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

taking place in his methods of life and thought. His friend Cowen has ascribed this change to settling down "in the must and rust of bibliomania"; but I fancy that that settling down was more

at the expense of his demented fellows. He had too keen a sense of the ridiculous to go clean daft on the subject. He yielded to the fascinating pursuit of rare and curious editions, of old prints of celebrities, and of personal belongings of distinguished individuals; but how far these impulses were irresistible and how much he was mad only in craft, like Hamlet, it is impossible to say. The bibliomaniacs claim him for their scribe a

artful to

en thousand

eyes have gr

their ir

n

o at the a

t and wea

by the b

d adve

column as late as June, 1

ooke and a

in door

e leaves whisp

eete cryes

ie read al

the newe

goode booke w

to me th

months gone, "newe" books, however, "jollie goode" were almost banished from his vocabulary and column. "The Bibliomaniac's Prayer" (January, 1889) was one of the early symptoms of the transformation that was impe

oice books as was to be found outside of the great collections of the land. Mr. Millard made annual or biennial pilgrimages to London in the interests of his house; and when he did not go, General McClurg, who was himself a book fancier of rare good taste and eke business judgment, devoted part of his European vacat

MILLARD

maniacs,

musty, dus

swer to t

corner ful

stant Engla

n with sp

bibliopo

rints in en

s singly

"j.k.t." a

ave the m

glad the h

k some rar

hrewd or

storal, o

ad or dis

ummons bib

Millard

Gunsaulus, the Rev. Frank M. Bristol, the Rev. M. Woolsey Stryker, and others, some with ample wealth to indulge their extravagant tastes, but the majority with lean purses coupled with bookish tastes beyond the resources of a Philadelphia mint. Out of these daily meetings and mousings among books and prints was evolved in Field's fancy what he dubbed the "Saints' and Sinners' Corner." The "Saints" may be easily identified by their titles, while the "Sinners" included all those who had neither title nor

ers' corner at McClurg's immediately after the regular noontime service next Wednesday" (December 31st, 1890). It is perhaps worthy of a remark that General McClurg for a long time regarded Field's frequent jests and squibs at the expense of the frequenters of his old-book department with anything but an approving eye. He looked upon Field for many years as a ribald mocker of the conve

gains as no book-store had ever been advertised before. All the general and his lieutenant had to do was to provide the books collectors were after, and Field did the rest. He played upon the strings of bibliomaniac acquisi

ok advantage of these facts, which appealed to his enjoyment of contradictions to print all manner of odd conceits about Professor Poole's relations to witches, base-ball, and libraries. The doctor could not make a move in public that it did not inspire Field to some new quidity involvi

perience with a tarantula. The venomous reptile attacked the kindly old gentleman with singular voracity, and but for the high-topped boots which Mr. Poole wore, serious injuries would have been inflicted upon our friend's person. Mr. Fred Hild, our Public Librarian, hearing Dr. Poole's cries for help, ran to the rescue, a

f a sentence or in addressing anyone. When they met after such a paragraph as the above had been printed, Dr. Poole would blurt out in the most friendly way, "O-o-o-oh Field! w-w-where did you get that lie from?" To which Field would reply, "L-i-i-ie,

ers' Club that had held its meetings there. The Rev. Dr. Gunsaulus, one of the most widely known Saints, spoke of it as an association "without rules of order or times of meeting." "It consisted," said he, in a published interview, "of the most interesting group of liars ever assembled. For ten years that Saints' and Sinners' Corner was

for Jesus's

ake thou fi

hen I do g

buy ye bo

ne F

rom some of his reports of their imaginary meetings can do justice to these children of his brain. These I should preface with the explanation that Field always sought to preserve in his fiction some general and distinguishing characteristics of his Saints and Sinners, who were all real persons bearing their real names. His many inventions stopped at bestowing fictitiou

IRS FR

, Mr. E.G. Mason announced that he was about to start for Africa. It was his

terests of the Newberry Library, or as

riend, Mr. Poole, desires to possess. For example, I am informed that the Newberry Library is in need of a stock of pap

aybe the gentleman would

Mr. Slason Thompson's inquiry whether he carried with him from his venerable friend from Evanston (Dr. Poole) a letter of introduction to

of Rameses I, for

m the groves of Lebanon,

's needles, for

an, for Mr. Cox's coll

cal epitaph, for Dr.

oole; also the favorite broom

y paralyzed the trade in Napoleona. A similar condition obtained in the autograph market, the native mills engaged in manufacturing a

vestigate the alarming rumor that the Rev. Dr. Gunsaulus had publicly offered to donate to one Ro

nnounced that he had

"Give title an

o, handsome frontispiece and beautiful type; I have had her handsomely b

to this first babe that had accrued to a member of the organization. Finally, it was determined to present a large sil

s; he should guard the token of their f

you keep it in a trunk-better get a trunk, br

eautiful hymn, collected, adapted, and ar

, benight in

eir vandal

of mine shal

ut old en

y 22d,

CURE FOR

walked into the corner yesterday noon and found that historic spot crowded with

make no pretentions at all," answered he, modestly. "M

to-day," observed General McClurg. "I though

a mighty good book-shop it is, too. I visited the place last week

, "24 North Clark Street is the o

choice line of books; in splendid bindings and in illustrated books he has a particularly large stock. Meanwhile he remains an active member of the noble fraternity that has m

