New-York tribune., 1907-08-31
Mr.. MANSFIELD is DEAD
Continued fro N first page.

-4,4 lfsl,e5 her home near Boston. where she
ovr,ed = ffzle mansion. flied with beautiful
works Of ARA place that. ultimately. was de-
s1roz-ea by re- believed 10 have been of incen-
diary origin
In his youth Mansfield studied and practised
The AT Of painting and also. for short time
he worked as z clerk in the mercantile mouse
Of the late Eben u Jordan. once a prominent
merchant Of Boston who was exceedingly fond
Of hir, and who always. and practically, con-
tin4,ed TO he his friend AS painter. Mans
field though skinul. did not succeed; but. on
going 10 London. as presently he went he soon
,J,osa ,be vacation Of the stage.-for which,
ea-1ier he had shown a decided aptitude. at
private or serni-Isublic performances in Boston,
and after much effort and some cruel dlsap-
pointrnents and hardships tat one time he was
SO poor that he had resort to the expedient
of giving entertainments at private houses),
he obtained engagement in DOyley Cartes
orera company travelling through the Eng
lish provinces. He had been thoroughly edu-
Gated in music, and he readily gained public
acceptance in such parts J. Wellington
Wells in The Sorcerer.' Admiral Sir Jo-
seph Porter in "Pfnafore'' and the Major
General in The Pirates Of Penzance-" On
returning TO America he appeared at the
Standard Theatre.-TrOw called the Manha'-
tan-as Dronlez. in Les Manteaux Noirs
and from that time his professional lie was one
of continual. energetic industry The way was
never made smooth for him Censure was often
and liberallv bestowed upon his performances
He had 10 face somewhat exceptional antago-
nisrns.-seerningly aroused by the positive self
assertiye character of his amb1ion.-and to
make his way by his strength His decisive
success was obtained when he acted Baron
ChevriaI. on January 10. 1888, at the Union
Square Theatre No observer. Of competent
Judgment. could doubs. after that performance
had been given. that ISichard Mansfield was
man Of original and remarkable genius His
career thereafter WAS marked by many splendid
artistic victories and by opulent and ever grow
ing success. In 1855 he acted in London, at the
E.yceum Theatre. making q production tthe first
in England) of DIR. Jekyll and Mr.. HYDE and
he followed that with "A Partisan Romance
and Prince Kari He first produced Richard
III at the Globe Theatre, London, on March
10 1SSa on October 81, 1889. he produced that
tragedy at the Globe Theatre, Boston, and later
he acted in New York and then made tour
of the country with it, In 1895 he leased Harr-
gan's Theatre New York renovated it, named
it the Garrick Theatre. opened it on April 23
with Mr.. Il Il. Shaw's Arms and the Man."
and thereafter remained in management of it
until December .. He was married on Septern-
Der H. 1892. TO Miss Susan Hegeman who had
been known 90 the stage Miss Beatrice Cam
His career thereafter was one of pro-
disieus exertion. involving the courageous and
exemplary production Of many new PLAYS and
the magnificent revival of English classics and
attended. all the way. with eager public interest
and brilliant popularity. He leaves a widow and
che child, son. named after his intimate and
dear friend. the late Edward N Gibbs
Mansfield had formed the design of making a
magnificent production OF Macbeth" and his
of fnar
il would receive adequate treatment at his
hands He also considering an offer that he
had received "a act in Paris. this year-I907.
Writing 10 The author Of this sketch a the
time of the death of that great actor Henry
Irving. he said: u think that Irving's end was
very enviahle: il was best So and is always best
So irving died in harness. literally worn out
with continual devoted. conscientious labor in
he loving service of his profession. Mansfield
has met with the same fate. and from the same
c.u7e; since he was animated by the same mo-
tive and the same indonitable spirit-'"Think
nothing done. while aught remains do"
The essential part Of the story OF an actors
life. when, having achieved emfnence and made
himself important his generation he pa sses
away. is the record Of his intellectual develop
IneIt. his progressive mental and spiritual ex-
perience revealed in his impersonations of
great characters in dramatic literature In pro-
portion 10 an actors knowledge of human ma
ture and human experience.-knowledg that he
has assinlilated through observation. thought
and sUfering,-s the value Of his artistic i'm
parlment 10 the world. Richard Mansfield was
from mis- boyhood, intensely ambitious and it
his ambition excel in the realm of art
His youth Of vicissitude and Of
considerable hardship His purpose at the
outset was indefinite. lie tried other
paths before he entered upon the path
Of the stage; but. entered upon that path,
he found himself in his natura! vocation,
and he launched himself, heart and soul.
upon the struggle for conquest and erninence-
He was not at any time person Of wayward
life. pursuant Of pleasure and careless of op-
portunitv. He was earnest. diligent, faithful.
conscientious. and true.-improvng every
chance OF winning distinction that came within
his reach. and he thoroughly earned and
tirely deserved every laurel that ever
awarded 10 him. The development Of his mind
was the expansion OF the intellect that &C
companies the gradual predorninance of a noble.
and patient spirit over resentment and exas-
peration at the injustice Of the world. Recogni-
tion not praise. is q e ordained craving of the
artistic nature. and IL is only when that nature
becomes embttered nd cynical that the desire
of recognition dies That desire never died in
Richard Mansfield. The highest attribute of his
acting Imagination, and. next to that at
tribute. came humor.-in which his mind was
uncommonly rich He had a kind heart. and, by
Nature. he was magnanimous. os q sweet dis
position; wishful to be loved; and exceedingly
susceptible TO kindness. His temper. however,
irapetuous, and. a his nervous system had
been impaired by long-cOntinued labor,
disappontments, and the irritation consequent
upon much Misrepresentation, he sometimes ex-
hibited petulance- But those observers who