The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-10
WHEN THE BILL WAS PAID.
How Eugene Field Recalled an An.
cient Custom.
New York Press. ]

A friend OF the late Eugene Field tell,
a new one on the poet as follows:
BefOre Field was famous as a poet he
frequently visited one OF the prominent
cafes in Chicago In due course OF TIM
he became acquainted and made friends
fast. He then Joined the fraternity and
in the evenings would sit in the lobby
and tell stories to the men He was =.
that they generally would sit there and
listen 10 them until the hour hand Of the
clock had crept around the face TO the
small hours OF the morning.
Everybody began TO know the new
conner. He was the whole show and was
considered a highly esteemed parsonage
about the place. AS time elapsed, Field
ran an account at the place and all ne
would have 10 do when he wanted drink
was 10 summon waiter. They knew his
faVorite.
"It happened that Field went broke
and having a small bill chalked mp
against his name ne thought ii would be
advisable to make himself scarce about
the place. until ne could pay the amount
He tried the experiment i'm the mean
time trying TO put himself on his feet
again. On the first night Fields absence
was at once noticed and the men asked
each other why Field was away from
the circle. This was very unusual. for
any night in the week he could be found
in the lobby with a number Of men clus-
tered about him, listening 10 his tales
surprise were expressed and few Of the
members also failed to congregate At the
usual meeting place. month passed
and still-no Field. More men stayed
away. The proprietor was beginning 10
get alarmed and wondered what caused
the shrinkage in attendance. 1t hurt bis
business. Suddenly he became coguzant
and tried to locate the absentee. NotCiy
had seen Field in a month and no one
knew where to find him.
His existence nearly fOrgnttnn
| The proprietor was walking down the
street one bright afternoon when he luck
lily bumped into the man who was later
to be known as a famous poet.
" Hello. there. Field. Where YOU keep
ing yourself these days?' he asked. YoI
are never around any more
Field gave. no answer but simpll
stared blankly at the ground.
" 1T isn't that little bill that's trOuh
ling your
"'Oh. don't let n little thing like tha
| bother you. old man. The boys are anx
some without you. You come tomOrrO'
and wen straighten matters ont
Before he left Field he made him prom
Use him that he would be around at tn
cafe the following evening. Field. true {
his promise. did as the proprietor asl1e
JAS he entered the cafe he immediatel
called Field aside and asked him TO ste
into the adjoining room. The owner wer
to his desk and after looking over hi
books. made out a bill.
:" You see that?' he said. after record
ing the last item. that's your bill"
"Field looked at him with intense II
| terest
"'Mr Field you have maid your bill
the owner said, handing Field slip
paper with the word, Paid written owe
| the face.
"T have paid my bill. Mr. W.
| Yes we are square
| Well said Field, looking iongingl
over toward the bar. it's pretty poo
house that doesn't set 'em up when
man pays his bill
produced the goods. admitting that u
| joke was on him.