Eugene Field, a Study in Heredity and Contradictions — Volume 2 - Slason Thompson

Earle, Alice Morse, i., 1;
letter from Eugene Field, 56
"Echo from Mackinac Island, An," ii., 57, 58
"Echoes from the Sabine Farm," i., 2;
dedication of, 93, 94;
publication of, ii., 155-157, 165, 166
Ela, John W., a Mugwump, ii., 218-220
Ellsworth, James W., ii., 173
Emerson, Dr. John, owner of Dred Scott, i., 37
"Eugene Field," a tribute by a Texan, ii., 318, 319
"Eugene Field in His Home," i., 101
Evans, Governor, i., 147

"Fickle Woman, A," i., 332
Field, Charles Kellogg, uncle of Eugene Field, i., 2;
education, 5, 9, 10;
studies law, 10;
capacity for mischief, 48;
his memoir of Roswell M. Field, ii., 262, 263
Field, Miss Kate, her acquaintance with Eugene Field, i., 174, 175;
subscribes to the "Little Books," ii., 132
Field, Eugene, ancestry, i., 2;
birthplace, 50, 51;
doubt as to date of birth, 51, 52;
death of mother, 52, 53;
cared for by Miss French, 53;
early youth in Newfane and Amherst, 54-60;
fondness for pets, 60-65;
religious training, 66-69;
sentiments toward Vermont and New England, 69-71;
education under Mr. Tufts at Monson, 73-78;
enters Williams College, 78;
anecdotes of college life, 79-84;
lack of interest in studies, 79-81;
leaves Williams, 81;
summoned to deathbed of father, 84;
enters Knox College, 84;
joins brother at University of Missouri, 85;
severs connection with the University, 85;
indication of literary genius, 86-90;
life in St. Louis, 91-98;
fascination for the stage, 95-97;
inherits $8,000, makes a tour of Europe, and squanders his patrimony, 98-100;
returns to St. Louis, 100;
descriptions of his trip, 101, 102;
affection for the fair sex, 103-106;
courtship and marriage, 105-109;
honeymoon, 109, 110;
investment of $20,000 on experience, 111;
goes to work as reporter on St. Louis Evening Journal, 112;
description of early married life in St. Louis, 112, 113, 121;
love of fun, 113-117, 118;
members of household, 113;
fondness for singing, 114;
his children, 114, 121, 122, 191; ii., 255-258, 261, 278, 279;
city editor of St. Joseph Gazette, i., 114;
returns to St. Louis and continues writing for the Evening Journal, 115, 116;
lack of business ability, 116;
attack by the Spectator, 117-119;
reply to the same, 120;
becomes managing editor of Kansas City Times, 122, 136;
his home relations, 122-125;
method of reporting, 126, 127;
whimsical verses and fancies, 128-131;
misreports and plays practical jokes on Carl Schurz, 131-133;
character of his early journalistic work, 133-135;
revels in Kansas City, 130-138;
writes "The Little Peach," 139;
Greek translation and English equivalent of same, 140-142;
moves to Denver and becomes managing editor of The Denver Tribune, 143-145;
writes "Odds and Ends," 145-151;
his "Tribune Primer," 146-152;
his views on journalism, 149, 150;
creates the "Bugaboo," 151-153;
his friendship for Madame Modjeska, 154;
writes "The Wanderer," 154, 155;
credits "The Wanderer" to Madame Modjeska, 154-157;
anecdotes of his life in Denver, 158-182;
description of his office, 158, 159;
his acquaintance with "Bill" Nye, 159-161;
his inability to keep money, 162;
the Wickersham episode, 163-171;
impersonates Oscar Wilde, 171-172;
his dramatic qualifications and acquaintances, 173;
his relations and correspondence with Miss Kate Field, 174, 175;
his disposition, 175, 176;
plays pranks on Wolfe Londoner, 176-180;
gives a single-handed entertainment at Manîtou, 181, 182;
his hatred of hypocrisy, 182; ii., 314;
failure of health, i., 183-185;
accepts position on the Chicago Morning News and leaves Denver, 183-189;
ambition to achieve literary fame, 190;
his home and family in Chicago, 191;
introduces himself to the public, 191, 192;
his favorite child, 192;
means of increasing salary, 192, 193; ii., 7;
reasons for staying in Chicago, i., 193-195;
his objections to Chicago, 196-201;
begins "Sharps and Flats," 201-203;
his scholarship, 204, 205;
held in check by John F. Ballantyne, 207-209;
writes on assault of Edward D. Cowen, 209, 210;
description of the editorial rooms of the Chicago Daily News, 211-217;
his office described, 218-220;
his personal appearance and characteristics, 220-223;
