The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-31


ono OF the veterans of tic stage. soon
upset all plans for the performance
by refusing TO play the role OF Baron
Chevrial. He couldn't see anything IN
II, he said. 1t was given to Mansfield.
lie kent the business to himself.
On the opnning night the audience
sat through the commonplace perform
ance without IN thrill until the last
scene. the overwhelming climax Of the
death scene or the old beau as he
proposes his toast, the glass finkling
against his teeth. then the shaking
frame, and the utter collapse. A roar
sounded through the theatre which
stamped Mansfields work. as the one
sensation of the play. His place on
the American stage was assured from
that night.
Cnrccr on Road MS Star.
After that the road was easier. From
1889 until 1890 he took a more promi-
ncnt part on the boards. playing in
the chief cities OF the United States,
now and then making success. but
toiling along pers.stently toward his
goal. Little by little he won pop
ularlty as 10 10 in ''rhe Mikado," as
Richard III, as Shylock. and in other
parts. 1t was not until May 3. 1885,
however. that he began his career as u
star, when, at the Madison Square Gar
den Theatre. New York, he played
prince Karl"
Mansfield was best known. perhaps,
for his characterization of DR.. Jekyll
and Mr.. Hyde in dramatized version
of Stevenson's story. AS Richard Ill.
Beau Brummel. Dimmesdale, in his own
version OF The Scarlet letter." Shy
lock, Bluntschil, in Shaws Arms and
',-y de Henry
V, Monsieur Beaucaire, Prince Helm
rich. in old Heidelberg and Ivan
the Terrible. he did probably his finest
acting. though he was known also in
many other prominent figures in stage
life
All of the productions OF Mr.. Mans
field were noted for the elaborate man
nor In which they were staged--every
detail had to be perfect, and time and
expense We're not considered. The cos
tunes and settings had to be histori-
cally correct. ana the result was a
perfect production
Spent Fortune on "ltichurd III"
1T was always Mr.. Manshelds ambi-
ton to have everything pertaining to
his plays perfect, in the highest class.
of art. He spent fortune years ago,
in this country and in England. in.
endeavoring to make the public accept
his Richard III.
Like his Shylock, 1t was not at first
appreciated. The purpose of Mr.. Mans
field of late years was to build UP a.
repertoire of the great dramas. Con-
seuuently he gave the public "Cyrano|
de Bergerac," and so on to Peer Gynt.'
Mr.. Mansfeld's voice had what may
be termed rich coloring, and its value.
was not easy to eXaggerate. From
passion to pathos 1T was superb.
Two fortunes had Mr.. Mansfield seen
wiped out. and he never rested when
under a financial obligation until 1T
had been paid. 1t is related of him
that for every working week of ten
years he paid at the rate of $500 a week
obligations footing up to the great
sum of s16S,000. He knew no rest
until his Indebtedness had been salts
fed. The gay Beau Brummel knew
what it meant to go hungry, but he
conquered all obstacles.
Hostile Critics.
Mansfield was born on the Island of
Heligoland May "a, 1857. His early
youth he spent in the United States.
His mother was Nine. Manstield-R Riders
dorf, the singer. Mansfield first tried
his hand studying for the East Indian
civil service, after which he went into.
business, but abandoned this for lit
erary and artistic work. at both OF
which he made comparative failures.
BY some critics Mansfield was re-
Earded as the Legitimate successor of
Sir Henry Irving, the greatest of mod
ern English actors. BY others he was
not held in such high regard. and by
these critics he was described as a
victim of mannerisins of speech ges-
lures and information. But however
critics may differ as to Mansfield's
greatness as an actor he was always