FIELD, Eugene, American poet and jour nalist: b. Saint Louis, Mo., 2 Sept. 1850; d. Chicago, Ill., 4 Nov. 1895. After his mother's death, he was brought up by his cousin, Miss Mary French, at Amherst, Mass. He received his early education at Monson, Mass., and entered Williams College in 1868. His father's death in the following year necessitated a change of plans, and he was taken by his guar dian, John Burgess, to Galesburg, Ill. A year at Knox College sufficed for the restless young Field. In 1870 hejoined his brother at Mis souri University, where he spent another joy ous year, taking little interest in his studies but an active share in promoting all the pranks and nonsense of the school. He refused to take his education seriously; and, after three years of it, resolved to enter a profession. The theatrical world attracted him at first, but he soon discovered his limitations and began to consider journalism. Then he was informed that a division of his parental estate left him in possession of a few thousands. The light hearted Field packed off to Europe, visiting the southern countries and letting his patrimony dwindle away. He landed penniless in America, full of the joy of his trip, and soon after mar ried Miss Julia Comstock of Saint Joseph, Mo. With new responsibilities to be met, Field set to work at journalism and rose to be city editor of the Saint Joseph Gazette (1875-76). He wrote in a dashing, breezy, gossipy style, with rampant humor. His subsequent career in journalism was very successful. From 1876 80 he was editorial writer on the Saint Louis Morning Journal and the Times-Journal of the same city; managing editor of the Kansas City Times (1880-81) • managing editor of the Den ver Tribune (188143), and special writer on the Chicago Daily News and Record from the latter year until his death. His independent
literary activity began in 1879, when his first volume of verse appeared under the title of 'Christian Treasures.' In 1889 he again spent a year in Europe — a trip necessitated by his ill-health. His other works include 'Denver Tribune
(1882) ; 'The Model Primer' (1882) •, 'Culture's
(1X7) ; 'Little Book of Western Verse' (1889) ; 'Little Book of Profitable Tales) (1889) ;
It is as a poet of children that Mr. Field is best remembered. For this work his generous humor, his playfulness and naivete were aptly suited. Mr. Cowen, one of his earliest com mentators characterizes him thus: °Gayety was his dement. He lived, loved, inspired and translated it, in the doing which latter, he wrote without strain or embarrassment, reams of prose satires, conies risques and Hudibrastic Field's favorite characterization of himself was °the good knight, sans peur, et sans A number of his child-poems have been adapted to musical settings by Caro S. Seymour and others. The best study of his life is by his friend Slason Thompson (2 vols., New York 1901).