meets Christine Nilsson, 224-227;
his fondness for stage folk, 227;
invents tales respecting Emma Abbott, 228;
his friendship with Francis Wilson, 229, 230;
his relations with William Florence, 230-235;
his friendship with the Cranes, 235-241;
mutual friendship between Madame Modjeska and himself, 241-249;
enjoys "The Mikado," 240-251;
his favorite prima donna, 251-254;
dedicates three poems to the Davises, 254-261;
satires Kate Claxton, 261-262;
impersonates Sir Henry Irving, 263, 264;
his association with Sol Smith Russell, 264-270;
lack of literary education, 271-274;
studies early English literature, 275-278;
makes acquaintance of Dr. Reilly, 279-280;
inspired by Dr. Reilly, 282-293;
his debt to Father Prout and Béranger, 282-288; ii., 116;
tributes to Dr. Reilly, i., 289-293;
his method of work, 294-300;
love of the theatre, 300, 301;
describes Billy Boyle's Chop-house, 301-305;
partakes of midnight suppers, 307, 308; ii., 5;
exposes Rutherford B. Hayes, i., 309;
while absent from Chicago, learns a lesson, 310-313;
derives profit from his play, 314-317;
his aim in life, 315;
evolution of his life and writings, 317;
his keen appreciation of humor, 317-319;
an international hoax, 320-323;
foisters the authorship of "The Lost Sheep" on Miss Sally McLean, 324, 325;
involves Miss Wheeler in a controversy, 326-328;
methods of calling public attention to own compositions, 329-331;
makes Judge Cooley responsible for some of his poems, 331-337;
hoaxes Chicago critics, 337, 338;
prophecies a danger, 339, 340;
characterized by E.C. Stedman, 340, 341;
comments on Mr. Stedman's visit to Chicago, 341-345;
his companionship with Slason Thompson, ii., 1-14;
presents a cherished wedding gift to Mrs. Thompson, 1, 2;
condition of his finances, 6, 7;
obtains advances on his salary, 7-9;
embarrasses Slason Thompson with postal-cards, 9-11;
plays a Christmas prank. 12-14;
character of handwriting, 15, 16;
origin of use of colored inks, 16-18;
reproduces Corot's "St. Sebastian" and other pictures from written descriptions, 18-22;
composes a German poem, 23, 24;
his means of obtaining, and using, colored inks, 24-32;
corresponds with Miss Thompson, 27, 28, 33, 34;
two artistic efforts, 28-33;
writes "Aunt Mary Matilda" series, 35, 36;
character of his letters, 45;
sends letters and poems to Slason Thompson, 47-58, 65-70, 77-105;
dines at Thompson's expense, 53-55;
dedicates two ballads to "The Fair Unknown," 59-64;
his interest in baseball, 71-73;
participates in the game of bowling, 73-76;
describes a ball game, 77, 78, 80;
plays a practical joke, 80, 81;
verses to two of his friends, 82-84;
celebrates Mrs. Morgan Bates' birthday, 84-80;
his first appearance as a reader, 101, 102;
discusses pronunciation of Goethe's name, 102;
induces Miss Cleveland to retire from an editorship, 105, 106;
publishes his first book, 107;
description of "Culture's Garland," 108-114;
resolves to master prose writing, 114, 115;
writes a column of verse a day, 116-120;
origin of "Little Boy Blue," 121;
contributions to America, 122;
invents "The Shadwell Folio," 122-129;
proposes to privately publish two books of his verses and tales, 130, 131;
responses to his appeal, 131-133;
publishes his "Little Books," 133-137;
his struggle with dyspepsia, 138;
writes to E.D. Cowen concerning his proposed visit to Europe, 139-142;
and to Melvin L. Gray, 143, 144;
arrives in London, 144-146;
tells a story on James Whitcomb Riley, 147, 148;
places his children in school, 148, 149;
writes to Mr. Gray of his life in London, 149-153;
tells yarns to Mrs. Humphry Ward, 153-155;
publication of the limited edition of "Echoes from the Sabine Farm," 155-157, 165, 166;
collects rarities, 158;
death of his eldest son, 159-161;
his return to Chicago, 161;
prepares other books for publication, 162, 163;
describes burial of his son, 163, 164;
ill-health, 166;
writes Christmas stories, 166-168;
becomes a bibliomaniac, 169-171;
frequents McClurg's store, 171;
originates the "Saints' and Sinners' Corner," 173-175;
his relations with William F. Poole, 175-177;
saves a coveted book, 178;
reports two imaginary meetings in the "Saints' and Sinners' Corner," 179-190;
