Field, Eugene

Field, Eugene, 1850–95, American poet and journalist, b. St. Louis. After working on several Midwestern newspapers, in 1883 he became a columnist for the Chicago Daily News (later the Record). His urbane and witty column, "Sharps and Flats," which appeared until his death, was a potpourri of whimsical humor, commentary on politics and personalities, and children's verse. His books include A Little Book of Western Verse (1889) and Echoes from the Sabine Farm (with his brother Roswell Martin Field, 1892). His children's poems include "Little Boy Blue" and "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod."

Bibliography

See biographies by S. Thompson (2 vol., 1927, repr. 1973) and R. Conrow (1974).

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Field, Eugene (1850–95) writer, poet; born in St. Louis, Mo. He was brought up by a cousin in Amherst, Mass. (1856), attended several colleges, and became a reporter and journalist for newspapers in the Midwest. He wrote the column "Sharps and Flats" for the Chicago Morning News (1883–95), and wrote sentimental poems for children, such as "Little Boy Blue" (1888).