, I will go, too," s

f Grose's "Antiquities," bound in turkey-red morocco. In answer to Mr. F.M. Larned's inquiry as to whom he intended to give this splendid present, Dr. Poole said: "To myself, of course! Christm

ning to visit the nord seit the other day, I saw that work was progressing on the Newberry L

l be with the most elaborate public ceremonies. The corner-stone will be hollowed

should be represented at those ceremo

shall contribute the stuffed tarantula w

ld go into that corner-stone is the stump of the cigar

upon his part Brother Bristol will contribute his portrait

uncut set of 'Monk and Knight,' which I

heretical Briggs. But speaking of that novel of mine ('Monk and Knight') reminds me that I wrote a poem on the railway the other day, and I will read it now if there be no objectio

not; the book l

hus smile wit

orld, he lives

ce, where fauns

et, the rumble

nging near he

s afflicted hi

pies brighten

e he looks on

huntress in h

not upon the

ound announce

s pipe within t

ow through their

the wooers

alypso's islet

s roam o'er th

lumber on the

ads near the st

moonlight wander

ade the dancin

r raptures in the

e visions moder

he old Gree

tone it down a little, and contrive to work in a touch of piety her

etry. His verses have that grace and lilt that are the prime essentials to successful co

Can it be possible that our Plymouth Church friend has fallen into the snare s

s to know, I will admit that I have recently joined t

irecting every thought and practice in your waking hours, and filling your brains with gilded fancies during your nocturnal periods of repose. (Applause.) Many of you are so advanced in this mania that the mania itself has become seemingly your very existence-(cheers)-and the feet of others are fast taking hold upon that path whi

ne of you to shake off the evil with which you are cursed, and to restore that manhood which you have lost in your insane pursuit of wretched book fancies. The treatment requires only three weeks' time. You take one of these boluses just before each meal and one before going to bed. In about three days you become aware that your olfactories are losing that keenness of function which has enabled you to nose out old books and to determ

ed the floor. "Far be it from me," said he, solemnly, "to lend my approval to any enterprise that contemplates bibliomania as a disease instead of a crime. (Applause.) I live in Evanston, the home of that saintly woman Miss W

penter. Dr. Gunsaulus seemed rather inclined to try the cure, but he doubted whether he could stick to it for three we

, postpone, suspend, and delay all experiment and essay with the bichloride

on of this specified interdicte

mber of the organization to secure or apply for an option on the said boluses before formal acti

ber,

ng, and "joshing" the maniac crew who held that "binding's the surest test," and who bought books, as some would-be connoisseurs do wine, by the label. With all his professions of sympathy with the maniacs, he never missed an opportunity to make merry over what

he large price paid by the enterprising and discriminating curio. As we understand it, Bouton, the New York dealer, had this chair on exhibition for several months. Mr. Wilson happened along one day, having just r

o Bouton, "and if you'll give better terms I'll get a

Winter had left the place, Wilson said to Bouton, "Send

tion he rent his garments and gnashed his teeth, and wildly implored some

ves the collector never to put off till to-morrow what he can pick up to-day. This theory has been most succinct

sh of a m

his chan

it may b

her man

r, comprehe

ffered i

me other a

the needf

fair book en

invite yo

not with fa

you have t

o do thee gr

f in hum

phil shall

that lov

purest r

the dept

flower that

e dista

e snooping

or mani

it out and

u get the

e haste may

ination'

s the acc

erate yo

finds you

the safe

find you

tle when

Corner that ever took place was never reported by him. It occurred on New Year's Eve, 1890, and everything appertaining to it, down to the fragrant whiskey punch, was concocted by Field, who explained that his poverty, not his will, consented to the substitution of the wi

nd Sinner

er 31,

10.30 P

ness. Out in the main body of the deserted store all was dark and still. The curtains of the show-windows were drawn down, shutting out the intrusive light of the street-lamps. Field's guests-for we all, even George Millard, acknowledged him as host and high priest of the evening-were assembled in the corner devoted to old books and prints. The congregation, as he styled the meeting, was seated on such chairs, stools, and boxes as the place could afford. The darkness was made visible by a few sickly gas-jets and some half dozen candles in appropriate black glass candlesticks that looked suspiciously like bottles. Field was as busy as a s

aan's bea

e to vis

ognall Dibd

din's gh

welcome,

with buo

things tha

iomania

e fresh from

ll me of

d books befor

o Dibdin

tered into

e life th

no auction

ditors

nly rapture

that ja

y unknown

din's gh

miliar lines of "Dibdin's Ghost," then heard for the first time by everyone in that historic Corner. No point was missed in t

f those who

would re

victuals,

y books

those who'

y pride a

rofane that

o Dibdin

ey tread th

s where to

, bookworms-v

e guilt

of bibliom

veth su

in that drea

din's gh

hes and apple pie and cheese were served, and with song and story we passed such a night as sinners mark with red letters for saints to envy. If the reader should ever come across Paul du Chaillu, who contributed to the varied pl