The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-07-29

yet he made friends with every one
he met The world has never known
a man so unconventional In dress he
was careless and his favorite recre-
alton was reading in bed. Had he
given more time to games and exercise
he would have lived longer.
~ His devotion to his friends was
extraordinary. Every book lie wrote
had its inspiration in some friend. or
suggested a friend. He refused no
help to any one, he would lend one
moment and borrow money to buy his
lunch the next. He was always i'm
posed upon by a class of dilatory indi-
gents. Mothers knew him as a friend,
and children are indebted tc him, His
onice I'm life was to make ,ropIe
laugh and in this he succeeded He
saw humor In every thing and ridi-
culed everything, even his friends, but
he did II so kindly that no one took
ofense. He found something to laugh
at In every book or paper that he
picked up, and would go a long way
to obtain an unusual result. At one
time he essayed the role of an actor
ana remained on rne stage till his
friends dissuaded him.
He was a student In three coll
leges and after graduating spent six
months as reporter on the st. Louis
Journal. From there he drifted from
one paper to another rril he finally
became managing editor on the Dem
yer Tribune. Here he wrote his first
book and learned the border life to
which he has given expression in five
books AS a writer he is a true pic
ture artist and his style is original,
playful and sympathetic. He wrote
much nonsense, but his friends liked
1t, for 1t brought music and good
cheer to his soul.
Fields did not write of great or
national events, but chronicled daily
affairs as he saw them, first a laugh
and then sob. In 1883 he became
free lance on the Chicago Daily
News and wrote each day a column,
he called sharps and flats. Although
he was under the necessity of doing
this, he never exhausted his material,
but had something entirely new and
original each day.
He had passion for collecting and
had a collection of every thing imag-
Unable. From these he gained the in
spiration for many poem or verse.
He delighted in old books and spent
hours among them. LeWrng was his
drug, his creed was love, his religion
Kindness. His heart made him u poet.
In imaginative moods he was at
his best, and his poetry eXcelled his
prose. In rank he stands high but
alone, for there Is no one like him."
Prof. Pearson interspersed his re-
marks with readings from the poet.
He Is above the average as a reader
and as he gave the sweetly touching
word of Field in his personally SYM
pathetic way many eyes were filled
with tears.
Thursday Afternoon.
Thursday afternoon brought to the
ChautauIua platform, DR.. Ora Saauel
Gray one of the most potent forces
associated with j. Wilbur ChapmGo
the evangelist with a purpose to re-
deem the world. The prelude to his
appearance was a song recital by the
Lotus Glee club, one OF the most
gifted and harmonious quartettes on
the Chautauqua platform. Notable IN
connection with the artistry Of the
club Is lis solo work. This does not
mean that as a quartette 1t falls below
the standard of first excellence, but
what is rare In harmonizing, each
voice is splendidly adapted to solo
singing. The tenor numbers, of G..
Morgan Stricklett, and Mr.. George
Bonus bass solo, "Drink TO Me Only
With Thine Eyes" were especially ap-
preciated.
DR.. Gray administers surprise
when he Is introduced by Superinten-
dent Davidson by reason of his youth.
One naturally expects the sands of
time to have run at least half their.
course for a man who has accom-
plished 80 much In the intellectual and
spiritual race. The surprise however
is an agreeable one, Just as the speak