The Washington herald., 1907-08-31

New London. Conn. Aug. s0.-Rich-
ard Mansfield died at his home here at
$3.50 o'clock this morning He had been
III for many months. and only three
weeks ago returned from Saranae after
a fruitless stay there in search Of
health. The end came suddenly and
Unexpectedly. Death was caused by
liver trouble and complication. He was
fifty years old on Nay "a last.
Upon his return from Saranac. Mr.
Mansfield went TO his new cottage.
Seven Oaks, in the Sea Park section of
the city. where the summer colony
lives. AT first he made a brave at
tempt 10 discredit tile reports Of the
gravity Of his illness. and was fire.
quently seen about his place, superin-
tending its completion. For the last
few days, however. little had been seen
OF him. and It was thought by HIS
friends and neighbors that he had had
another relapse. and that his case was,
after all, hopeless.
Sudden Change for Worse.
Dr.. A. H. Allen. the local physician, who
had been in charge OF the case since Mr..
AIansfleld's arrival here. said to-day that
the actors death was not entirely unex-
pected. though its imminence had not
been made public, and was known only to
the immediate family. The physician said
that Mr.. Mansfield stood the journey
from Saranac Lake 10 New London very
we'll. and had been up and around his
home up TO three days ago. Then there
came a change for the worse. and on
Thursday Dr. Mcclellan, Of Pittsburg,
was summoned hurriediy.
Mr.. Mansfield failed rapidly until the
end. Just before this came he sank into a
coma. and was unable to recognize those
gathered about his bedside. There were
present when he died his wife. his brother
Felix. his son. Gibbs Mansfield, and the
physicians and nurses. His body has
been given in charge of a local under
taker for preparation for burial.
False Reports of Death,
During his stay at Saranac reports
would occasionally come out to the effect
that Mr. Mansfield was dead or at the
point OF death, but each time such ru-
mors were denied and the additional
statement was made that he was getting
along nicely and would be able before
long to take up active life again. The
complicated arrangements made for his
trip from the AdirOndacks 10 this city
however dispelled such hopes and It was
seen that Mr.. Mansfield would be un.
usually fortunate If he were ever able tC
return TO the stage
Mir. Mansfield gradually withdrew from
even so much of the public as had been
accustomed 10 see him in and around
his home. Little had been seen of him
for a week or more previous to his death.
Richard MansheId's Career.
Richard Mansfeld's first appearance be
fore the public was in St. Georges Hall
London. in 1871, where he took a part in
a musical entertainment, but failed to dis
play any indication of the histrionic abil-
ity he was TO develop later in life. That
first appearance may be set down as
failure. but Mansfield was not disheart-
ened. and although he met with many re
bluffs he travelled through the English
provinces playing small parts in Gilbert
and Sullivans comic operas. Later he ap
peared in London in comic opera, comedy
and tragedy. but il was not until 1852
when he came 10 this country, that h,
made a mark which was TO endure in tn,
theatrical world His first part here wa.
as DromeZ in the opera Les ManteauI
Noirs," and he was favOrably received
The year after that he made a big hit a
the Union Square TheateT in the chaTac
ter Of Baron Chevrial, the elderly roue il
The Partisan Romance" an adaptation
from the French.
Best known I'm JeIzyII and Hyde.
After that the road was easier. From
1883 until 1890 he took a more prominent
part on the boards, playing IN the chic
cities Of the United States. now and ther
making a success. but toiling along per
sistently toward his goal Little by littl,
he won popularity, as Ko-ko in 9TH,
Aikado, as Richard III. as Shylock. anC
in other parts It was not until May 3
1856. however. that he began his careei
as a star when. at the Madison Squar,
Theater, New York, he played Prime,
Karl.
Mansfield was best known perhaps To-
his Characterization OF DR.. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde in a dramatized version OF Steven
sons story. As Richard III, Beau BrUm
mel, Dmmesdale in his own version o.
the Scarlet Letter" Shylock, Bluntschl
in Shaws Arms and the Man" Cyrant
de Bergerac, Henry Y. Monsieur Beau
caire. Prince Heinrich IN "Old Heidel
berg" the Misanthrope Of Moliere, anC
Ivan the Terrible he did probably hi
finest acting, though he was known alsc
in many other prominent figures in stag,
life.
Born on Island of HeigoIand.
Mansfield was born on the Island o
Heligoland on May "A, 1857. His earl,
youth he spent in the United States. Hi
mother was Nine. Mansfield -Rudersdorff
the singer Mansfield first tried mis- ham
studying for the East Indian civil service
after which he went into business, bu
abandoned this for literary and artisti
work, at both of which he made compare
tive failures. By some critics Mansiel
was regarded as the legitimate successo
Of Sir Henry Irving. the greatest o
modern English actors. By others h
was not held in such high regard, and b,
these critics he was described as a victim
Of mannerisms of speech. gestures. ant
intonation. But, however critics may diff
fer as 10 Mansfield's greatness as al
actor. he was always box office success