, 1891-12-03
4 LYING

has stricken Cyrus w. Field, a man who
but one short week ago, full oil honors
and of years, with a fortune believed to
be princelv in its proportions, now lies
dying in a house which he no longer owns,
draining to its dregs the last and bitterest
cup that has ever touched his lips.
In this country Of great and phenome-
nal successes the success OF Cyrus W.
Field is in many respects remarkable, He
was one of ten children. His father was
David Dudley Field. a doctor OF divinity.
OF the children CYRUS had the fewest OPP
~portunities OF acquiring even a common
school education. Four Field brothers
have acquired tame. David Dudley, the
eldest. was graduated from Yale. AS a
LAWYER he stands second to zone in Amer
lea. The penal code which he compiled
is the law of New York and his civil code
will long be a num to his memory.
Stephen j. Field was once a law partner
OF David Dudley. He went to California
IN '49. was elected to the state supreme
bench and served for SIX years as the
chief justice Of California. In 1868, IN
response to the unanimous request of the
California delegation, President Lincoln
appointed Judge Field an associate Justice
OF the supreme court ofthe United States.
a position which he has since held Henry
NJ. Field followed IN his fathers footsteps
and obscured his fathers fame. He has
made a name for himself both as a divine
and a literateur.
given s25 nv his father and told to take
care OF himself He went to New York
and secured a clerkshIp in A T. Stew
art great store. He was paid 81 a week
for his services and held the position for
two years. Then he became a travelling
salesman for a Connecticut paper manu-
featuring house and had SCOT so mastered
the business that he was placed at the
head OF a branch house in New York.
This venture turned out badly and soon
after his marriage he was forced into
bankruptcy. With indomitabIe energy
he set to work to retrieve himself. He
said he would make his fortune in twenty
years, but was better than his word. He
made it in twelve.
Still in the very flush OF a vigorous
manhood he could not remain idle. He
travelled extensively. Upon his return
he met a man named Osborne who had
lust secured a charter from the New York
legislature for an Atlantic cable. Field
became interested in the subject apd after
satisfying himself by careful thought and
study that 1t was feasible, became Its most
enthusiastic champion. He set to work
with the same energy and intelligence
that won for him his fortune. His imme-
diate friends became impressed through
his presentation of the matter. For the
succeeding twelve years he devoted him
sells exclusively to the accomplishment OF
this one grand idea. He crossed the
ocean tifty-one times in the prosecution Of
the work which was finally rewarded by
the organization of a company to lay the
cable. The first cable laid never worked
at all. Chagrined but not dIsheartened
the work was followed IN by Field.
Another cable was laid. 1t
worked successfully for about three
weeks and then 1t too lay dead at the
bottom of the ocean. Enough. however,
had been done to demonstrate the
feasibility of the scheme and a .hird cable
was successfully laid BY the Great Eastern
in 1866 and it worked to perfection.
Congress voted Mr.. Field a gold medal
and a similar tribute was paid him by
the Paris exposition. All Of his English
associates were kniRhted by Queen
Victoria and if it were not for Fields
staunch democracy the same honor would
have been thrust on him.
With the declining days of such a man
marked by such a succession OF calami.
ties, beginning with his wife's death a few
days ago. with his daughter now dying of
cancer, and climaxed by the Insanity OF
his f%avorite son following on the heels OF
stupeDdous defalcations which have just
come to light, tits no wonder that the
broken hearted old man now earnestly
prays for death as a relief from troubles
too great for weak human nature to bear.