Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-30
much of the actress who loses her dia-
monds once year"
Scolded His Audiences,

much of the actress who loses her dia-
monds once year
Scolded His Audiences.
Mansfield was most eager for favorable
comment and applause. and when he failed
to get it felt the lack keenly. On one oc-
casion. in 1885, when he was playing in
the Hagan Theater in st. Louis, he APP
peared before the curtain and angrily ex
claimed THE size of this audience. which
is not w to that of a One-night Texas
stand, argues that am not appreciated In
St Louis. l am not a hypocrte, but will
say biuntly that I return the want of ap-
probation with interest"
After the performance Mansfield made
the declaration that he would not appear
again in St. Louis
On account of his peculiarities Mansfield
was often made the target of strongest
criticisms. in which he was often charac-
Ier1zed as conceited, arrogant and a snob.
These attacks hurt the actor. who once said
to an interviewer: II am nervous and high
strung. With hundred plays to study,
haps become peevish end weighted down
on the wrong side. The first man that
comes along gets all in a volley and hay-
ing fired it off, feel relieved. Like ship
roinns under heavy sea. I list to port
and with the sea gone. 1 go to starboard
again, and all Is fair sailing.
nave no heart. Do not my friends
come to me when in trouble? With an in
come that varies between $40 600 and $40
otO year l have scarcely now a penny
iof myself l confess most of 1t goes to
people who sue me for damages. that is
not those who sue, but to those detest ble
men of the legal profession who benefit
the benefit
You ask whence does my certain kind
of popularity arise? Through the fact
that my entire life has been pitted against
managers who do not wish me to succeed
| have been playing in a theater not a
interview accorded in Brooklyn), where
every little thing that I did was reported
IN the papers. But not by my own peo-
pie Alas. 1 have not the ear of the press
The managers have B
Should l ever write my life. or some
friend write it for me, it would be in the
nature of great surprise to hear of the
many contemplate tricks that have been
played upon me by the various managers
in this country. I am aggressive, and they
hate to see me succeed in methods they
prophesied would end in failure. In school
my nickname was Cork, because l bobbed
up from every sinking. 1 have endeavored
to do my duty to the public. regardless
OF my own health and rival managers
ealumny, yet every means have been
thought of to BLACKBOARD me-"
Planned to Retire.
Mansfield persistently declared that he had
never said anything insulting to anybody
and he never could see his own mannerisms
in the light that his critics saw them He
said that the public was not responsible
for the stories that circulated about him.
little more than a year ago Mr.. Mans
field said in Detroit that three years more
would finish his career on the stage, and
that after 1860 he would be seen no
more on the board. He did not
think then that illness would cut short
his life within that time but he did say that
an6Yt aYnn ,nlI
under the constant strain behind the foot
lights and In studying his parts off the
boards, and that the only prospect he had
OF good rest was to leave theatrical work
entirely.
He had planned to spend the year 1910
in his own way where he would no longer
be disturbed by voices of hostility and
criticism. He then said that he was per-
fectly satisfied with the public and that his
reception in the different cities of this coun-
try had been most hattering. He added:
Il am wearied beyond measure Body and
mind demand rest. Not that / am aware
alysts, but there comes time In every
mans life when lul in the hot race seems
impera tive
Once Mrs. Richard Mansfield unearthed
scrapbook from among her famous hus-
bands effects which showed that he care
fully kept track of everything said about
him. even In the earlier days of his career.
when he was playing in Gilbert & Sulli-
vans comic operas. Mansfield was but a
boy at that time, beginning to carve his
way in the world. and in many of the clip
pings there was only bare reference to
him and his singing In some of the clip
pings he was referred to as Mr.. Mansfield
but the comments on his singing were all
written in kindly spirit.
The actor shut himself out entirely from
the affairs of the everyday world when he
was on the stage He used to say that his
everyday life had nothing in common with
his stage life; that when he played a part
he lived 1t. and that when he was acting
Brutus, Becaucaire or Brummel he for the
time being was literally the man he por-
trayed.
Mansfeld's Family.
Richard Mansfield married Beatrice Cam
eron in 1892 She had been for several
years his leading lady. but, shortly after
her marriage she retired permanently from
the stage. Mansfleld's young son has never
been permitted to see hts father act and
It is the artists wish that his child's mind
should not be too early impressed with
stage life.
The intense nervous strain under which
Richard Mansfield worked caused a COM
plete breakdown last spring while ne was
playing an engagement in Scranton, Pa,
though he had been in poor health for
some time. He recovered sufficiently to
enable him to make a voyage to England.
The English climate failed to benefit the
onfn