Eugene Field I Knew

1898. Begins: There were many Eugene Fields. Like the Apostle, he was all things to all men and much to many. Curiously enough, the Eugene Field of Julian Hawthorne was diametrically the opposite of George W. Cable's Eugene Field. He was well-nigh idolized in Chicago, where he delighted to live, and from which place gold, silver, jewels and precious stones could not tempt him permanently. To Bill Ny he was an eccentric but charming companion, and James Whitcombe Riley, wondering at his versatility of talent, found Field an isolated character running counter to any prior opinion that might have been formed of him. He was a terror to politicians, a Homer to the children, and different to, as well as from, everybody. He bore unique relations to each of his friends and acquaintances, as many of them have eloquently and affectionately testified. As Field came to be a conspicuous literary figure, it was most interesting to observe his keen enjoyment of growing reputation. He played the lion with admirable modesty and the tact of a Talleyrand. If the situation required it, he could aggravate his voice so that he would roar you as gently as any sucking dove.