The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-10-07

erect monument over the grave 81
Eugene Field in a Chicago cemetery
and the originator Il the plan Is Vii.
J. Davis. for many years . theater
manSfer ana All intimate friend 81
Field Held made Davis taste Co. the
matter 81 ws!st.oats The subject ~ "a
long poem. Here's part 81 IL:
Nov William Is not haudsone-he's
tuld he's just like me-
Ana ia one respect ! think hc is. Tor
he's As good as good can be-,
Yet. while ind my chances With the
kris are precious slim.
The women folks 20 wildly gIliyant-
ing after him.
And after serious study II ihr proh-
lem have guessed
That the secret Of Tins frenzy is the
WIN J. Davis vest
I've stood ia Colorado ana looked on
peaks 81 snow
While pr!soned torrents made their
moan TWO thousand feet below;
The simpson Pass and prodigies Vesu-
Wan have ! done.
And ea2cd in rockbound Norway upon
the midnight sun
Yet ~ no time such wonderment. such
transports filed my breast
As when fixed my orbs upon WIN J
Davis vest.
But better yet. dear William, than this
garb Of which | sing
Is a glft which God has given YOU, and
that's q priceless thing
What stun We mortals spin and weave.
though pleasing 10 IA" cyn,
Doth presently corrupt 90 be Tor for
gotten by and by.
one thing and one alone survives Old
times rcmorseless test
The yalor OF a heart like that which
beats beneath that vest,
Gene Field, though born In 81. Louis.
was brought up in New England.
Three colleges contributed to his
educauon-Winiams college In Massa-
chuset,s. Knox college at Galesburg,
H., ANA the University Of Missouri
lie didn't stay long enough to get a
diploma from any Of them. At u he
went 10 -. Louis. where h. made his
home with Melvin l.. Gray, the execu-
tor OF els fathers will. The elder Field
had hoped that his son might become
a lawyer; Eugene himself had ycarn-
lngs for the stage. He went TO Edwin
Forrest, the tragedian, for advice and
a job. Forrest turned 70 him all ma
jestic gloom
'Boy,' he rumbled, return To your
friends ana bid them apprentice you
10 n woodsawer rather than waste
your life on precarious profession
whose successes are few and whose
rewards are bankruptcy and !ngrati-
tudc. Co study and learn OF Corlola-
nus"
In spite Of the warning, Field started
a small transforming company lie
wrote the plays, and. with his friend,
Marvin Eddy, played all the principal
parts. Nine Saunders was the or
chestra, while her husband painted the
posters. The company played a few
Missouri towns, among them Carroll
ton and Richmond then ii succumbed
Fields father had died two years be-
tore Gene left college. As soon as the
young man was able 10 obtain money
rom the sale Of some land he started
tor Europe with Edgar V Comstock,
J college chum. The prodigal son had
nothing on Comstock and Field, and
when Mr. Gray finally cablcd that Eu-
genes money, $4,000, was exhausted.
he young men had to sell an eXpcn-
3ive collection of travel mementocs to
get home. Field returned To st. Louis
with a French poodle bought in New
York and chrstcucd McSwccncy.
Before leaving for Europe the poet
lad become engaged To Miss Julia
'OmStock of st. Joseph, Mo-, the IL
,ear-Old sister of his chum He had
agreed TO wait until she was Is before
marrying her, but four years seemed
ike forty to the impatient Eugene, and
shortly after his return from Europe
le married Miss Comstoclt. She was
hen l6 They went east for their we'd |
ling "trip, and Field took keen delight