The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-31
MANSFIELD IS DEAD
FINAL CURTAIN IS RUNG DOWN FOR
 NOTED ACTOR.
After Many Months of Suffering Death Relieved Him at His Summer HOme-An EnviabIe
 Stage Career.

New London, Conn, Aug. 30.-Rich- ard Mansfield, the actor, died at 6 o'clock this morning at his summer residence. Seven Oaks.
 Death was directly due to disease of the liver, aggravated by complica- tions. Dr. A. H. Allen, a local phy- sician, who has been in charge since MT. Mansfield's arrival here from Sar- anac Lake, N. Y, states that death was not entirely unexpected, although this fact had not been made public. Mir. Mansheld's condition had been report ed as being excellent It was stated that he stood the journey well from Saranac Lake and that he was up and around his home here until three days ago. Then a turn Tor the worse set in.
 During the great actors last mo- ments he was lying in a condition of coma and did not recoginze the loved ones at his bedside. There were pres ent at the time of his death his wife. his brother Felix, his young son, Gibbs, and the physicians and nurses.
 Mir. Mansfield came into public fame in the role of Baron Chevrial in Pa risian Romance. 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 sad he was not in full sympathy. Mansfield, who had been cast for a small part In the play, stepped for ward and begged permission to play the part of the palsied. absolute old Frenchman.
 Mansfield lifted what at first seemed a small, eccentric part to one of all- absorbing 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 Chevr4al, Dr. Jekyl and Mir. Hyde and Prince Karl were declared masterpieces of character painting. He produced Richard III. while in England and then returned to this country, where he played uninterruptedly sea- son after season.
 Mansfield produced Rostrands 'Cy- rano de Bergerac" Tn America and scored a great success. The last effort of his genius was displayed in a re- markable production of Ibsen's Peer Gynt."
 Richard Mansfield married Beatrice Cameron In 1892. She had been for several years his leading lady, but shortly after her marriage she retired permanently from the stage. Mans fields young son has never been per- mitted to see his father act, as 1t was the artists wish that his child's mind should not be too early impressed with stage life.
 Richard Mansfield was born May 24, 1857. on the island of Heligoland, where his parents were temporarily soJourn- ing at that time. His mother was Mime. Mansfield Rudersdorf, the famous prima donna. His youth was spent in Eng land and on the continent and hls edu- cation was picked up at sundry and various places. He studied for time at a private school in Germany and then was a Derby scholar. under the tutelage of Rev. Walter Clarke. 1t was while at Derby school that he made his first appearance as an actor as Shy lock at a class-day exhibition. After the performance Dr. Selwyn, bishop of Lichheld. sought him out and told him # he ever became an actor he surely would be @ great one. His mother de- sired that he should become an artist and after leaving school he studied for