do not know
that | have been through it all. Be-
fore Beerbohm Tree ever thought OF
going on the stage / stood among the
cabbages in the market at o'clock in
the morning singing songs. My great
chum i'll those days was young Hep
sing together, and often when his ia
Their would shut him out he would
come to spend the night with me
That was before my landlady locked
me out. AT that period of my life
often dined OH smells There was
famous brewery on Cheapside. and
used 10 go there every morning be-
cause | thought the smell of hops
strengthening. For Il second course l
would stand in front of butcher
shop, then the bakers.
Sometimes for days | lived on
smells. but once in awhile | was lucky
enough To receive an invitation 10 dine
With some of my friends AT the Savage
club. ! was one of the original mem
bers. and the only time in my life that
i ever got drunk was there. Recciv-
Ing an invitation To dine, With eager
steps FASTENED to the cilb rs fast is
my weak condition would permit, btt
my strength gave out. and ] arrived
jnst after the last course had been
cleared away. The boys were drink
ing wine, and foolishly joined them
and was soon as drunk as ii lord
The first time was ever on any
stage was at Il German read, all the
rage when | WAS II young man. II
was an entertainment something like
the thcater. only NIL love was eXpugned
from lie two short plays that consti-
tilted the performance. 10 give ii y
se!nblance OF parlor entertainments
there was always piano music between
the plays. and SO it was that bishops
and ministers of the church attended
and applauded. Young Hepworth had
a great deal of influence in society,
and once when one of the performers