The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-13
BLACK GOLDEN WEDDING.
speciaI to the ~ndiananoI Journal
MISS FIELDS READING.
A Daughter Of the Poet in Selections
from His V<rses.

Miss Mary French Field. daughter of the
late Eugene Field, read from her fathers
writings last evening at the Tabernacle
Presbyterian Church and it proved a de-
rghtful entertainment. Miss Field was in
troduced by Rev. J. Cumming Smith, pastor
OF the church, who said that Mr.. Field
made his first public appearance in this city
in an entertainment with Mr.. Nye and Mr..
Riley. and closed by saying that Mr.. Fields
writing has an enduring charm Miss Field
is tall and graceful and Is of the blonde type.
Her voice is low and well modulated. The
programme was chiefly OF those writings re-
lating to childhood, In which Mr.. Field was
so happy and in most of them was a touch
of pathos that was affecting. Miss Field be-
gins without any preliminaries and her first
number was The Bow Leg Boy" This
was followed by Dutch Lullaby Picnic
Time which was particularly enjoyed by
the boys, and Jest Fore Christmas which
they also appreciated. Miss Field was re-
called and gave the "Grandma's Prayer"
which tells of the story Of the grandma.
always mending. who prayed that when she
went TO heaven she might mend the little
angels breeches. The second group of read
ings was Little Boy Blue" probably the
best known of any, sometime and Tween
ty-third Psalm In these the quality of
Miss Fields voice and the feeling expressed
were suited to the tender meaning of the
lines For the psalm Mr.. Hansen played a
soft organ accompaniment. "A single reading
was The Old Man." the pet name given to
a baby by his father, d pathetic story that
caused more than one handkerchief to be
used. While all that Miss Field did was
good, In none was she better than in the
last group of three, a charming finale. The
first was The Night Wind with the re-
curing sound Of the wind at the end of each
verse. which was extremely well done. The
little story Of The Dolls Wooing' gave OPP
p Tay' anS for for the ase SSs Of the voice c6i IL sn s,nrS
was clever. The enthusiastic applause con-
tinued SO long that Miss Field returned and
gave The Limitations OF YOUTH" one Of
conceived. but the verses all closed with,
If 1 darst. but I darsent." The musical
assistance was given by Mr.. Charles F.
and later. for his playing OF the Coronation
March," by Meyerbeer, received a double
encore. responding with Mendelssohn's
the Se'' Bocc cRhf an" "Me emu a.s'' Mrs. P ids drs az
Scott sang the aria from Gounod's Queen
OF Sheba.' and as an encore "Madrigal,"
by Chaminade. and later she sang 'Lul
lin obligato by Miss Lewis, a beautiful COM
position. Mrs. Scott sang we'll, as she always
does: Mr.. Frank Croxton sang 20 thou
voice being peculiarly adapted to the song.
The audience was much pleased with the
new singer and he was recalled. He re-
peated the song without the prelude. The
church parlors were thrown open and after
the programme. the audience was invited
to meet Miss Field. Rev. Mr.. Smith making
the presentations The children were partic.
ularly invited to meet her. The ladies Of
the church and the patronesses from other
churches were hostesses for the social hour.