the americanization of edward bok-第35章
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continuous ringing of the door…bell and nearly battering down the door； appeared at seven o'clock the next morning！
It was fortunate that Eugene Field had a patient wife； she needed every ounce of patience that she could command。 And no one realized this more keenly than did her husband。 He once told of a dream he had which illustrated the endurance of his wife。
〃I thought；〃 said Field； 〃that I had died and gone to heaven。 I had some difficulty in getting past St。 Peter； who regarded me with doubt and suspicion； and examined my records closely； but finally permitted me to enter the pearly gates。 As I walked up the street of the heavenly city； I saw a venerable old man with long gray hair and flowing beard。 His benignant face encouraged me to address him。 'I have just arrived and I am entirely unacquainted；' I said。 'May I ask your name？'
〃'My name；' he replied； 'is Job。'
〃'Indeed；' I exclaimed； 'are you that Job whom we were taught to revere as the most patient being in the world？'
〃'The same；' he said； with a shadow of hesitation； 'I did have quite a reputation for patience once； but I hear that there is a woman now on earth； in Chicago； who has suffered more than I ever did； and she has endured it with great resignation。'
〃'Why；' said I； 'that is curious。 I am just from earth； and from Chicago； and I do not remember to have heard of her case。 What is her name？'
〃'Mrs。 Eugene Field；' was the reply。
〃Just then I awoke；〃 ended Field。
The success of Field's paragraph engaging Bok to Miss Pinkham stimulated the poet to greater effort。 Bok had gone to Europe； Field； having found out the date of his probable return； just about when the steamer was due； printed an interview with the editor 〃at quarantine〃 which sounded so plausible that even the men in Bok's office in Philadelphia were fooled and prepared for his arrival。 The interview recounted； in detail； the changes in women's fashions in Paris； and so plausible had Field made it； based upon information obtained at Marshall Field's； that even the fashion papers copied it。
All this delighted Field beyond measure。 Bok begged him to desist； but Field answered by printing an item to the effect that there was the highest authority for denying 〃the reports industriously circulated some time ago to the effect that Mr。 Bok was engaged to be married to a New England young lady； whereas； as a matter of fact； it is no violation of friendly confidence that makes it possible to announce that the Philadelphia editor is engaged to Mrs。 Frank Leslie； of New York。〃
It so happened that Field put this new paragraph on the wire just about the time that Bok's actual engagement was announced。 Field was now deeply contrite； and sincerely promised Bok and his fiancee to reform。 〃I'm through； you mooning； spooning calf； you；〃 he wrote Bok； and his friend believed him； only to receive a telegram the next day from Mrs。 Field warning him that 〃Gene is planning a series of telephonic conversations with you and Miss Curtis at college that I think should not be printed。〃 Bok knew it was of no use trying to curb Field's industry； and so he wired the editor of the Chicago News for his cooperation。 Field； now checked； asked Bok and his fiancee and the parents of both to come to Chicago； be his guests for the World's Fair； and 〃let me make amends。〃
It was a happy visit。 Field was all kindness； and； of course； the entire party was charmed by his personality。 But the boy in him could not be repressed。 He had kept it down all through the visit。 〃No； not a joke…cross my heart；〃 he would say； and then he invited the party to lunch with him on their way to the train when they were leaving for home。 〃But we shall be in our travelling clothes； not dressed for a luncheon；〃 protested the women。 It was an unfortunate protest； for it gave Field an idea！ 〃Oh；〃 he assured them； 〃just a goodbye luncheon at the club； just you folks and Julia and me。〃 They believed him； only to find upon their arrival at the club an assembly of over sixty guests at one of the most elaborate luncheons ever served in Chicago； with each woman guest carefully enjoined by Field； in his invitation； to 〃put on her prettiest and most elaborate costume in order to dress up the table！〃
One day Field came to Philadelphia to give a reading in Camden in conjunction with George W。 Cable。 It chanced that his friend； Francis Wilson； was opening that same evening in Philadelphia in a new comic opera which Field had not seen。 He immediately refused to give his reading； and insisted upon going to the theatre。 The combined efforts of his manager； Wilson； Mr。 Cable； and his friends finally persuaded him to keep his engagement and join in a double…box party later at the theatre。 To make sure that he would keep his lecture appointment； Bok decided to go to Camden with him。 Field and Cable were to appear alternately。
Field went on for his first number； and when he came off； he turned to Bok and said： 〃No use； Bok； I'm a sick man。 I must go home。 Cable can see this through；〃 and despite every protestation Field bundled himself into his overcoat and made for his carriage。 〃Sick； Bok； really sick；〃 he muttered as they rode along。 Then seeing a fruit…stand he said： 〃Buy me a bag of oranges； like a good fellow。 They'll do me good。
When Philadelphia was reached； he suggested： 〃Do you know I think it would do me good to go and see Frank in the new play？ Tell the driver to go to the theatre like a good boy。〃 Of course； that had been his intent all along！ When the theatre was reached he insisted upon taking the oranges with him。 〃They'll steal 'em if you leave 'em there；〃 he said。
Field lost all traces of his supposed illness the moment he reached the box。 Francis Wilson was on the stage with Marie Jansen。 〃Isn't it beautiful？〃 said Field； and directing the attention of the party to the players； he reached under his chair for the bag of oranges； took one out； and was about to throw it at Wilson when Bok caught his arm； took the orange away from him； and grabbed the bag。 Field never forgave Bok for this act of watchfulness。 〃Treason；〃 he hissed〃going back on a friend。〃
The one object of Field's ambition was to achieve the distinction of so 〃fussing〃 Francis Wilson that he would be compelled to ring down the curtain。 He had tried every conceivable trick： had walked on the stage in one of Wilson's scenes； had started a quarrel with an usher in the audienceeverything that ingenuity could conceive he had practised on his friend。 Bok had known this penchant of Field's； and when he insisted on taking the bag of oranges into the theatre； Field's purpose was evident！
One day Bok received a wire from Field： 〃City of New Orleans purposing give me largest public reception on sixth ever given an author。 Event of unusual quality。 Mayor and city officials peculiarly desirous of having you introduce me to vast audience they propose to have。 Hate to ask you to travel so far； but would be great favor to me。 Wire answer。〃 Bok wired back his willingness to travel to New Orleans and oblige his friend。 It occurred to Bok； however； to write to a friend in New Orleans and ask the particulars。 Of course； there was never any thought of Field going to New Orleans or of any reception。 Bok waited for further advices； and a long letter followed from Field giving him a glowing picture of the reception planned。 Bok sent a message to his New Orleans friend to be telegraphed from New Orleans on the sixth： 〃Find whole thing to be a fake。 Nice job to put over on me。 Bok。〃 Field was overjoyed at the apparent success of his joke and gleefully told his Chicago friends all about ituntil he found out that the joke had been on him。 〃Durned dirty； I call it；〃 he wrote Bok。
It was a lively friendship that Eugene Field gave to Edward Bok； full of anxieties and of continuous forebodings； but it was worth all that it cost in mental perturbation。 No rarer friend ever lived： in his serious moments he gave one a quality of unforgetable friendship that remains a precious memory。 But his desire for practical jokes was uncontrollable： it meant being constantly on one's guard； and even then the pranks could not always be thwarted！
XVIII。 Building Up a Magazine
The newspaper