his theory regarding the buying of curios, 190-192;
entertains the Saints and Sinners, 193-197;
his politics, 198-201;
his skill in writing political paragraphs, 202, 266;
specimens of his political writings, 203-207;
embarrasses a politician, 208, 209;
plays pranks on General Logan, 209-212;
assists General Logan, 213, 214;
lampoons Judge Tree, 214-217;
ridicules the Mugwumps, 218-222;
becomes a Democrat, 221, 222;
unburdens his feelings upon the subject of his political martyrdom, 223-229;
describes M.E. Stone before and after Blaine's defeat, 224-226;
writes a parody on "Jest 'fore Christmas," 229, 231;
his description of politics and business in a country store, 231-233;
his whimsical attitude toward serious questions, 233;
demands for biographical data concerning himself, 234, 235;
the result, "An Auto-Analysis," 235-240;
inaccuracy of his statements, 240-242;
his favorite authors, 242, 243;
his aversion to brutality, 244;
his love of music, 244, 245;
starts to write a comic opera, 246-251;
his tobacco habit, 252-254;
love of children, 254-258;
interviewed by Hamlin Garland, 259, 260;
becomes aware of his failing health, 262-264;
his struggle to provide for his family, 264;
reads in public, 265;
affected by beautiful weather, 266, 277;
enjoys the World's Fair, 267, 268;
his desire to own a home, 269-271;
recovers from pneumonia, 271;
visits California, 272-276;
and New Orleans, 276-278;
embarrasses Miss Jeffries, 277, 278;
letters to Mr. Gray, 278-290;
buys and remodels a house, 281-283;
delayed by repairs from taking possession of his new home, 284-286;
experiments with gardening, 286, 287;
describes his home, 287-289;
entertains Edward Everett Hale, 291-293;
his desire to lead a more quiet life, 293-296;
his strange collection of curios, 297-301;
his autographs and books, 301;
his taste in jewelry, 301, 302;
stays at home, 302-304;
gathers material for "The Love Affairs of a Bibliomaniac," 305, 306;
specimens of his later paragraphs, 306, 307;
spends an evening with Slason Thompson, 307, 308;
defends "Bill" Nye, 309;
feels sick, 310, 311;
his death, 311-313;
a true knight, 314;
his religion, 315;
his funeral, 316, 317;
tributes by his friends, 314-320;
his resting-place, 319, 320;
reviews of two imaginary books, 321-340
Field, Eugene, letters of,
to William C. Buskett, ii., 161, 162;
to E.D. Cowen, 119, 120, 130-142, 144-146, 148, 149, 158, 159;
to R.L. Dawson, 101, 102;
to Mrs. Earle, i., 56;
to Melvin L. Gray, 120; ii., 118, 119, 143, 144, 149-153, 162-165, 166, 270, 274, 278-290;
to Edith Long, i., 64, 65;
to Collins Shackelford, 217;
to Miss Thompson, ii., 27, 28, 33, 34;
to Slason Thompson, 47-58, 63-70, 77-105
Field, Henry, appreciates Field's artistic efforts, ii., 22
Field, General Martin, grandfather of Eugene Field, i., 2;
letter to daughter Mary, 8, 9;
troubles with sons, 4-8
Field, Mary, aunt of Eugene Field, i., 5, 8, 9;
assumes care of Eugene and Roswell Field, 53;
description of, 54;
lives with Eugene Field, 113
Field, Roswell Martin, father of Eugene Field, birth-place and parentage, i., 2;
brother Charles, 4, 5, 9;
education, 5, 9, 10;
sister Mary, 8, 9;
practices law, 10, 11;
accomplishments, 11;
first love-affair, 13-22;
secretly married, 23-33;
marriage annulled, 33, 34;
emigrates to Missouri, 35;
opinions on slavery, 37;
defends Dred Scott, 37-44;
tributes by his associates, 45-47;
marries Miss Frances Reed, 49;
children, 49, 50;
death of, 84;
memoir of, by his brother, ii., 262, 263
Field, Roswell Martin, Jr., brother of Eugene Field, birth, i., 50;
early education, 54-60;
student at University of Missouri, 85-86;
advice from father concerning property, 111;
his "Memory of Eugene Field," ii., 1;
wishes to leave Kansas City, 142;
contributes part of "Echoes from the Sabine Farm," 157, 162;
becomes editorial writer on Times-Herald, 290
Fiske, John, his imaginary autobiography, ii., 238;
his death, 238, 239
"First Christmas Tree, The," ii., 102
Florence, William, a friend of Eugene Field, i., 230;
his meeting with Capel, 231;
his love of good living, 232-235
"For the Little Folks," i., 147
Forrest, Edwin, i., 95, 96
French, Mary Field, i., 8, 9
"Funny Fancies," i., 130, 134

