University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-06-02
Eugene Field

TO be wild and woody" not finishe'
land delicious. A beautiful June day i
was when these two men sat in Field
lattic room. CuriOs and Bric-a bra'
filled the room, all strange. but eaci
one with 4 history. Field was tall
in.haired, a man of the New Enelanl
Type with the Scotch face, rugged
smoothly shaven and very solemn. He
was stripped 10 his shirt sleeves, and
sat with his feet upon small stand
He chewed refiectively upon cigaI
end during the opening OF the talk
Garland wanted the interview badly
but Field replied:
20, say, Garland, cant We put this
lining off,"
No, il must be did," replied the
man decisively.
What does il all mean anyway
said the Missourian.
I'm going To take notes while you
talk and I'm going TO pur this down
pretty close 10 facts, now You bet. -
said Garland, sharpening pencil.
Where do you want me 10 begin"
"Oh, you'll have 10 start with your
ancestors"
Field went Oh 10 tell Garland he
was born in ST. Louis in 1870. much
TO the latter's surprise. who thought
he was born in Massachusetts.
MY father was lawyer, a precO-
ciOns man TOO, for AT the age of l.?
he was made states attorney, for
which special measure had to be
passed or else he would have had 10
wait until he was 81" said Field. He
was graduated from college at L."
where does your New England life
come in?" asked Garland.
He was then told how Field was sent
to his cousin, Miss French, which
was the beginning of the best period
Of his life
BY the way, here's something that
you will like" continued Field. when
was years old father sent us up
10 Fayetteville. VT, to the old home
stead where my grandmother lived We
stayed there seven MONTHS" he said
with curl of his lip, "and the old lady
got all the grandson she wanted. She
tidn't want the visit repeated
This grandmother was New Eng
and .cOngregationalist, and during
he stay of this grandson at the old
she used TO give Eugene 10
'ents for every sermon he would
write. One OF these and only one is
reserved. now handsomely bound but
till in the same bOyish hand. Ii is
IS follows:
Il would remark secondly that con-
cience makes the way of transgress-
rs hard; for every act of pleasure.
very act of guilt, his conscience |
mites him. The last of his stay on
arth will appear terrible to the be-
older Sometimes. however. he will |
e stayed in his guilt A death in the
amily will take place or he will he
ttacked by some disease and brought
D the portals of the grave. Then for
little time perhaps he is stayed in
is Wickedness, but before long he re-
rms TO his worldly lust. Oh, il is III
eed bad for sinners to go down into
erdition over all the obstacles which
cd has placed in his path But many
am afraid go down into perditiOn for
wide gate and broad path is the
ay that leads to destruction and mans
lere be that go in thereat." |,
This same grandmother gave me |.
We dollars for learning the ten
he said 81 would X
d exchange for any amount of money IL
e acquaintance with the Bible that 10
as drummed into me when a bOy." lt
At learning to speak pieces Field Ia
as quick, though at committing III
rises to memory he was slow. Among II
ME of the former favOrites were "The "
lrial OF Sir John Moore" "Horatius v
the Bridge" 'fiOhenlinden," and l
he Psalm of Life" In the sermon liz
US Of Field he signed his name as 7
p. Field. for he was chagrinod 10 =
Id that other boys had three names %
lille he did not. hence he took the "
me- Phillips. from a fondness of {
endell Phillips. and incorporated i'm. f(
his own. IT
In talking of his college education lp
lgene Field said of Columbia: 1T o
Is an old slave town, but | liked il. S
e got streak of the Southern feel b.
: in me-" Ial
At q Eugene Field came into DOS Ic;
ssion of 100000 and went to Eu- ldl
'e. where the income was nearly al
ant. liza
You must have had a lively timo q" NJ