The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-10-02
HABITS OF MANSFIELD
How He Discharged Employees
and Forgot All About 1t.
FAMOUS ACTORS CHARITIES.
Business Associate of Great Trasedian
Recalls the Many Persons He Aided
and Vast Number of Christmas
Checks He Sent out-Dislikcd Fast
-ra;ne

Trains.
Many stories We're always current
about the late Richard Mansfield, the
famous actor, during his lifetime, but
many that were never told before
We're repeated recently by men who
knew him and who wished to pay
their tribute to his 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 peculiari-
ties and eccentricities that were not
generally discussed until after his
death.
Small things would irritate him be-
discharging members Of his company
on very trivial grounds and of paying
no attention usually when he saw
them about afterward. When lie 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
structed that If 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 to their
! posts as soon as he was out of the
way. He discharged various men there.
without authority, of course including
the carpenter and the electrician.
When he first appeared in the thea
ter he had a dressing room some dis
lance above the stage, which he had to
reach by an elevator. After two Or
three trips above he became very
much annoyed and sent an attendant
to find Mr.. Klaw, one of the owners
When Mr.. Klaw arrived Mr.. Mansfield
who seemed very angry, turned upon
him and eXclaimed:
Your theater is very beautiful in
side. but it is like miserable hotel.
and when come up here on the ele-
vator feel like pressing the button
and ordering some ice water"
We'll. then. why don't you do it:"
replied Mr.. Klaw. You would get
fine carbonated water"
The actors humor changed. and he
made no more complaints. Being his
own manager, he wished to have a
dressing room from which he could
command the stage. and one was built
especially for him. After he had
moved into 1t he noticed a mechanic
who was slylarking, having nothing
to do at the moment. He rushed dow,
and cried:
You are discharged. Go away and
never enter the theater again. shall
inform Klaw & Erlanger tomorrow"
The man. who happened to be an
employee of the Mansfield company
and not of 1llaw & Erlanger, obedient-
ly put on his hat and coat. went out
enc door. came in another. resumed
work, and that ended the episode.
AT the beginning of the run of "Ivan
the Terrible" Mr.. Mansfield would not
take any curtain calls The first night
audience kept on applauding for five
minutes, but he refused to appear. AT
night Mr.. Mansfield concluded to say
n few words. AS he was advancing
the asbestus curtain was let down
and he turned angrily on the stage
carpenter and said:
II shall not enter this theater again
until you have been discharged. You
must leave here now. shall report
your conduct to Klaw & Erlanger."
The stage carpenter accepted his dis
his work as usual. In his own com
pany every employee was discharged
from time to time. One little fellow
who had been discharged probably
ninety times was recognized by Mr.
!, Mansfield one evening The actor look
cd around Mt the others present and
said to his manager. Ben Stevens
"Dear me! + have discharged them
all, but 1t does not seem to have any
effect
Mr. Mansfield had his own railroad
car. and whenever he Travelled with
his company he had special train
He insisted that the speed of the train
should never exceed thirty-five miles
an hour, and he contracted with the
railroads on that basis. He had in his
car an instrument for determining the
speed. and if he found that the trail,
was exceeding the limit that he hat
set he would tug the bell rope as q
signal to stop and would instruct the
conductor to see that the rate was
more moderate. On his last trip fron
Denver to San Francisco the train was
about eight hours late. but he persist
ed in maintaining the same speed.
I'VE will arrive Mt noon. which vii
be just the right time" lie said. ant
he was right, as the clocks We're JUS
striking IL as he reached his destina
ton.
Even when he was in the shadow O.
death he had a special train. Aftel
landing in Montreal he was anxious t,