Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-07-17
TASTES OF EUGENE FIELD.
Extracts From Sketch Of the Author
by Himself.

ELDoRA, Ia, July lO.-Mrs. Ade-
laide Louise Smith, Of this city has
remarkably fine collection Of Eugene
Fields mementoes, relics, books,
letters and manuscripts, and among her
collection is an interesting biography
written by Mr.. Fields few months
before bis death for private disttibu-
tlon, and which was never publicly
printed. Excerpts from the document
are as follows:
~ was born in st. Louis, Mo-,
September 3, 1850, the second, and
Oldest surviving, son Of Roswell
Martin and Frances tReedl Field, both
natives Of Windham county, Vermont.
Then follows a sketch Of his early life
and then an interesting portion OF the
biography reads as follows;
81 have a miscellaneous collection Of
books, numbering $500, and l am fond
Of the quaint and curious In every
line. am very fond of dogs, birds
and all small pets-a passion not ap-
proved by my wife. My fayorite flower
is the carnation. My favorites in tic-
tion are Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter,
Don Quixote' and Pilgrim 5 Progress.
| greatly love Hans Christian Ander-
sens Tales, and / am deeply interest
ed in folklore and fairy tales. / should
like to own big astronomical teles-
es2s and a twenty-four tune music
box.
my favorite hymn is Bounding
Blllows.' My heroes in history are
Martin Luther, Nine Lamballe,
Abraham Lincoln. My fay0rite poems
are Korner's Battle Prayer Words
worth's I'VE Are Seven Newman's
Lead, Kindly Light, Luiher's hymn,
Schiller's The Diver, Horace's 'Fons
Bandnasae' and Burns 'Cotter's
Saturday Night, i dislike Dante and
Byron ! should like to have known
jeremiah the Prophet, old man
Poggio, Horace, Walter Scott, Bona
parte, Hawthorne, Nine. Sontag, Sir
John Herschel, Hans Andersen. My
fayorite actor is Henry Irving, actress,
Nine. Modjeslxa.
~ dislike politics, so-called. /
should like to have the privilege OF
voting extended to woven. am un-
alterably opposed to capital punish
ment. ! favor a system Of pensions
for nocle services in literature, art,
science, etc. | approve Of compulsory
education. / believe In churches and
schools. / hate wars, armies, soldiers,
guns and fireworks.
"If | could have my way / should
make the abuse Of horses, dogs and
cattle a penal offense. should abol-
ish all Cog laws and dog catchers, and
would punish severely everybody
who caughtand Gagged birds
81 like music limited. | have been
a great theatre-goer. / enjoy the
society Of doctors and clergymen.
do not care particularly for sculpture
or for paintings. l am extravagantly
FOND or perfumes. MY fayroite color
is red. am a poor diner, and l drink
no wine or spirits OF any kind. do
not smoke tobacco. dislike crowds
and l abominate functions.
81 am fond Of the companshlp Of
women, and / have an unconquerable
pride prejudice against feminine
beauty. ! recall with pride that in
twenty-five years Of active journalism
/ have alwas written in reverential
praise Of womankind. ! favor early
marriage.
81 do not love all children. l have
tried to analyze my feelings toward
children, and / think l discover that
that l Hove them In so far as / can
make pets Of them.
~ belive that If / live / shall do my
best literary work when / am grand
| father.r