St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-22
Eugene Field of the Chicago News
and Col. Pat DOMAIN Form
Combination
And Have In Preparation an Opera
Utterly Unlike Any Heretofore
Produced.
Col. Dopan's Music Pronounced Highly Orig
inal and Soul Moving and Fields Ii
bretto an Unique Production.
The Yarn About Stanley Huntley as Red
Man Calls to Mind an Anecdote of
His Early Life.
co-rasnn .aence OF the Globe

IoSrespo 1uence OF the GlOOe
CHICAGO, Feb. 19.-Eugene Field, the YER
sstile and talented paragrapher OF the CHI
eago Daily News, is engaged upon the hbretto
of a new comic opera to be completed in
three acts. Field has long felt that his light
is hidden under the measure OF routine
newspaper work, grinding out certain
amount Of matter each day whether in the
mood for doing good wn-A or not, and his
numerous friends throughout the country will
be pleased to learn tlat his maiden effort in
dramatic work promises TO be even more sue
cessful than his previous efforts in journal
ism. Mr.. Field has not yet decided upon
the name he will give this work. It is an
drrstood that the lbretto is GilDertian in its
methods, strong in its easy satire and replete
with bright hits at the popular crazes OF the
day. While the speaking parts are sparkling
and pung.ut, though not unlike such parts
IL other comic operas save in their extraordi-
nary brilliancy, the melodic portions of
the text are particularly good, betray-
ing that easy hythmic 6ow-
that is characteristic Of all of Fields poetry.
Competent critics VINO have been permitted
to read the portion of the work thus far
completed, assert that the author has outdone
himself in his versiication. Field. although
not a cultivated musician, has what is known
as q good ear" and some very marked
ideas Of his own as 10 the style of music he
desired for his new work. In all his efforts
10 obtain q collaboration he met with such
difficulties that at one time he had serious
ideas of abandoning the comic opera field
and by strengthening and celebrating his
text make comedy of it instead. All
musicians with whom he consulted he found
we're hampered by melodic rules and tradi-
lions that precluded all possibility Of the
originality which ne had determined must
shine in this work. And not until he met
Col. Pat DOMAIN, ''the sweet singer of Da-
zota," did lac find a musician VINO could ill
al the requirements Of the lbrcttO. Col.
Douan has proven just the man
tor the work. In him Field found
a kindred spirit indeed. One who is
not bound bv rules OF conventioualities, and
whose daring flights with the pen but family
outline the marvellous dash and daring OF his
musical efforts. As Col. DJuan remarked
when presenting q few Of the concerted
numbers before a selrct audience of critics, II
have established rule unto myself on hsr-
Inonv, meditation and orchestratOn, and
the critics may find NY methods slightly
original. ! baYe endcavored 10 retain a few
traces of 'Falka,' Little Duke Tam
hauser,' and other old-fashioned operas that
tine departure from set rules might not seem
too abrupt Mr. Field and myself think
- ,tt-ltt
Of work NAV not prove as successful as the
more frivolous efforts of Mrssrs. Gilbert ii
sullivan" The musical gentlemen that
we're present, alter listening 10 Col. Donan's
exposition OF several Of the musical mum
bcrs. agreed IN pronouncing them highly
original and soul-mOying 1t is understood
that Mr.. John HOwson and his sis
ter Emma, together with Miss Der
tina Ricci, Miss Ray Samuels and
others Of the McCaull Opera company will
sumo The leading roles IN the new opera.
which will be ready for presentation in early
autumn The authors are as yet uncertain
where thev viii bring il out perhaps in New
York. though Field prefers TO introduce his
work 10 a Chicago audience, at frat, as his
native modCsty suggests possible failure,
and IN such an event he would rather face an
audience that knows him. and would be more
kindly disposed than the average frst-night
attendants At New York thtatrrs.
The recently published yarn concerning
Stanley iIunlley falling heir Ia the chieftain-
ship Of an Indian tribe, recalls to mind an
incident in this humorist 5 cary career, when
hc was Young, frisky and impecunious. The
stor, does not antcLate the 81. Louis Times.
II which HuniIry was legislative reporter at
jefferson Citg and George Mills las clever
fellow rs ever lived. hut rather lazy aud un-
ambitious, aud now shelycd tor good aud all
in the Mississippi valley mctropulIs.) was
doing the same WORK for another IT. Louis
dai Y. Huutlcy MS forever in debt, out Of
funds and Guwn at the heel generally. Mills.
true 10 his English characteristics, aiWaVs
managed to save little ont of his salary. aud
was regarded as the legitimate prey of The
impccunious reporters whose salaries were
mad qultc 10 meet their bar bills let alone
actual necessities. II CHANGED upon one &C
casiuu when Mills was nat broke, that Hunt
lev approach ed him, with tears in his eyes.
heguiug ihe loan of $40. George, do let
me have it ! must have SO right awayl Ii
You hove nc, George, Accommodate inC this
time aud I'll never forget your Mills not
having the money naturally refused. but,
George. vuu can borrow il aud I'll hand IL 20
YOU tomorrow morning before 10
O'Clock sure" And Mills, the geod-hearted
fellow that he Is, after making Huntlev
promise faithfully that he would return the
money brfore the hour named, borrowed the
funds that were To save iuutlcv from shame
and dishunor and discomfort las he had tx
pressed 50 from a good-naturcd senator Of
his acquaintance, ut the same time promis-
Tug tJ return the amount before the opening
hour next day. iluntley wrung his bcnciac-
tors hand IN excess Of gratitude, promising
never 20 forget him, reitCratiug his pledge
al prompt return. Tne next morning
Huutlcv hurried 10 his desk. avoiding Mills
eve, and busted himself in his work. Mills
waited patiently until Str the senate was
called to order, aud tnrn walked over 10
Huutley's desk, tapping him lightly on the
shoulder with pleasant morning greeting.
huutlry glanced up abstractedly, and with
evident uneasiucss ''lIuw about that money
you wrr5 10 return this morning, Huntley,"
asked Mills You see | promised 10 rrpay
Il promptly. taking your word that you would
haud 10 10 me- before 10 O'Clock" Money
Lob, yesr gssprd Huutpy. ''f'll hand
IL 10 you In minute. You see, the fact is
--sh-torEot It," Aud dashiug of down the
aisle. be appruachc! the same senator from
whom Mills had borrowed the previous DAY.
The worthy legislator was 10th 10 part With his
per diem 20 doubtful newspaper men. but
Huuucy's connection with an infucn-
tial Journal VAS worth something. and
the cord man. somewhat reluctantly. hauded
ovrrnu \. which Huutlcv laid triurphautiv
before his accommodating friend with many
ELUSIVE tbauka Without word. Mills
walked down to the Legislators desk. and
placing before him the Identical bin which
had been loaned a moment before To- Uuntlev.
said. sWerr. Senator ---. l. the nancy
you loaped me. ThsukSt' Asiouishmeut
was expressed on every feature of the sena-
tors face Both Huutiev aud Mills hsd re-