The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-07-13
LAST PHOTOGRAPH OF FIELD.

discernment. His reputation was es-
tablshed as a critic. AS a playwright
he had produced in collaboration,
"Sharps and Flats" for Robson & Crane;
"M'liss," and "Chispa,' also a twelve
Fart comedy for the veteran John How
son. He had given to the literary world
that entertaining compilation, 1.-THE
Humber Poets.'' He was an honest,
frank companion; an athelete with a
surplus of the vitality and health which.
Field envied. He was the opposite of.
Field in the sanity of his habits and
the propriety of his manners, and there
fore attracted him. In a brief time
Thompson became the mentor of the
twain. He is now writing for Scribners
life of Field that will be the first fair
estimate of the genius and character of
the poet, the humorist and the man,
Fields style of composition on the
News quickly improved A deeper sim
certify began to prevade his pathos; his
sentiments were encouraged into more
enterprising play, and both his prose,
humor and versatile verse developed
technical accomplishments acquired by
unceasing study. His father had be-
queathed him a library of 5000 volumes,
rever explored until now. He became a
daily visitor at the Jansen & McClurg
publishing house, and established there
the famous Saints and Sinners Corner"
among the $4,000 worth Of rare editions
presided over by Geo. Willard. An un-
organized literary society grew out of
this invention and for it's midnight
delectation once Field wrote and read
his "Dibdin's Ghost" To this mystic
corner he led many victim and initi-
ated him into the mysterise of Biblio-
mania, only to make satirical copy of
him later. He found food for fun in
everyone's fads, even his own. Unable
to save money, owing to his incurable
thriftlessness. he took to laying up valu-
able books grotesque toys, freak canes
and rare autographs. These in time
constituted the treasures of his home
and the bulk of the small inheritance
he left his children.
Sham and sordidness were the two
things Field detested most in man, and
never cultivated in himself His inflrm-.
ity, in the matter Of dissipating money,
was SO pronounced and incurable that
his salary, save a few dollars for to-
bacco and coffee and the inevitable
mince pie or cheese cake, was reserved
weekly for his family. Even his bit
Of pocket money he would often waste
on salary day on dinner with q
friend or two, and during the remaining
six days of the week nnesse his way.
Nothing afforded him more genuine
pleasure than a comrade who was easy
to work." as he expressed it. Some Of
the best humorous verse he has written.
though unpublished, were his spontane-
Gus literary redemptions of these little
debts. Something of the velvetty cum.
nj Of ho Cd ~,
when he INDUCED such moods. An Ice
terg would melt and turn warm for him.
His improvidence was equally boyish. I
recall, as an Illustration, a dinner at
Kinsleys to which he had invited Sla-
son Thompson, DR.. Frank Riley, then
an editorial writer on the News, and
myself. He started the ball with cream
OF terrapin soup. which. having been
put away. he discovered was valued on
the carte du jou at $500. WELL he ex-
claimed with grimace. IAN I've got