New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-12

fat. Yard * co.
Theatrical literature which mus; ne
written from THE inside To carry any
weight with the specialist must possess
even greater authority if it is to appeal
20 the general reader. While preserving
the glamour of the stage il must also
expose the solid realities OF that fairy
land. The actor who takes US out Of
ourselves by the magic OF his art must
he put before us az a very human Great
IRE If we are TO read his biography with
complete sympathy. But the gift for
such portrayal of his;rionic figures is
cUTiously rare. few writer's in this field
having the poise. the instinct for per
spective. the sense of hUmor ard. above
81, the feeling for life a. well q for
drama without which the best planned
memoir viii De turned into technical
dissertation "enliyened by anecdote."
The late Richard Mansfield. who consid-
cred himself Mr Winters dramatic
sodson." warmly approved the IDEA that
his els friend should compose some rec
ord of his career. And he was right.
fer through this Rerk ne is doubiy sure
Of remembrance II IS written by an
historian who could not keep the human
element cot ~ his pa ges if he tried.
The point - peculiarly important
where Mansfield is concerned. and for
two reasons. IN the first place. he had
an original and rich personality. we'll
worth eeinmemoration. Furthermore,
since mis- traits were not by any means
eli lovable. he was often in his lifetime
iisllked or misunderstood. and justice to
his memoir requires that his character
should BE- made clear to the public
Early iii his narrative Mr.. Winter gives
this accurately balanced note on the
subject
He had a kind heart. and. by nature he
wes naasaaHi,neus, of sweet disposition,
earnestly wishful 10 be loved, and exceed
tneiy susceptible 20 kindness. His temper,
tleDeuer was spienetic and impetuous,
and. as his nervous system had been mn
rafred ~ lons-conti,lued labor, many dis
quent lpen much nlisreprezentatien: he
sometimes, IL his cay OF renoWn, exhibited
Fss4t the observation that would Judge mir.
exclusively hv his failings would reason
from Imperfect knowledge.
Mr. Winters knowledge Of Mansfield
* comprehensive. and with il he uses
3 critical discernment and delicacy en-
ahling him 10 paint a singularly vera
rieus and winning portrait This is no
book Of hero worship, but neither does
it fail anywhere in loving kindness. II
Is written by man who understood,
vhe could see his friends faults and
sometimes rebuke them with severity,
but also knew how TO give every shade
iva decidedly mixed character its proper
significance and never lost sight of those
forces in II which made for good This
Is truthful biography and il is intensely
interesting
1t traces q career which could have
been developed only by a rarely re
scurceful and indcmitaole nature. The
beginnings of life We're for Richard
Mansfield full Of difficulty and distress.
He had a hard childhood. which in his
owH opinion may have had something
30 So with his predilection for sinister
dramatic types They are wicked he
said, but they are coura geoUs; they
h have seen the seifishness of the world
81 and they go on What they get. they
y c0napeI; the recognition they receive is
for what theH- do for themselves: they
are always lonely: they look through
the motives If all around them. and no
wonder they are cynical and cruel.
There ere times when ] feel 50 barred
cut lsy the world. ana 50 hated, that if
j could push down The pillars of the uni
Verse and smash everything and every
body ia gladly do it, The conditions
of his carly manhood We're such as to
confirm this mood. HIS mother, though
his desire Ia become an actor and tho
tale Of his efforts 10 win q place upon
TIE stage is one al bitter hardship III
this h0weYsr, there was nothing which
many another beginner had not expert
enccd. and though Mansfield suffered
much. after a Weii az before his appear
snce - CheYrial IN 1883, which estab-
iisher his renutc. one surnises that tenn
permanent quite as much as actual mis-
fortune ~1s at the bottom Of the railing,
against fate in which he vas wont 10 in
duisr.
Fur example. ia thc face of his dispO-
s.iioE T. blame others for This or that
setback that ila had Ia endure AR Win
te. WifE MS usual care in distinguish
Ing facts from emotions. lays stress upon
t1lo circun3> stances tina; served quite nat
ur9iiy 10 rg1ard Mansfield in his efforts
- win q commanding position. Che
trisl" MS first success. WAS profoundly
interesting. but also profoundly I'M
pleasant. ii Was not until he had ap-
peared ia several other characters and
had shown various pleasing and winning
ASPECTS ~ his nature that he obtained Il
,,.acc-ia So FAR as he ever did obtain
it-In :he public heart" Then. 100. in
f9e SOS. when ms ;anc lay all before
him. the stage was respondent with
genius and amply provided into the bar
gain with artists who. If not d the high
est rank. were nevertheless men and
werner ef sterling ability. Deyeured
- ambition. Mansfield VAS impatient u
l9in the laurels that were then only to
l,e had in the most strenuous rivalry.
\ captious b.oera pher would protest
tat he expected too much and expected
il too sooH- NJ Winter easily forgiycs
him his self-pity and m@grims for the
SAX - what really counted in him, his
Gerry spirit. las industry and lis brains.
The reader dwells with special apprc-
ciation on the spectacle presented in this
iooA OF an actor whose mental powers