Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-20

~9@m-a HEN Richard Mansfield died, q
NAY most inviting field for biograph-
ers OF several sorts was opened
- Paul Wilstach was first in the
3S&4SESA field, and his work, largely a
- compilation, published more than
a year ago, save an intimate view of the
great actor in his home life, with some
little notion Of his relation TO the public.
But Mr.. Wilstach did not exhaust the sub
tect, and William Winter is engaged on a
work dealing with Mansfield.
1t would have been too much to expect that
Mr.. Winter would avoid a controversy: he
is not notable especially for his mild dis
position, and he has managed to stir up
considerable Comment One point that
brought out as much editorial expression
from the newspapers Of America, was the
letter Mr.. Winter published, in which Mr..
Mansfield excused himself for abandoning
Shakespeare and taking on Ibsen. II was
given to show that the actor had no more
patience with the great Norwegian than
had Mr., Winter himself, and that his in
tention was TO try to disgust the American
people with Ibsen's work by making Of
"Pere Gynt'' something so absurdly trivial
that the public would never care to hear
the name of the doctor or any Of his works
again. One who knew Mr.. Mansfield, and
who talked With him at the time he was
so actively engaged in presenting ''Pere
Gynt," hesitates to believe that the great
actor lacked anything Of sincerity in his
undertaking, despite his letter to Mr.. Win
ter; 1t is easier to believe that he was not
altogether frank in his communication to
the great critic, of which so much is now
being made.
on this point the following editorial from
the Minneapolis Journal is very direct:
TIL letters Of Richard Mansfield to WI
liam Winter printed in Mr.. Winters
biography OF the actor, confess virtually
that Mansfield was a conscious Snowman,
seeking to take advantage Of any prevail
ing intellectual lad or whimsey Of the pub
lie, and, to use an inelegant inf.nitive, to
cater to the same.
ThSt Mansfield as a Snowman is shown
SSeeaN S of M Mlny'r, of I Sis h %I5l sSsS5 the
But, the true point is that. as q Snowman,
Mansfield was not bad. Henry Irving was
q Snowman, too-witness his production OF
Faust-and as such an entertainer Of the
cultivated people of two countries. Even
Shakespeare, according to Prof. Blander
Matthew'S, was a Snowman, the greatest OF
When the word is spoken, instInctiveiy
we think of Barnum, as IL that native of
Connecticut had an exclusive property in
the term, which is as ~, because a sons
and dance artist Is an actor, therefore All
actors must be no better than song ard
dance, artists,
In acting as in politics, we take It, there
Is often q difference between the man whn
practiees and the man who theories. The
pubilclst In his library knows what shUulc
be done TO bring about perfection in the
state, but he Ignores the fact that unless
q thing Is IN the air, is In the desire OF
II a living issue. And politicians who In
actual career arc suGtcot TO that law, and
hence display an opportunistlc sense OF
too harshly judged by publ,oIsts, who know
What ought to be done, but have no capacity
for going about getting II done.
The pfedicament confronting the motor
who must make ais career upon the boafSS,
Is analogous to that OF the politician who
mest Iend himssif 70 what .he people want
artistic ideality without any practical
sense Of the possibilities Of the moment.
and he would newer have enjoyed a career.
II was his business 10 turn 10 account tbe
intellectual aptitude or Disposition, cr even
eccentricity Of the moment. and 10 an
pondious and esthetio fashion possible. ,iad
he been the god OF his art, he could have
done no more. And because in large meas
ure he did no less, he was the truest in
terpreter upon the American stage the bet
ter years OF his life.
1.-THE public do not want a thing Shakes
peare's self could not give IL them across
the foOtlights. Thus, because OF the econ,
omic necessity OF box office receipts. the
theoter ~ dependent upon the tastc or Inc
dav more intimately than are the other
arts.
The Enzabethans demanded great dramas
as did the Athenians, and they got whaI
they wanted. Our public similarly Eo'
from those showmen OF taste. perception
and extraordinary intelligence, Sir Henry
Irving and Richard Mansfield. Vhat thel
Al that we need not take Mr.. William
Wintefs estimate OF Mansfield. The actor
showAa 90 Winter his showman's side
Usua a personality such as Mansfield
ls protean. Winter drew him out upon one
side. II Winter did not recognize that
there were other sides. set IL down 20 Win.
ter's deficiencies.
-
Another critical writer OF some note who
has recently made reference to Mr.. Mans
field In a book. Is Mr.. Percival Pollard
who has Just published Their Day IN
Court" a work that deals with literature
~ America ia a way that has caused some