The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-31
BRILLIANT CAREER OF
 MAN IN LONG STRUGGLE
Mansfl < 7, Ibored In Many Fields Be- fo 6s coming an Actor, But He .r5
 = k Jlckly Went to the Top
 of Ills Profession.

2.NeW IsOHuOlly 1OHil.t August oU--fklCn-
 d Mansfield, the best known actor on 1, the American stage, passed away this morning at his summer residence. Seven Oaks. Ocean avenue Death was directly due to disease of the liver, aggravated by complications. Dr. A. H. Allen, local physician, who has been in charge since MT. Mansheld's arrival here from Saranac Lake N. r., states that death was not entirely unexpected, although this fact had not been made public.
 MT. Mansfield's condition had been re- ported as being excellent It was stated that he stood the journey well from Sara mac Lake. and that he was up and around his home here until three days ago Then turn for the worse set in and Mir. Mansfield was confined to his room. On Thursday Dr. Mcclellan of Pittsburg was summoned. Dr. Allen said today that he had feared the worst for several days
 During the great actors last moments he was lying in a condition of coma, and dio not recognize the loved ones at his bedside. There were present at the time of his death his wife, his brother Felix, his young son, Gibbs, and the physicians and nurses.
 Born on an Island.
 Richard Mansfield was born on the lit- tie island of Heligoland, on May a 1857. His mother was Mma. Mansfield Rudersdorf, famous prima donna, and 1t was from her that Mansfield inherited his love for the arts,. The actor studied at several schools on the continent and went to England to study art In the South Kenslngton museum, London.
 The young artist made a precarlous living, painting pictures and many times his only meal In these early days in Lon don, was a hot potato bought from Q street peddler.
 "I used to hold the potato to warm my hands," said Mansfield in relating his experiences. "and then eat It."
 The struggle for livelihood proved discouraging to Mansfield and he came to Boston, where for a time he entered business life a salesman in a dry goods house. Commercial life was not congenia to the temperament of the young man and he returned to England. lie then turned his talents toward the stage. As singer and comedian he ] joined a travelling company at a salary of S15 a week.
 An Artistic Mind.
 l In the early days of his stage career he ! did splendid characteristics and manner | isms which marked his work and stamped l 1t as his own many gears after. Mans | field turned his whole artistic bent to | the study of the stage and waited for an opportunity to show what he could l do. Several years were spent playing 1 t.. .A, 1trh 1 inces, and then Mansfield came to this country where his first appearance was | made In Les Manteaux Norris at the 1 Standard theatre. Later he played the part of Nick Vedder in Rip Van Winkle." Mansfield's genius had so far failed to
 make itself manifest to his associates, l but in 1883 his opportunity came when A. | M. Palmer put the "P;s!sian Ro- | nance" J. H. Stoddart was cast for | the part of Baron Chevrial In the play. | Stoddart at the last minute declined to ! play the part, with which he said he was not in full sympathy. Mansfield, who | had been cast for a small part in the | play, stepped forward and begged per | mission to play the part of palsied. dis solute old Fenchman
 Sprang Into Fame.
 Mansfield lifted what at first seemed | a small, eccentric part to one of all ab- | sorbing interest. The public and the ] critics forgot the play to talk of Mans | fields Baron Chevrial, and from that day | Mansfield became a leading actor on the | American stage.
 | Mansfield returned to England, where | his Baron Chevrlal, pr. Jekyl and MT. | Hyde and Prince Karl were declared | masterpieces of character painting. He | produced Richard III while in England l and then returned to this country, where | he played uninterruptedly season after | season.
 | Mansfield produced Rostands "Cyrano | De Bergerac" in America and scored a | great success. The last effort of his | ginus was displayed in a remarkable pro- | duction of Isben's Peer Gynt.
 | Richard Mansfield married Beatric | Cameron in 1892. She had been for sev- | eral years his leading lady, but shortly l after her marriage she retired perma- | nently from the stage. Mansfelds young | son has never been permitted to see his | father act as 1t was the artists wish 1 that his child's mind should not be too early impressed with stage life