Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-29

quarto volume Mr.. wilstach tells the story
Of the life and struggles OF the great actor
as no one else could. For many seasons
and OUTLYING manager after manager. Mr..
Wilstach was connected with Mr.. Mans
field as his advance agent and In this
capacity came into an intimate acquaint-
ance with him such as not many ever had.
IL might be said enjoyed, for no one who
was well acquainted with Mr.. Mansfield
failed to enjoy that acquaintance, and those
who came on 10 terms OF friendship with
him were favored indeed by the rarest Of
those delightful qualities Of courtly charm
and considerate care that made Mansfield
a host Of the highest order and a friend
worth having. In writing his book Mr..
wilstach has endeavored to nothing ex-
tenuate, nor set down aught in malice
with the result that he tells simply and
convincingly the story of the man who
rose from obscurlty to the highest point
of fame on the American stage. He sets
before the world Mansfield as he knew
him, and supports his picture with ample
proofs OF the character of the dead actor.
Mansfield's interest in his fellow man, his
devotion to his art, his consideration for
his company, his love for his wife and
family, and under all, the simplicity OF his
character when discovered beneath the We
neer of varied interests that hid it from
most folks, are all made plain.
.
Richard Mansfield suffered more, per-
haps, than any other modern actor from
Misrepresentation. How much of this was
due to malice and how much to ignorance
will never be known. 1t was misrepFesen-
tation, though. pure and simple. An ex-
ample of It is recited in the book. When
Mr. ManrftaId uaa nraaanttnu 'snnn Gar
los his route took him from Omaha to
Denver, and from thence to San Fran
cisco. From Denver came the word that
the star had quarreled furiously with the
members Of his ompany and had at last
discharged all in a burst of insane rage.
The sensational story was given consider
able publicity, and preceded the company
to San Francisco, as the telegraphic news
outran the train. When the company ar
rived in San Francisco 1t was found to
be the same as had played in Chicago, in
Omaha, and in Denver. Instead Of being
a war on foot, or at least an armed truce,
all was found to be harmonious, and each
member was working with the star to
make the great undertaking a success.
This seemed to disappoint the chroniclers
of the California metropolis, and, instead
of denying the sensational yarns that came
AAOAA ONANN NhD BdBNIb WNAN dllbI nldlb-
field on the ground of his art and abused
him roundly But the public would not
have 1t so and the patronage was such as
soon convinced the writer's Of their mis-
take and the matter was dropped. This is
but a single instance of many that might
be recorded. 1t embittered Mansfield
against newspapers as a class, and yet he
formed some very warm friendships among
the writer's for the press on topics con-
nected with the theater.
Mansfield's faith in himself was sublime.
He knew nothing of mpossibiiities; he
knew nothing of limitations; he only knew
that a thing was to be done, and he set
himself about doing it, 1t is not the in
tention to here tell Of how he worked to
achieve his effects. II is sufficient to
say each thing he did was the result Of
careful study and deliberate purpose. II
he departed from traditions, IL was be-
cause he had convinced himself that ira
ditions we're wrong. He sought to get as
near TO the living truth as his art would
permit him, and his splendid mind and
wonderful will enabled him to do things
a lesser man could not have hoped to
achieve. He was accused of being egotis-
tic. Maybe he was. but 1t was the egotism
- RA1NNe1N AN0A III A9 was at Hlb
owest ebb in finance his faith In himself
did not waver, and he kept his courage
steady. II he told his friends or assoc
oiates he was going to succeed, IL was not
merely the expression of a hope, but OF a
conviction, And II he seemed to be exact
ing in his dealings with the members of
his companies. It was because he wanted
that each should give just what he was
g~iving-the very best II a player could
not achieve with certainty the exact shade
of expression desired, such an one had to
give way. II was art In the best sense
that guided him in his efforts, and TO which
he gave his life. For he knew weeks be-
fore he died that he was doomed IL he did
not give over his work, and yet he kept
at II.
Into The Bee office Mr.. Mansfield came
as a friend. He never missed a visit while
in the city, and always showed that side
OF his nature he so carefully hid from the
public. Occasionally he talked OF his art,
but mostly OF other topics. Politics, bust
ness, industry, the events OF the day, all
served him, and his conversation was not
the talk OF an opinionated man, but the
genial comment Of an observer. and student
who held a deep and kindly interest in the
afralfs or his Fellow man. II was his habit
TO stroll about the city, and to poke into
its quaint corners. Omaha has not many
such places, and yet Mansfield found GU
some that were not generally known. Or
these strolls he was often accompanied
by a reporter, who found that "Roarins
Dick" as Wilstach would fondly call him
was as good a pal as one ever went walk,
ing with. Dinner at his car, or a Iuch il
one Of the restaurants gave him other CD.
portunities to talk to his intimates, and
now and then one was received into hi
dressing room. IL Was on one of thes,
occasions he told the sponsor for thi.
department Of The Bee that his active day.
were almost at an end, and that he doubte,
IL he would have strength 10 complet,
the task he had set for himself. Hi
apprehensions proved too well founded. an,
death found him with work stn undone
But he did do one thing he undertook. III
gave TO the public the very best he had
and without stint. He took his art TO
public that could not com to him. and IN
people OF many a zone night stand" hav
cause to rejoice that there was an acto