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THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
THE LOVE AFFAIRS
OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
BY EUGENE FIELD
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THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
Introduction
The determination to found a story or a series of sketches on the
delights； adventures； and misadventures connected with bibliomania did
not come impulsively to my brother。 For many years； in short during the
greater part of nearly a quarter of a century of journalistic work； he had
celebrated in prose and verse； and always in his happiest and most
delightful vein； the pleasures of book…hunting。 Himself an indefatigable
collector of books； the possessor of a library as valuable as it was
interesting； a library containing volumes obtained only at the cost of great
personal sacrifice； he was in the most active sympathy with the disease
called bibliomania； and knew； as few comparatively poor men have known；
the half…pathetic； half…humorous side of that incurable mental infirmity。
The newspaper column； to which he contributed almost daily for
twelve years； comprehended many sly digs and gentle scoffings at those of
his unhappy fellow citizens who became notorious； through his
instrumentality； in their devotion to old book…shelves and auction sales。
And all the time none was more assiduous than this same good… natured
cynic in running down a musty prize； no matter what its cost or what the
attending difficulties。 ‘‘I save others； myself I cannot save；'' was his
humorous cry。
In his published writings are many evidences of my brother's
appreciation of what he has somewhere characterized the ‘‘soothing
affliction of bibliomania。'' Nothing of book…hunting love has been more
happily expressed than ‘‘The Bibliomaniac's Prayer；'' in which the
troubled petitioner fervently asserts：
‘‘But if； O Lord； it pleaseth Thee To keep me in temptation's way；
I humbly ask that I may be Most notably beset to…day； Let my
temptation be a book； Which I shall purchase； hold and keep；
Whereon； when other men shall look； They'll wail to know I got it
cheap。''
And again； in ‘‘The Bibliomaniac's Bride；'' nothing breathes better the
spirit of the incurable patient than this： ‘‘Prose for me when I wished
for prose； Verse when to verse inclined； Forever bringing sweet
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THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
repose To body； heart and mind。 Oh； I should bind this priceless
prize In bindings full and fine； And keep her where no human eyes
Should see her charms； but mine！''
In ‘‘Dear Old London'' the poet wailed that ‘‘a splendid Horace cheap
for cash'' laughed at his poverty； and in ‘‘Dibdin's Ghost'' he revelled in the
delights that await the bibliomaniac in the future state； where there is no
admission to the women folk who； ‘‘wanting victuals； make a fuss if we
buy books instead''； while in ‘‘Flail； Trask and Bisland'' is the very essence
of bibliomania； the unquenchable thirst for possession。 And yet； despite
these self…accusations； bibliophily rather than bibliomania would be the
word to characterize his conscientious purpose。 If he purchased quaint
and rare books it was to own them to the full extent； inwardly as well as
outwardly。 The mania for books kept him continually buying； the love of
books supervened to make them a part of himself and his life。
Toward the close of August of the present year my brother wrote the
first chapter of ‘‘The Love Affairs of a Bibliomaniac。'' At that time he
was in an exhausted physical condition and apparently unfit for any
protracted literary labor。 But the prospect of gratifying a long…cherished
ambition； the delight of beginning the story he had planned so hopefully；
seemed to give him new strength； and he threw himself into the work with
an enthusiasm that was； alas； misleading to those who had noted fearfully
his declining vigor of body。 For years no literary occupation had seemed
to give him equal pleasure； and in the discussion of the progress of his
writing from day to day his eye would brighten； all of his old animation
would return； and everything would betray the lively interest he felt in the
creature of his imagination in whom he was living over the delights of the
book…hunter's chase。 It was his ardent wish that this work； for the
fulfilment of which he had been so long preparing； should be； as he
playfully expressed it； a monument of apologetic compensation to a class
of people he had so humorously maligned； and those who knew him
intimately will recognize in the shortcomings of the bibliomaniac the
humble confession of his own weaknesses。
It is easy to understand from the very nature of the undertaking that it
was practically limitless； that a bibliomaniac of so many years' experience
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could prattle on indefinitely concerning his ‘‘love affairs；'' and at the same
time be in no danger of repetition。 Indeed my brother's plans at the
outset were not definitely formed。 He would say； when questioned or
joked about these amours； that he was in the easy position of Sam Weller
when he indited his famous valentine； and could ‘‘pull up'' at any moment。
One week he would contend that a book…hunter ought to be good for a
year at least； and the next week he would argue as strongly that it was time
to send the old man into winter quarters and go to press。 But though the
approach of cold weather increased his physical indisposition； he was
not the less interested in his prescribed hours of labor； howbeit his
weakness warned him that he should say to his book； as his much… loved
Horace had written：
‘‘Fuge quo descendere gestis：
Non erit emisso reditis tibi。''
Was it strange that his heart should relent； and that he should write on；
unwilling to give the word of dismissal to the book whose preparation had
been a work of such love and solace？
During the afternoon of Saturday； November 2； the nineteenth
instalment of ‘‘The Love Affairs'' was written。 It was the conclusion of
his literary life。 The verses supposably contributed by Judge Methuen's
friend； with which the chapter ends； were the last words written by Eugene
Field。 He was at that time apparently quite as well as on any day during
the fall months； and neither he nor any member of his family had the
slightest premonition that death was hovering about the household。 The
next day； though still feeling indisposed； he was at times up and about；
always cheerful and full of that sweetness and sunshine which； in his last
years； seem now to have been the preparation for the life beyond。 He
spoke of the chapter he had written the day before； and it was then that he
outlined his plan of completing the work。 One chapter only remained to
be written； and it was to chronicle the death of the old bibliomaniac； but
not until he had unexpectedly fallen heir to a very rare and almost
priceless copy of Horace； which acquisition marked the pinnacle of the
book…hunter's conquest。 True to his love for the Sabine singer； the
western poet characterized the immortal odes of twenty centuries gone the
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greatest happiness of bibliomania。
In the early morning of November 4 the soul of Eugene Field passed
upward。 On the table； folded and sealed； were the memoirs