The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-13

Julius Chambers in the Brooklyn Eagie. @ HICAGO has humor of its own V and special brand of hunor- O ists.
 George Ades experience Tuesday even ing was merely new change run upon the same old joke. The "guying' ot guests is of modern invention. It prob ably originated with the Clover club or Philadelphia but the Gridiron of Wash ington and the temporarily successful Quaint club of this city carried the of- fense to far greater lengths That a member of the Chicago Society of 1ndi- ana should have accoutered himself In woman's garb and intruded upon the din ner to claim his affinity In the person of the professional humorist is nothing un- usual as matters are understood in Chi cago.
 Eugene Field was responsible for g great many practical jokes, but they were always redeemed by the merit Of orig inality and perfect good humor. Not long ago I repeated his answer to visitor who had worn out his welcome and who finished himself by asking:
 "Ah! MT. Field, why do you have wire
 
 netting in your window?'
 .'ro enable me to resist the constant impulse to jump the ten stories when l am bored"
 "Aw! Very clever. MT. Field" com mented the Englishman, squaring himself for protracted stay.
 But 1t is detachable" retorted Field, with annoyance, and I am about to re- move It.
 History doesn't record that the stranger saw the point" but let us assume that he did.
 The best practical joke Field ever played was upon his discoverer and ex- ploiter, Melville E. Stone. During the Columbian Worlds fair, a distinguished group of European journalists and diplo- mats had expressed wish to visit the office of the Chicago Daily News and a date for their coming had been set.
 When the party arrived and the build ing had been inspected, universal desire was expressed to be introduced to Eugene Field He had small room to himself and the party was conducted thither. When the door was opened in response to a gruff Come in!'' the poet was seen sitting at his desk. garbed in a convict 8 suit and to his ankle was chain and ball. He had had his hair cut as short as a clipper could make it, and he glared at his visitors.
 This Is only another proof of the heartless character of my task-master, this tyrant Stone" he said. with every appearance of anger. 'I thought I would be spared this last humiliation. But no, j7e is pitiless. Not only does he compel me to wear stripes in evidence of my servility and degradation in being con- necfed with his newspaper, but he chains me to this ball so that I cannot escape"
 There was a stiffness in that room that could be felt. MT. Stone never was who'll ly unprepared for a surprise from Field; but this came upon him rather suddenly. He flushed a trfe but managed to say: everything he says Is true: humorists have to be chained in Chicago. If they get loose, they are liable to kill people. This poor fellow, gentlemen, is as dan- gerous as his jokes are harmless" Very well do I recall an experience of my own with the members of the old Whitechapel club. arrived in Chicago late one night and registered at MT. Bemis hotel on the lake front, and was preparing to go to bed when there came q rather peremptory knock at my door. When I opened, policeman stood beside