The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-10-11
HABITS or MANSFIELD
How He Discharged Employees
and Forgot All About Il.
FAMOUS ACTORS CHARITIES.

BUSINESS Associate Of Great Trassdlan
Recalls the Many Persons He Aided
and Vast Number Of Christmas
Checks Ne Sent out--Disliksd Fast
Tralns.
Many stories we're always current
about the late Richard Mansfield, the
famous actor, during his lifetime, but
many that were never told before
were repeated recently by men who
knew him and who wished to pay
their tribute to bis memory, says the
New York Herald While all the world
had heard Of his quick temper. few
knew Of his deeds Of charity, and he
possessed many interesting pecullarl.
ties and eccentricities that were not
,,Rsnerally discussed until after his
death. 80 sTTs
hmeh things would irritate him be-
You'd All reason. and he had way Of
diachargIng members Of his company
on very trivial grounds and OF paying
no attention usually when be saw
them about afterward when he was
dealing In theaters with employees
over whom he had no direct control he
adopted the same arbitrary manner
and usually with the same result.
Since the construction Of the New
Amsterdam theater he had never ap.
peared elsewhere in New York, The
men who worked In the house were In
atructed that II Mr.. Mansfield told
them they were discharged they should
say nothing In reply and that they
were discharged-for the moment-and
should leave and then return 10 their
posts az soon as he was out OF the
way. he discharged various men there.
without authority. Of course. including
the carpenter and the electrician.
when be FIRST appeared in the thea
Der BIZ had q dressing room some dis
lance above the stage. which he had TO
reach by an elevator. After two OF
three trips above he became very
much annoyed and sent an attendant
20 fnd Mr.. Klaw. one OF the owners.
When Mr.. KiRw arrived MFR. Mansfield,
who seemed very angry. turned upon
him and exclaimed;
'Your theater Is very beautiful In.
side, but II Is like a miserable hotel,
and when I come up here on the ele-
vator | feel like pressing the button
and ordering some ice water"
well. then, why don't you do itf'
replied Mr. Klaw. You would get
fna carbonated water"
The actors humor changed, and he
made no more complaints. Being his
ka - a
dressing room from which he could
command the stage. and one was built
especially for him After he had
moved into II no noticed mechanic
who was skylarklng having nothing
70 40 az the moment He rushed dOwr
md eFled.- -. ssbsz-sNpes ''arSas~s-ri..
you are discharged. Go away ant
never enter the theater again. shall
inform KlRw a Erlanger tomorrow"
The man, who happened to be al
employee OF the Mansfield company
and not OF klaw & Erlanger. Obedient
" put on his hat and coat, went on
one door. came IN another. resumed
work, and that ended the episode.
At the beginning Of the run Of 'IvaI
the Terrible" Mr. Mansfield would no
take any curtain calls, The tirst nigh
audience kept on applauding for Nv
minutes. but he refused TO appear. A
tho end OF the play ON tho aecOn'
night Mr., Mansfield concluded to ca,
q few words. As he was advancinj
the asbestus curtain was let down
and be turned angrily on the stag
carpenter and said;
Il shall not enter this theator agai
until you have been discharged. 70
must leave here now. I shall ropog
Sour conduct to Klaw 4 Erlanger."
The stage carpenter accepted his dis
charge with good grace and continue
his work as usual In his own con
pany every employee was discharge
from time 20 time. One little felloN
who had been discharged prohabl
minety times was recognized by MI
Mansfield one evening. The actor loob
Cd around ut the others present an
eaid to his manager. Ben Stevens: