The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-25
LITERARY GOSSIP.

In the course of Tong tribute to Eugene
Field published in the Chicago Times
Herald. Edmund Clarence Stsdman SAYS:
OF all moderns. here or In the old world,
Eugene Field seems to me most like the
survival: or reviyal, Of the ideal Jester
Were reincarnated. or as II superior
bearer OF the baubis at the court of Italy,
or of France, or OF English King Hal,
had come to life again--as much out of
time as Twain's yankee at the court OF
Arthur; but not out of place. for he fitted
himself as aptly to his folk and region as
Puck to the fays and mortals OF a wood
near Athens. In the days OF divine sover-
eighty the Jester, we see. was by all odds
the wise man OF the palace; the foppish
gerinG guardsmen. the insolent mobiles,
ana not seldom majesty itself And thus
loved to draw him Who would not rather
be Yorick than Osric. or Touchstone than
lie Beau, or even poor Bertuccio than one
doubtable Chicot with his sword ana
brains, the true ruler of France? To come
to the testers of history-whtch Is SO much
sreener than those Of Tribolet and viii
Somers and John eywood-dramatist
and master. Of the kings merry inter-
mirth and song. but pointed with wisdom,
and well might old John Trussell say
that thus It often happens ,ha wise coun-
tempered with, folly, and eernes, is the
less off ansive II It be delivered in jest
Yes, Field caught on to his tilae--a con-
plex American, with the obstreperous bi-
Zarerie of the frontier. and the artistic del
icacy OF our oldest culture-but he was.
above all, child OF nature; frolie IN
In any time or country"
In the same article Mr.. stedman grows
reminiscent: Some years ago / visited
Chicago to lecture, at the invitation of ITS
famous social and literary Twentieth Cen.
tury club. This was Eugene's opportunity,
t,.rht
evening papers copied from the Chicago
Record very pleasant joke at the ex-
pense of his town and myself. 1t was
heaed: Chicagi Excited! Tremendous
Preparations for His Receptionv and went
on to give the order and route of pro
cession that was to be formed at the Chi
cago station and escort me to my quar-
ters--stopping at Armour's packing-yards
and the art galleries on the way. 1t in
cluded the Twentieth Century club In car
riaxes. the Browning club in 'busses, and
the Homer club in drays; ten millionaire
publishers and as many pork-packers IN
by not less than 200 Chicago poets afoot!
l have no doubt that Eugene thought
would enjoy this kind of advertisement as
heartily as he did. II so. he lacked the
gift OF putting himself in the other mans
place. But his sardonic face. agrin like
a sch oolboy's. was one Of the three which
and my pride was not wounded sufficient
ly to prevent me from enjoying the res
taurant luncheon to which he bore me of
In triumph I did promise to square ac-
counts with him, In time, and this Is how
l fulfilled my word: The next year at q
meeting of suburban literary society. a
certain lady journalist was cha fled con-
cerning her acquaintanceshlp with Field
and accused of usually addressing him as
Gene. AT this she took umbrage, say
ing: IT'S true we worked together on the
same paper for five years. but he was al
Was called lied
entitled katherine and Eugenio Of
which the first and last stanzas were as
follows:
Five years she safe anear him
Within that type-strewn loft;
She handed him the paste pot,
He passed the scissors oft;
They dipped in the same inkstand,
That crowned their desk between,
She never called him, me-
She gazcd at his sporadic hair
They longed to dine together
At Casey's table d'hote;
Alas. that fortunes "hosta ges''-
But let US draw a screen!
He dared not call her Katie;
How could she call him Gene?
I signed my verses BY One of Genes
Victims: they appeared in the Tribune.
and soon were copied by papers in every
part of the country. Other stanzas, with
the same refrain. were added by the funny
men of the southern and eastern press.
and 1T was months before Gene heard
the last OF them