The record-union., 1898-10-02
FIELD FLOWERS.
Progress of the Work On the Eu-
gene Field Monument.

The committee organized for build
ing a monument to Eugene Field, the
poet laureate of childhood, is composed
of the editors and proprietors of each
of Chicago's daily papers. A large
number Of the leading citizens of the
country suggested that it would also be
well at the same time to show the love
of all men for Eugene Field and his
works by providing in a measure for
his family. An honorary membership
was then appointed to the monument
fund comprised of prominent men and
women all over the country, and it was
then decided to divide the fund created
equally between the family Of the late
Eugene Field and the fund for the
building of a monument to the memory
of the beloved poet of childhood. 1t
was the first intention to merely pub
fish beautiful four-page certificate of
a subscription Of 81 to the fund.
Melville E. Stone, general manager of
the Associated Press, desiring to secure
the cooperation Of about four or five
OF Americas greatest Illustrators, wrote
to thirty-two Of the great artists to
secure their assistance, thinking that
out Of his number possibly four could
be found who would be able to find
time to comply, knowing that illustra-
tors of such ability have their time
engaged three, five and eight months
ahead. To the surprise of the commit
tee the response from the artists was
immediate and unanimous. Each one
in writing spoke Of the esteem, love and
friendship felt of assisting in a testi-
monial to his worth. The committee, in
stead Of having a few drawings to en-
bellish certificate, found themselves
with $1,000 worth of drawings, each
one illustrating some verse or poem of
the dead poet.
1t was then found necessary to in
crease the souvenir to a cloth-bound
(white or apple-green basket buckram
CLOTH, die-stamped, 40-page book,
which, while geographically perfect,
and containing some of the brightest
gems of Eugene Field, is probably the
greatest medley of modern art appear
ing in any one publication, and the
committee was enabled by this means to
issue at a, profit to the fund for 81 a
book that 81 would not have paid for
under other circumstances
The original drawings are now being
CALIDllto III tIG ulllGTeIlt large ClCloSt
and are attracting universal attention.
There should yet be raised from Sd 900
to $4,000, which it is hoped and be-
lieved will be done by February, as the
result of this additional advertising
being done by the great newspapers
and magazines all over the country,
who have made it a personal matter
to see to 1t that a portion Of their
valuable space is devoted to mentioning
this book, as their part of the contribu-
ton to the fund, and in this way giving
many times the actual value of the
space in bringing the cause before the
public.
These souvenir books are now ready
for distribution. Subscriptions as low
as a dollar will be received, but you are
not limited to any amount. For each
dollar subscribed to this fund there will
be issued a copy of Field Flowers as
souvenir certificate Of subscription.
The book may also be had at book
stores, price 81, or it may be obtained
direct (by enclosing 10 cents additional
for postage) at the following address:
The Eugene Field Monument Souvenir
Fund, $50 Monroe street, Chicago.