Identifier: lifeartofrichard01wint (find matches)
Title: Life and art of Richard Mansfield : with selections from his letters
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Winter, William, 1836-1917
Subjects: Mansfield, Richard, 1857-1907
Publisher: New York : Moffat, Yard and company
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

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wisely, in deciding againstTartuffe,—a play which, notwithstanding itsingenuity of construction, is obnoxious to good taste,because of its gross fidelity to the seamy side oflife. The play for Mansfield, obviously, was TheMisanthrope, and I responded to his request bynaming that piece, urging him to produce it, andsending to him a copy of it, which I happened topossess, in sheets, of the expert translation made bythe late Miss Katherine Prescott Wormeley. Thetime, to me, was one of bereavement and affliction,my son Louis (previously mentioned in some ofMansfields letters) having died, after a long andafflicting illness, in California, and it was not easyto think of plays: but labor is the only refuge fromsorrow. Mansfield signified his sympathy with thechoice of The Misanthrope and at once appliedhimself to the study of Alceste,—a character whichhe was destined to make distinctively his own, uponthe American stage, and with which the remem-brance of him will long remain entwined.
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SHYLOCK EXALTED 279 Private Car 403, New Orleans, February 23, 1905.My Poor Winter:— I am deeply grieved to hear the sad news—and of course, ofcourse you know you have all my heartfelt sympathy and thatof Beatrice. I understand what you say about your work, but I find, as Igo on, that work is about the only thing—the only good thing,that is left to us. It is the antidote. I enclose a notice of The Merchant from The Picayune.It is only recently (the notice is, otherwise, of no importance)that people have recognized that Shylock would not be likely tosubscribe a deed that would give half his fortune to the manwho lately stole his daughter—or to Antonio; or that he wouldconsent to become a Christian. There is only one thing forShylock, and that is death. Do you remember whether anyother actor had that idea? or indicated clearly that intention? Our houses are sold out for thegremainder of the engagement! I am hard at work on The Misanthrope. Heaven onlyknows if I can ever learn al

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