Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-09-03
Sketch Of the Lie Of Player, Who,
for Years, Was at the Head Of the
Drama in the United states-Death
Caused by Liver Disease.

AAss>AcAeSASA $500
reported as excellent.
It was stated that he stood the jour-
ney well from Saranac Lake and that
be was up and around his home here
Antl three days ago. Then turn for
the worse set in and Mr.. Mansfield
was confined to his room. Yesterday
DR.. Mcclellan, OF Pittsburg, was sum-
uoned. Or. Allen said Friday that
he had feared the worst for several
days.
DID Not Recognize Loved Ones.
There were several conditions that
prevented his getting well. Dur
jng the great actors last moments he.
lay in condition of coma and did not
recognize the loved ones at his bed
side.
There were present at the time Of
his death his wife, his brother Felix,
his young son, George Gibbs, and the
physicians and nurses.
Complete Breakdown Last Spring.
The intense nervous strain under
which Richard Mansfield worked caus-
ed a complete breakdown last spring
while he was playing an engagement
In Scranton, Pa, though he had been
in poor health for some time. He recov-
cred sufficiently to enable him to
make voyage to England. The Eng
lish climate failed to benefit the actor
and several weeks ago he returned to
this country and went to Ampersand,
in the kdirondacks. Mr.. Mansfield
longed to be at his summer home in
New LONDON, Conn, and several days
ago he was taken there in his private
car.
Sketch Of Richard Mansfield.
Richard Mansfield was born on the
island of Heligoland, then British
possession, In the German ocean,
where his parents were sojourning at
that time, May "a, 1857. He was de-
scended from a, family of actors on
his mothers side. She was the fam
Gus prima donna, Nine. Mansfield Ru-
dersforf Mansfield's early youth was
passed in England and on the conti-
nent and his education was received
at various places. He studied for a
time IN a private school in Germany
and then went to Derby, England. It
WAS while at the latter place that he
made his first appearance as an actor,
filling the iole Of Shylock in class-day
exercises.
Clerk In Dry Goods Store.
Il was the desire Of his mother that
Mansfield become an artist, and after
leaving his studies he took a course in
art for a time at South Kensington
Family reverses later compelled the
future actor to seek other means Of
support and he decided to come to
the United States, where he secured
. clerkship in the mercantile estab
1ishment of Jordan, Marsh & Co. OF
Boston. He remained with the Bos
ton house for some time and the
senior member. of the firm became
one OF his fast friends. He had no.
entirely forsaken his art, and he was
known to have done some painting
while employed in the commercial line
IN Boston. In 1875 he returned to
England, hoping to sell some of his
paintings, but he failed in this and
for a time it is said he was on the
point of starvation.
Takes to Stage as Last Resort.
AS last resort the disappointed
artist accepted an engagement with a
strolling company Of actors at a sal
airy Of SIS a week and by hard work
he soon began to rise in his profess
sion. After appearing in England for
several years he returned to the Unit
cd States and made his first ap-
peaIance In this country as "Dro-
mez" in the opera Les Manteaux
Noires" at the Standard theater in
New York on September rs, 1878.
When the opera rip Van Winkle''
was produced he was given the part
Of Nick Vedder and in the personifica.
Non of this character he was sue
cess. Shortly after that Mansfield
was given place in the company Of
A. M. Palmer at the Union Square the
ater, where he took, the part of Tiran.
del In the Partisan Romance"
Married Beatrice Cameron.
September is, 1892, Mr. Mansfield
married Beatrice Cameron. his lead
ing woman for several seasons, and
one son was born. Mr.. Mansfield had
q beautiful home in Riverside drive
In New York city Just south Of One
Hundred and Fourth street. He was
member of many clubs. He was
fond Of horses and maintained q
splendid stable at his New York res.
Aence.
Not shakespearsan.
NY husband, said the conceited