The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-12-16

KEY to the supremely noble quality OIL
Kate Field She was woman who
kept faith with her ideals. What high
er tribute could be given?
In the decade of the 70s Miss Field
was largely in London and Paris. writ
ing brilliant press letters. The Bell
telephone was then being introduced
in London. and Miss Field became
deeply interested in the new invention.
She wrote a number of valuable ar
ticIes regarding it for the London
Times. She sang for the Queen
through it. and the company, in ac-
acknowledgement of this, gave her num-
Der of shares which subsequently rose
on her hands and gave her a modest
fortune. Two books entitled, Hap
Hazard" and Ten Days in Spain" con-
tain the essence of her experiences and
observations during this period. Her
social outlook was wide. She was
much-sought dinner guest, this bril-
liant young woman, whose wit and re-
partee were quoted on two continents,
and her personal friends included too
large a circle of noted authors and art
lists for space to admit of mention here
Mr.. Browning greatly valued her crit
icism, and read to her one of his dra-
matte poems before it's appearance.
was always closely associated with
the drama, and her criticism of Ristori,
her critical biography of Fechter, and
other writing on the drama won high
recognition. OF late years, writing of
Paderewski, she characterized him as
having the head of poet and the face
of a spirit"
The decade of the eighties ushered
her into new and stirring experiences.
She determined TO hitch her wagon to
the star of Empire and study the great
West. For years she had been a stu
dent and keen critic of British and
American politics, and the great work
of her life came in her crusade against
treason in the guise of MOrmonism.
Her lectures and her personal pleadings
before Congress aroused the entire
country, and to her vigilance is chiefly
due the improved legislation regarding
Utah.
On the lecture platform Miss Field
had a very distinctive place. She had
a rare combination of the intellectual
and the artistic qualities. Her person
al grace, her distinction of manner,
and certain indefinable charm of pres
ence were telling attributes as speak
err Her power and eloquence made
her a leading factor in the latter-day
progress of our country.
The object of her first lecture, when
she was a girl in her earl.- twenties,
was to tell the story of the neglect of
John Browns grave and to organize
company to purchase and care for 1t.
Forty-eight hours after the girlish fig
ure, in pale blue and white silk, with
her bonny brown hair tied with bon
ny blue ribbon, appeared on the stage
to tell the impressive story, every share
was taken and the purchase money
raised. The last work of her life in
America, in the few weeks just before
sailing for Hawaii was to raise funds
in Chicago for the transportation of the
John Brown fort back to Virginia
(Whence it had been taken for the eX-
position) to be placed permanently on
a site at Harper's Ferry which had
been donated through her efforts Is
it not we'll, indeed, that her country
should hold in honor and reverence
the name of Kate Field?
For many years she made her home
in New York, where, in a favOrite no.
tel she had a suite of rooms made
beautiful with her books and pictures,
her grand piano and her souvenirs of
travel She gave delightful little din
ners, and had friends and guests con-
stantly about her. In 1890 she trans
ferred her-home to the national capital,
on establishing her weekly review,
Kate Fields Washington. Entertain
ing with her was a fine art, and she
was always a brilliant figure in society.
Three distinctive objects successfully
engaged her editorial wOTk-the cause
of free art, the securing of an interna-
tional copyright law, and the Hawaiian
problem. In the interest of removing
the tax on art she labOred necessarily
appearing before Congress to plead the
cause: and to her efforts is chiefly due
the great blessing that art today Is
free The French Government recoS-
nized her service by comforting On her
it's highest distinction, naming her an
Officer de INSTRUCTION Pubhque,
and decorating her with the Palms of
the Academy" in the form of beauti-
full pin in diamonds and gold. 1t is
the highest distinction ever conferred
upon any American woman. Her work
for the international copyright law was
valuable, and Mr.. Lowell, Phillips
Brooks. Mr.. Stedman, and hosts of 9TH
ers expressed to her in letters their
gratitude for her effective aid.
The Hawaiian problem began to en-
gage her pen some years ago, and when
in April of 1895, her health obliged her
to suspend the publication of her Wash
ington and seek rest, destiny seemed
to lead her TO these Islands, where her
sudden death in Honolulu, on May 10,
1896. was a touching event that sent
it's thrill of sorrow throughout the en-
tire country. She was engaged in some
of the most important work of her life
"a work in which she was herself
deeply interest, and whose conduct was
a matter of no little significance to the
nation. For the past few years Miss
Field had written more about Hawaii
than almost any other subject, and
when forced to seek change of climate,
an agreeabI work seemed to lie in
this direction. Hon. II. H. Kohlsaat,
the accomplished editor of the Chicago
Times Herald, has always held the
opinion that Hawaii should be annexed