Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-02-16
A STORY OF EUGENE FIELD.

Sunday Magazine by James w. Morrssey.
theatrical manager and impresariol
The way of the manager often Is hard.
The road he travels Is beset with pitfalls,
and now and then he is bound to stumble.
Perhaps a Good Samaritan may journey
along and extend him helping hand II
so, he is lucky, especially IL the Good
Samaritan happens to be a Eugene Field.
| had Mile. Rhea in Chicago, and one
night after the performance, I'm the course
of a little supper at which Field was
present. took occasion to bemoan my lot.
I'm at loss to know what to do"
said. I'VE open in ST. Louis next Mon
day night, and my representative ought
to be down there announcing the coming
of Mile. Rhea. Instead Of this, he's flying
back to New York as fast as the train
will take him, with his feelings much
injured by a few remarks / made to him
this morning. It's impossible to pick UP
a good man at a moments notice. with
no proper announcements in st. Louis,
we are sure to play to losing business"
Jimmie, you're pessimist," said
Field, gazing at me quizzically from
across the table. you wrong Chicago
when you say that II is impossible to
find in this town artists in your game
Of holding out alluring bait to a con-
fiding public. Why. in Chicago they grow
on every bush'
Then pick one for me-" answered
quickly
Well" drawled Field, gazing thought
fully into the smoke from his cigar las
a loyal citizen of Chicago l naturally have
a grudge against st. Louis, and l was
just thinking that might run down there
myself to induce them to attend your
show
Field, you're joking!" I exclaimed
WELL If 1 am" he answered. II think
It is kind of grim Joke on st. Louis.
But, as a matter of fact. 1 am as serious
as Hamlet Do l get the job?"
DO you get it?" / cried. IF you really
are not joking. should say you did,
IAN right then" he said, reaching out
his long hand to me, 'it is a gentlemen's
agreement. I'll stand not on the order
Of my going, but will go tomorrow morn
ing. Give me your instructions now. so
that l may devote the remainder of the
evening to packing my toothbrush and
bidding my creditors farewell"
A trip like this did not interfere with
Fields writing his daily column of
"sharps and Flats" for 1.-THE Chicago
News" Indeed, 1t took him into a fresh
sphere for copy. He was at the train
the next morning in lively mood, and
bade me good-by gaily., Thus it was that
1 acquired a new advance agent.
From the train went at once to the
telegraph office and indited to the dra-
matte editors of the st. Louis newspapers
message which read like this:
Eugene Field has been turned loose
on your town as publicity purveyor pro
tenn. for the Rhea company, and arrives
tonight on the seven o'clock train. Please
give him wide berth i'm your columns
that is give him plenty of space in which
to toss about
Eugene of course was well-known by
reputation in st. Louis. and ! rather
opined, as l handed my telegram to the
operator, to be duplicated to the various
newspapers, that he would find plenty OF
opportunity to show his mettle as a press
agent. That was all that 1 wanted him
to do. For billing the town my plan was
to send our paper to a boss bill-poster
In whom l had confidence, and run down
to st Louis myself little later in the
week, Just as soon as / could get away
conveniently, to look after the details
And so that day went about my business
with a feeling of assurance that the adj
vent OF MHe. Rhea in st. Louis would be
wen heralded after all.
On the second morning afterward when
Field had been in st. Louis a day. /
bought that city's papers to ascertain
what my new advance agent has ac-
eomplished at the beginning of his cam
paign. In a moment my eyes had caught
the headline: Reception to Eugene
Field
My eager reading of the article in
formed me that the newspaper men had
got up little welcome Tor my represen-
tative.
The next morning received a telegram
from him to this effect: IF possible
come at once. Shall expect you on the
seven o'clock train. You are needed
here" This was signed: Eugene in the
Field"
l telegraphed that should be on hand.
and as my train sped southwark l was
consumed with curiosity as to what
Gene" might be up to.
Mr.. Morrissey? All Yes, Mr.. Field
has been expecting you" said the clerk
when 1 arrived at the hotel THE boy
will show you to his room" As we
hurried along the corridor, the soundN of
numerous voices assailed my ears The
boy paused before the door from behind
which the noises came. l knocked and
a stentorian voice called: Come in!"
The door-knob was pulled out of my
grasp from the other side, and 1 stood
dazed and blinking in the flood of light in
which i wonderingly made out a long
table, glistening with dinner service,
and a dozen men hastily rising. At the
tables head, in the centre of this festive
scene, was the lank form OF my friend
Gene" On his long face was a wide
grin.
Gentlemen, the health of Jimmie
Morrissey!' he cried. You're just i'm time
to help me in my trouble-my trouble in
holding within bounds these Apaches of
the press. And now sit down in the
vacant chair, oh, poor traveller. and regale
myself with food and drink"
1t was one of the merriest gatherings
In which l ever assisted. Field called
me the guest of honor. and delivered an
address of welcome that was a most
amusing imitation of pompous efforts in
this direction.
But this is play, Gene" 1 remarked
to him late in the evening, when we were
breaking up. "Has-has any work been
done?"
MY dear major-general," he replied,
you put me in charge Of this campaign,
did you not? Let me assure you then
that this is only the skirmsh before
cannonading. The ammunition is in the
guns This evening 1 am just supplying
the boys with little of the afiatus that
will enable them to properly touch off
the fuses. Get up early in the morning
and read the papers,
Napoleon" l answered smilingly, IT
say no more. You are my superior officer.
1 salute you"
1 did get up early to read the papers.
Rhea, Rhea, Rhea! In a dozen columns
read that alluring name, and In most
OF them / recognized Fields delft hand.
There was a touch of genius I'm the
articles. What he didn't know about my
star he had imagined. He told some
strange tales about her-things that