Description:

Field Eugene

Hilarious Eugene Field 10pp ALS on Opera Singing

 

10pp ALS and double-sided post script note inscribed overall and 2x signed by American writer Eugene Field (1850-1895) as "Eugene Field," once on bottom of tenth page, and once on back of post script. Inscribed in purple fountain pen on blue-lined white bifold stationery sheets. In very good to near fine condition. Expected light paper folds and isolated foxing not affecting beautifully inscribed text. Each page measures 5" x 8." Contained within a custom hard shell slip case.

 

Eugene Field wrote this letter to a young lady named Miss Stephens from "The Den" in Columbia, Missouri sometime in 1872, the era of Field's tenure at the University of Missouri. It seems an older rival had given Miss Stephens an inaccurate report of Field's review of Miss Stephen's singing. The letter is at once an apology, an explanation, a tribute, a treatise on music, an expository writing exercise, and a seduction campaign.

 

Field wrote in part:

 

"You said last Saturday night that it was a real enjoyment to receive and read letters. I am a most benevolent young man (you know it is well to have at the least, one good quality), and I am going to send you these few lines by way of explanation and by way of affording you some enjoyment. What I am anxious to explain is this: Mrs. Sanders told me last night, or rather tonight, that you had heard that I had said Miss Stephens needed two years more practice and teaching to become a good singer. I heard too that you were quite vexed with the remark. This, I believe, is a fair statement of the case as given me by Mrs. Sanders.

 

What I really did say was this; that Miss Stephens ought to take lessons in vocal music not less than three years longer, and at the end of that time, I did not hesitate to say, she would be one of the finest singers in the west. Now you should consider this a compliment. Most young ladies might drill from this time until dooms day and still be but very mediocre musicians. In fact, unless a person be a genius, perfection in music can be attained only with assiduous study. I might tell a vain, foolish girl that she was a Parepa [Euphrosyne Parepa-Rosa, 1836-1874) or a Kellogg [Clara Louis Kellogg (1842-1916) but when I met with one like yourself, endowed with a good taste for music and a fine voice, I feel rather inclined to encourage that one to a still higher cultivation of the art...

 

The second criticism (unfavorable) which I will pass upon your singing, is this; you abuse your powers. I will speak more plainly - you trill too much. You trill very finely. You have a strong voice, but does that fact necessitate that you should always sing fortissimo? Does the fact that you trill finely necessitate that you should trill continually?…Overcome your inclination to constant trilling, and will have overcome a serious mistake…Do not allow any comparison of yourself with Mrs. Taylor, to disturb you. Any such comparison is unfair. Your styles are very different. Mrs. Taylor is German, and you are Italian…You sing operatic music much better than you sing ballads…

 

The night is far advanced. These bungling sentences will give evidence to my drowsiness...I hope you do not hate me yet. I like you very much. I do not hesitate to say I admire you. You must at least admire my frankness. I enjoy your society. You are very original. I hate hum-drum people. If you are rebel in your sympathies you have one bluecoat admirer and friend and I don't refer to the Major either. Adieu. I may go to the city tomorrow. Hope to see you soon again. Au revoir."

 

The flirtatious tone of Field's letter to Miss Stephens belied the fact that he was already courting the woman he would marry, Julia Sutherland Comstock (1856-1936). Field and Comstock wed in 1873, when the bride was 16.

 

Field was an indifferent university student. He attended courses at Williams College (Williamstown, MA), Knox College (Galesburg, IL), and the University of Missouri at Columbia, MO between 1868-1870. His college career was marked by a series of epic practical jokes, like painting the college president's house the school's colors.

 

Field's teasing and comic letter to Miss Stephens is delightful, and anticipates the spirit of his later satire. While Field made his literary reputation as a children's book author, he cut his teeth working for midwestern newspapers, like the Chicago Morning News.

 

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