The sun., 1907-08-31
RICHARD MANSFIELD is DEAD
PASSED AWAY EARLY y YESTERDAY
AT HOME ~ NEW LONDON.
Death Was Not Unexpected Despite Reports
of Improvement since His Return From
the AdirOndacks sketch M Tits career
and an Estimate Of His Dramatic Art.


NEW LONDON, Conn, Aug. 80 Richard
Mansfield died at his summer home on
Ocean avenue at $50 o'clock this morning.
lust "A week after he had come here from
Saranac after fruitless attempt to regain
his health there. Death was due to cirrhosls
Of the liver, complicated by other ailments.
Though Mr. Manshelds brother Felix
anx friends OF the family had given out
statements TO the effect that the actors
condition WAS not serious and that he would
he on the stage again next winter, DIR. A. II.
Allen of this city, who has been the at
tending physician during Mr.. Manshelds
stay here. said to-day that the end was not
altogether unexpected Mr.. Mansfield and
his wife we're prepared for it. he said.
When the sick man came to his home in
New London he made a brave attemptto
he on his feet and appear on the road to
recovery. Many of his friends saw him
walking in the garden and cbatted with
him He had stood the journey from
Saranac very well and seemed to be gaining
strength when three days ago turn for
the worse came and the patient sank rapidly.
On Thursday DR.. Mcclellan OF Pittsburg
was summoned.
Mr.. Mansfield's last few hours were
clouded with unconsciousness. During
all Of Thursday night his wife, his brother
Felix and his son Gibbs were at his bed
side. After midnight he ceased to recognize
those near him and passed away in a coma.
The attending physicians say that MIR.
Mansfield had little chance for recovery
after his return from Europe. The intense
nervous strain attendant upon his work
last spring when he was playing repertoire
in New York had sapped his vitality and
fastened the progress OF his disease. When
he went to England after his breakdown at
Scranton. Pa. he found that the climate
was unfavorable. His return to this coun-
try and the search for health at Ampersand
in the Adirondacks followed.
Across the street from Mr.. Mansfeld's
villa is a small cemetery known as Gardner
Yard. 1t is known that MIR. Mansfield
expressed a wish that his body be placed
in vault there after his death until final
arrangements for it's permanent interment
should be made. Although no definite
arrangements for the funeral were an
nounced tonight it has been tentatively
arranged to hold the services on Monday.
Alfred Poole Grant. rector of st. Jam ess
Episcopal Church in this city. will officiate.
When Richard Mansfield first came to
this country he made his home in Boston.
He was then still in his teens, his stormy
and brilliant career having begun on
the island Of Heligoland on May "a, 1857.
His mother was Nine. Erminia Rudersdorfs
a singer Of no little ability and Of even
more eccentricity. As boy Mr.. Mans
field was educated at the Derby School
In England and here he appeared as Shvlock
one time when the boys gave a performance
of THE Merchant Of Venice Later he
studied painting, but when his mother
came to this country and established her
self as a teacher OF singing he came also
and was for a time employed as private
secretary TO Eben ID. Jordan, Bostons
great merchant.
When he was 20 years old Mansfield
returned to England and took up painting
again. Not long ago he was telling friend
about the privations Of this period OF his
And so,' said this friend. you lived by
aNo, said Mr.. Mansfield, Il lived in spite
OF it
il il not strange that before long he drifted
into other fields OF endeavor. He became
an after dinner and drawing room enter
tainer. At this time he attracted the
notice OF W. s. Gilbert, who then was
at the height Of his famously success
ful partnership with Sir Arthur Sullivan.
Mr.. Mansfield's first appearance in comic
opera was at copyright performance OF
The Pirates Of Penzance," in which he
took the leading part; Later he played
Sorcerer" in the companies which per-
formed those operas in tbe British prov
inces, his initial salary being SIS week.
He stuck To this sort OF thing two or three
years and then came to this country once
more.
Il was the Standard Theatre, now called
the Manhattan, in which Mr.. Mansfield
made his first American appearance, acting
in Les Manteaux Noirs." comic opera
imported from France. Later he appeared
"a Nick Vedder in the opera called rip
Van Winkle," for which Planquette COM
posed the music. After that he appeared
in a number of performances OF Gilbert q
Sullivan operettas, including -Iolanthe."
While playing the part of the Chancellor
in this operetta Mr.. Mansfield severely
injured his ankle while dancing one night
at Baltimore and was forced to leave the
cast. He did not appear in an operetta
again for some time He retained, how
ever, his pleasant barytone singing voice
and occasionally found opportunity TO
use it incidentally to his performances
The story Of MIR Mansfield s instantaneous
and fortutous leap into fame is well known.
II happened in 1883 when A. NJ. Palmer
produced a Parisian Romance at the
Union Square Theatre. Mr.. Mansfield had
been engaged for very small part and
was mighty glad to get even that. The
principal part that Of Baron Cherridl was
to he played by J. H. Stoddart. but at the
last moment, after rehearsng for some
flfIe, UP lHdl lur IdTl WAS DOL
suited To him. In desperation Mr. Palmer
gave the part to Mr.. Mansfield, who made
hit OF enormous proportions. The actor
manager retained this play in his repertoire
10 the end of his career.
He had played many parts since then.
Early in his career he played for a brief
time with Minnie Maddern, who Is now
Mrs. Fiske. A little later he drifted back
10 operetta, playing the part OF Roko
in The Mikado.7 In 1885 he produced
-Prince Karl" in which he was no less sue
cessful than in "A Partisan Romance" and
which he also retained in his repertoire
the rest of his career. Probably the next
big success ha scored was achieved with
-Dr. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde" with which
the actor amazed London as well as America
by the virtuosity he displayed in his double
characterization
The third number Of the Mansfield trilogy
Of early success Beau Brummel."
This play was originally the work Of
Clyde Fitch, hut Mr. Mansfield worked
sssduously upon it after receiving il from
the paywright's hands, 80 that il was
really as much his work as Mr.. Fitchs.
A. a play Beau Brummel" was and is
pretty nearly contemplate, but like a
Partisan Romance and Prince Karl" it
gave the actor u Caance TO create very
vital and human character.
Mr.. MaIse. DIS productions since
thsn included several of Shakespeares
plays. In ~ of them the actor won
great critical approval. In them he played
the parts Of the Duke Of Gloucester.
Shvlock, Brutus and RRg Henry v. His
production of Richard III vna whan no