Garland, Hamlin, i., 155;
reports an imaginary conversation with Field, ii., 259, 260
Gaston, George, i., 137, 138
"George Millard is Home!" ii., 172, 173
Gilbert, William S., receives credit for Field's "April Vespers," i., 129
"Golden Week, The," ii., 117, 129
"Good Knight and His Lady," i., 121-124
"Good Knight and the Fair Unknown, The," ii., 59
"Good Knight's Diplomacy," ii., 45, 46
"Good Knight to Sir Slosson, The," ii., 3, 4
"Good Sir Slosson's Episode with the Garrulous Sir Barbour, The," ii., 50, 51
Gray, Mrs. Melvin L., i., 71, 92, 03, 103; ii., 274
Gray, Melvin L., i., 92-94, 99;
financial difficulties with Field, 116, 117;
letters from Field, 120; ii., 118, 119, 143, 144, 149-153, 162-163, 166, 270, 274, 278-290;
assists Field to buy a home, 281 et seq.
Greene, Clay M., i., 203
Griffin, Solomon B., describes Field at Williams, i., 82, 83
Gunsaulus, Rev. Frank W., ii., 173;
describes the "Saints' and Sinners' Corner," 178;
writes for the "Sharps and Flats" column, 305;
tribute to Eugene Field, 317

