The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-20

canes-souvenirs from all over the world
and there are photographs by the score
tackled upon the walls just where the
writer at the desk cannot look w. with
out catching sight Of the face OF
friend. A most human man, it Is neces-
sary to think. but one 1t would take
years TO know.
what are you doing now2' 1 ask.
when Mr.. Field comes bach again.
1.-THE love affairs OF a Biblomaniac,
mainly"
"And what does a Biblomaniac lover
His books, or THO poor fool thinks he
does But really h6 is in love at differ
ent times with different women. 1t takes
a deal of research among musty volumes.
but / grind out about POO words a day.
1t will be ready for book publication next
year. ] spend a long time over IL be-
cause / amuse myself with the copy"
DO YOU know Eugene Fields handwrit-
ing? Autograph hends all over the cOun-
try cherish the small neat script that
looks as IL were written with a world OF
pains The copy" for THE Love At
fairs of a Bibliomaniac' is just as fine and
clear. II is finished with illuminated
chapter headings and initial letters IN
blue and gold.
"It's slow work but / like il and II
keeps me out Of mischief" this with a
twinkle Of the eyes but no relaxation
Of the sober yet strangely humorous
countenance. Il might be .ioing some
thing else in the hours it takes. hut the
something migntn't do the world any
good. and it couldn't be half the pleasure
10 me. If ia had any training, IL have
been an artist. / suppose"
Mr.. Field certainly never would have
DEVELOPED a gift in the mechanic arts
%. l.. hot. al
can be taken as criterion. \ Chicago
PHOTOGRAPHER lent him a kodak and on
dcrtook TO develop the % or 40 plates
returned Nothing appeared on any OF
, Them. Gene" had posed his groups, con-
sdereG his focuses. but neglected 10
draw the slides Not a plate had been
exposed.
A beautiful book wren completed viii
be the authors own edition OF The Love
Songs Of Childhood" Mr.. Fields has had
a special copy bound with a blank page
facing every poem. On these pages he
has written ana signed autograph copies
OF the poems, each 10 be decorated when
finished with a portrait Of the child 10
whom the verses are dedicated, the por-
trait to carry the child's signature. The
bright little faces that look cut from
between the leaves make it one OF the
most unique things in litera. Ire.
What do you like nest in Your work.
query looking up from this rad of d busy
man.
''Niy Western verse;" this without hest
tation. THAT is truest and closest 10
nature. l have contrary streaks in me.
There are two sorts If things I'd like 10
write, alegorical religious work and
drinking sougs. Yes. | even like TO write
q conventional obituary"
ssJIour aho1f Vour al l-eieIi work ~
"Oh. | don't care for that. Latin and
Greek were pounded into me for four
teen years ana so I've pounded out trans
lations Of Horace and the like. But /
wouldn't, Il j had my way. educate
child in that fashion. Spelling and Clip
herring are enough: then let a child read.
Anybody can learn French by going TO
France or German by going TO Germany
or Chinese by going to China. And II
one isn't going TO those countries what
does one want of the languages
"Then you don't care for trench OF
German literature?'
"Oh ia trust 10 the TRANSACTIONS I be-
ueve In English. There are plenty OF
| neople who can talk French 10 you as
| fast as an express train, but they can't
| get off an English sentence without huft-
| ing your ears. -,
and | like newspaper English Your
/ professional literary people turn UP their
noses at newspapers but what do they
amount to? With exceptions. they form
/ Inc most narrow and selfish OF all class
| es living as they do out OF the real world.
/ If anv mans got blood in his veins. let
hi,., choose between good newspaper
| and a magazine one deals with what Is
/ life or death TO you to-day. the other
! nrints when i gets ready something writ
! ten three or four months or three CT four