Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-17
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The a9le
TWO HUMORISTS.

VIZ n - uOhES d
a Noted Twain Who Write Funny Things
-Opie p. Read and Eugene FieId-Inter-
esting Sketches of These Veii-Known
Hen and Their Work.
Especial Chicago Cores pondence.l
1t is not without some misgiyings that one
attempts ante-mortem biographies Of his
friends. The safest plan is to wait until the
demise of his victims when all chance for
retaliation is denied them; but, as the 2ppre-
ciatlve public is ever clamorous for 4 news
paper acqsalntanceship with men OF note,
particularly with men whose writings have
for years afforded exquisite pleasure through
their perusal, a few facts regarding Chi
cago's two literary stars-Eugene Field, Of
the Chicago Daily NeIcs, and Opie P. Read, Of
the Ari5dnsG,U 2fduelsr, will prove acceptable,
wherever the English language is printed.
Both Of these gentlemen enjoy the Well-de-
served reputation Of being representative
American humorists, an honor Of which
they can feel justly proud Neither writer
stoops to the mechanical mlsappliaDce Of
parts of speech to provoke mirth; nor does
he deem it necessary to introduce the latest
slang into an intended humorous article and
thus reduce the standard 20 the level Of
stable-wit or the horse-play Of circus side
Show ranters who juggle phrases for the
benefit of unsophisticated yokeis. One of
the essentials TO true hUmor is purity; and
pure humor VIII live long after heavy, BRAIN
laden literature is dead.
Each author is the representative OF
widely varying schools of humor.
Fields writings are pungent; they bear
trace of quick thought and rapid action con-
sequent. To one unacQqGinJed with him
his productions might occasionally suggest
that their author was cynic; yet siIch Is
not the case. Mr.. Field IS man something
after the style of Tom Hood, with the wit
END good nature Of Sheridan, combined with
Tom Smollet's love Of practical jokes.
Reads articles are of an entirely different
type from those by Field; his humor is the
natural humOr Of the eccentric character he
reproduces from the slow, On-prOgresSive
backwoods Arkansans. The charm of ms
Eumor is in Its simplicity; he never strains
for effects, yet the same story in the mouth
of different character from that used by
the author would fall fat, lose its snap and
cease to be entertaining.
In personal appearance Mr.. Field is tall,
stately-looking gentleman with a fine phi
sique, crowned by shapely head, which
Immediately lmpresses newly-formed &C
ouaintance that it contains an extra allow
spires feeling that he is uncommonly good
natured, and his genial smile and pleasant
voice at once corroborate the impression. He
has large bluiSh-gray eyes, at the corners OF
which Turk an expression somewhat puz-
cling; his hair is growing thin where his
active brains needed room to expand, and in
consequence have crowded out the hair,
while his face is clean shaven and devoid of
the hard lines usual on the cOuntenancc of
deep thinkers, such as Mr.. Field IS known
to be-
Field was born in st. Louis September 2,
1850 His father was Judge Roswell N.
Field, Of Missouri, at one time the most
prominent lawyer in the West. He was the
attorney for the negro bred Scott, who was
the plaintiff In the famous case in the Su-
preme Court of the United States Which re-
suited in being known throughout the world
as the " bred Scott decision" His mother
died when he was quite young and he was
sent to Amherst, Mass, where he was
reared by devoted cousin. At the age of
seventeen he graduated from Amherst
Academy. and about this time his father
died and left him and his elder brother,
then journalist in Kansas City, snug
competency, of which young Fields share
on reaching his majority was $4,000. He
spent the two years succeeding his removal
to the West at the GalesbuTg tI.) College,
and completed his education at the Uni
yerslty OF Missouri.
In 1871, III receiving his inheritance, he
converted it into ready cash, and, in COM
pany with several companions, he Travelled
Europe A few years luxurious living
dwindled his fortune, and he entered the
profession Of journalism at St Louis. ST.
Joseph, Kansas City and Denver knew him
successfully, and in the latter city he scored
his first pronounced literary success. On
October, 1873, he married Miss Julia 5.
Comstock, of St. Joseph, Mo, and at the
present tune they have four comely emil
dren-one girl and three boys. In August,
1883, he came to Chicago and engaged with
the Daily NelCS to write one column
agate, per diem, of satirical and humorous
paragraphs; and the widely-quoted extracts
from the NCjCS are Tor the most part the
product of Mr.. Fields pen and versatile
brain. In August 1857, Ticknor & Co,
Boston, published book Of satirical
sketches, entitled "Culture's Garland"
which has been highly praised by Stedman,
Stoddard, Aldrich and other literary critics.
The book has commanded fair sale and IS
q work of more than ordinary merit. Per
haps some of his best work is in the line Of
versification, and it covers wide range,
humor pathos and sentiment. His best
work in this line is much after the style of
Schiller and Goethe, peculiarly German.