The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-01
More Anecdotes of Eugene Field.


There is revival of interest in the life
and works Of Eugene Field, due in part to
the republication of some of his more obscure
writings and in part to the appearance OF a
Field biography, written by his old friend,
Slason Thompson Of Chicago, of whom Field,
in his palmy days, often borrowed S. 1t is
handsomely printed work in two volumes,
forming comprehensive review OF the life
and literary work of a genius as erratic as
ever puzzled the literary circles Of the west.
Field is said to- have been the inventor OF
the sign, "This Is My Busy Day. which
hung over his desk. BY it's side was the
MOTTO "God Bless Our Proofreader He Can't
Call for Him Too Soon" And under the
motto was the piece Of apparatus with which
he used to quash incipient libel suits. 1t was
nothing but a chair Of black walnut, lacking
a bottom. Its yawning seat was always care
fully concealed by few papers carelessly
thrown there The late William Edgar Nye, who
called to see Field one day, was genially in
vited to sit in this chair, and did SO, doubling
up like jackknife with new spring. When
they had snapped him back and settled the
score at the nearest refectory, Nye conceived
vast friendship for the simple-minded poet
and joker that lasted for lifetime.
/ Many stories are told Of Fields pranks IN
| Denver, where he did newspaper work on the
Tribune from 1881 to 1883. Stratton, the mil
| !ionaire miner was invited one day to sit in
Field s sanctum close to the light well. AS
he tipped back in his chair, Field inserted
| the toe of his shoe under its leg and tipped
! the millionaire down the light we'll, fall OF
| three stories. When he alighted, Field, who
| had rushed down the stairs, was there, struck
| him for S. on the spot and got it. This was
| considered a rare joke by his associates anc
| occasioned much laughter.
People in Evanston will never forget the
joke Field put up on the people of the Meth
| odist church where he attended. "A new
| epire had been placed on the edihce, much
against Fields wishes, and the poet com
| planned bitterly that it gave top heavy eff.
| feet to the sanctuary One day he climbed
up the lightning rod and tipped the spire over
! into the street. This bit of humOr was con
| sidered so particularly Fieldesque that there
was a general laugh, and nothing furthel
was done about it, nor was the spire re-
placed
At the parliament of religions at the worlds
! fair Field dressed as Indian Swami witt
| turban and robes and with a long, gray
| beard He walked out on the stage during
[ the proceedings in the most dignif1ed man
| ner People who settled themselves in thei1
| seats expecting revelation of some esoteri
! mystery were surprised to see the Swan
| suddenly invert himself, stand on his heac
and wiggle his feet in the air. One or tive
ladies screamed, but the meeting broke VI
in general laughter when 1t was ascerta1net
that it was only Eugene Field
Probably as good a joke as Field ever per
petrated took place one Saturday night when
after receiving his pay envelop, he struci
the business manager Of the paper for $25
This was widely commented on in neWspa
per circles.
Thousands of these delightful little anec
dotes are told Of "'Gene," and the new biog
raphy has undoubtedly given an impulse t.
the study of the man whose humor forms S
large and characteristic part Of the hume
Of the nation. "A. j. Russell