Hale, Edward Everett, entertained by Field, ii., 291, 292
Hall, Rev. Thomas C., ii., 316
Hamilton, Judge Alexander, i., 40, 41
Harrison, Alice, i., 249, 250
Hawkins, Willis, i., 282;
bowls with Field, ii., 74, 76;
attends ball game with Field, 77, 78
Hawthorne, Julian, writes introduction for "Culture's Garland," ii., 110, 112
Hayes, Mrs. Rutherford B., admired by Field, i., 310
Hayes, Rutherford B., exposed by Field, i., 309
Head, Franklin II., his imaginary book reviewed by Field, ii., 321-331
"Holy Cross and Other Tales, The," ii., 265
Hopkins, President Mark, i., 79
"House, The," ii., 281, 282
"How Mary Matilda Won a Prince," ii., 35-43
"How the Good Knight Attended Upon Sir Slosson," ii., 62-64
"How the Good Knight Protected Sir Slosson's Credit," ii., 53, 54
Howells, William Dean, i., 134
Hull, Paul, i., 282
"Hushaby Song, A," 254, 255

Irving, Sir Henry,
his tribute to Eugene Field, i., 263;
mimicked by Field, 263, 264

James, Henry, i., 134
Jefferson, Joseph, i., 230;
relates a story about William J. Florence, 234, 235
Jeffries, Miss Maude, embarrassed by one of Field's jokes, ii., 276-278
"Jest 'fore Election," a parody, ii., 229-231
Jewett, Miss Sara, i., 260
Joy, Major Moses, i., 24
Joyce, Colonel John A., i., 326-328

Kelley, Michael J., star of the Chicago Baseball Club, ii., 71-73
Kellog, Esther Smith, grandmother of Eugene Field, i., 2;
character, 57;
picture of, by Eugene Field, 57-59

Larned, Walter Cranston,
describes the Walters gallery, ii., 16-21;
Field reproduces his descriptions in colored inks, 18-21;
presented with a work of art, 22
Lathrop, Barbour, ii., 51
Lawson, Victor F., i., 185, 186; ii., 132;
acquires control of the Morning and Daily News, 222
"Little Book of Profitable Tales, A," i., 316;
concerning publication of, ii., 130-137
"Little Book of Western Verse, A," i., 8, 93, 112, 157, 317, 337; ii., 1;
concerning publication of, 130-137, 147
"Little Boy Blue," ii., 112;
origin of, 121
"Little Peach, The," i., 139-141
Livingstone, John B.,
accounts for title of "Sharps and Flats," i., 201-203
Logan, General John A.,
victim of Field's pranks, ii., 209-212;
"The Spy," 210, 211;
"Logan's Lament," 212;
aided by Field, 213-216;
re-elected to the Senate, 216
Londoner, Wolfe, describes Field, i., 175, 176;
victimized by Field, 176-179;
story of his meeting with Charles A. Dana, 179, 180
"Lonesome Little Shoe, The," title-page of, ii., 35
Long, Edith, letter to Eugene Field, i., 63, 64;
reply to same, 64, 65
"Lost Schooner, The," ii., 127, 128
"Lost Sheep, The," il., 324
"Love and Laughter," i., 326
"Love Affairs of a Bibliomaniac, The," i., 317; ii., 305
"Love Plaint," i., 228, 220
"Love Songs of Childhood," ii., 265, 278, 280
"Lyrics of a Convalescent," ii., 276

McClurg, General A.C., ii., 56;
knowledge of rare books, 172;
disapproves of "Culture's Garland," 174, 175;
as a Mugwump, 218-220
McClurg, A.C., & Co.'s bookstore, i., 275; ii., 56;
gutted by fire, 177, 178
MacKenzie, Sir Morell, prescribes for William Florence, i., 233
McLean, Sally Pratt, alleged author of "The Lost Sheep," i., 324, 325
McPhelim, Edward J., ii., 4
MacVeagh, Franklin, ii., 218
"Mæcenas," i., 285, 286
"Margaret, a Pearl," ii., 115
"Markessy di Pullman," ii., 112
"Marthy's Younkit," ii., 117;
dedicated to E. D. Cowen, 141
Mason, David H., his small handwriting, ii., 15, 16
"Merciful Lad, The," ii., 113, 114
"Mikado, The," i., 249, 250
Millard, George M., ii., 171, 172;
"George Millard is Home!" 172, 173
Modjeska, Madame, i., 154;
her attitude toward "The Wanderer." 156, 157;
her friendship with Field, 242, 249;
"To Helena Modjeska," 246, 247
Moon, Mrs. Temperance, i., 50
Morgan, Edward B., gives origin of "Odds and Ends," i., 146, 147
Morris, Clara, in "Camille," i., 243
"Mortality," i., 332
"Mountain and the Sea," ii., 115, 202
"Mr. Peattie's Cape," ii., 82

"New Baby, The," i., 128
Newfane, village of, i., 2-4
"Night Wind, The," ii., 308
Nilsson, Christine, meets Eugene Field, i., 224-227
"Noontide Hymn, A," ii., 245
Norton, Colonel J.S.,
a victim of Field, i., 320;
"To Eugene Field," 323;
makes a presentation speech, ii., 22
Nye, "Bill,"
meets Eugene Field, i., 159-161; ii., 265;
defended by Field, 309