New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-17


Mr. Wilson re?roduces in fac-simile some OF
these letters. One Of them bears the title OK
Evening Hymn" and is marked "Con cspres-
sIone-Opus MDLXIIL" The words accompany
ing the music AZ follows
oh Shacl<Icrord II you would
Your own true friend survive
BY this same small boy send to me
A necessary five.
Amen
Another letter is headed by an att, mptcd por-
trait Of the Father OF His Country. Here is the
verse:
u, hold our Country's HOnorcd Son
The proud immortal Washington
oh. but for him whore now would be
\ Shacklefori to succOr me
And whore would bc that faithful friend
who pleads with ShacklcfOrd To send
4 FLYER by this bearer back
That now | send to worry SHACK!
Apropos OF these notes concerning Fields
financial ways Mr.. Wilson recalls how In MS
youth his friend once beguiled SO from his
guardian and spent 1t all on postage-stamps;
he tells also how Field once exchanged his rent
money for an ill-used dog: but he adds that
these episodes should not convey the impression
that the author had no sense OF the proper value
Of money "Hr was too strong mentally not to
know his limitations and not to be warned by
them with "A commendablc knowledge OF his
weakness h. refused to become interested In
painting and sculpture. and again and again
DID he refrain even from looking at certain COW
ci.d books tho price OF which WAS beyond him.
lest he be tempted to his undoing." At this point
Mr. Wilson introduces L characteristic letter OF
Fields on this very subject:
I hope that you viii keep right along collect
ing but do not buy too many French German.
Latin ana Italian books; that Is not particularly
profitable You ought To be able 10 get to-
gether "A splendid lot ~ American first editions.
and II | were You would certainly do that In
time Americana will be immensely valuable.
Keep on ping up autograph letters. and don't
forget 10 keep the letters you get from con-
t,mporanrOuS people. these may In time become
OF great Interest and value. The fad of extra
Illustrating has never possessed me and am
hoping that IL Will not. FOR the reason that
could never max" II Eroitahl" since never dis
pos" Of what ! secure. have absolutely no
sense 81 bartcr-nA | am simply u royal and
unmitigatcd sucker.
You know that when Diogcnes returned from
his cruise about Athens. under the auspices OF
4 lantern. his friend Socrates asked him what
his racket had been. Il have been hunting for
an honest man." replied he OF the tub. On
decd queries Soc. ard did you find any?'
40. that dad not quoth Dog.: but ran
across a heap of -- fools" $50" saith Soc.
and now. by Pallas. tell me the names Of
them" THAT were tedious job" answered
Dogenes: but I don't mind telling you that
n
ganging cadavcrous. lantern jawcd. lop-eared.
nat-footed Missouri1n named Field by the
dog. you speak truly" cried Soc. When II
comes to the qulntcs sencc Of damphoolery,
Eugene does indeed take the cake
Field called 1t "damphoocry." or. at any rate,
one phase Of that engaging falling AS a matter
Of fact. it was simply the instinct Of born
collector. Nothing seemed too insignificant. Mr.
Wilson records. for Field to collect. Among
the unusual things in his collection OF curos
were bottles Of all sizes. and In all shapes OF
men and beasts. unlike anything that il In
heaven above. or that Is in the earth beneath
or that Is in the water under the earth A few
OF these Walls contained colorcd liquids. the
better to display their grotcsquc outlines lie
had collection OF envelopes such as were used
during the War OF the Rebellion. all Handsomely
mounted and bound in book form; COPIES I'm
sheets. Of music which Cnce stirred the popu-
lar heart. as Away Down South In Dixie annie
Laurie When Johnnie Comes Marching Homo
Again.. Battle Cry OF Freedom Maid Of
Athens Rally Round the Flag. Bows Rock
Me to Sleep. Mother Sweet Ellen Balm
Marching Through Georgia: other dittlea pro
character Of their titles such as: BE Good IN
Your Mother, John Fathers a Drunkard md
Mother Is Dead; still others which ne sought
because their titles were extraordinary. were
Never Kick Your Mother When She's Down
'Papa's Teeth are Plugged with Zinc Babv.s
Food 1s Filled with Tacks' and Kiss the Hand
That Raised the Lump. Especially were theae