CHICAGO, by Eugene Field: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
This satirical mock-letter by Eugene Field is crafted in the formal language of Catholic ceremony, poking fun at the social and academic rivalries in 1890s Chicago.
The poem
ILLINOIS. {Ab Eugenic Agro, peccatore misere} Even the mail-carrier appeared to know what fragrant humor escaped from the envelope. Here is a specimen inclosure: BROTHER ----: I am to read some of my things before the senior class of the Chicago University next Monday evening. As there is undoubtedly more or less jealousy between the presidents of the two south side institutions of learning, I take it upon myself to invite the lord bishop of Armourville, our holy père, to be present on that occasion in his pontifical robes and followed by all the dignitaries of his see, including yourself. The processional will occur at 8 o'clock sharp, and the recessional circa 9:30. Pax vobiscum. Salute the holy Father with a kiss, and believe me, dear brother, Your fellow lamb in the old Adam,
This satirical mock-letter by Eugene Field is crafted in the formal language of Catholic ceremony, poking fun at the social and academic rivalries in 1890s Chicago. Field adopts the persona of a pompous figure inviting a "lord bishop" to a university reading, using church Latin and clerical titles to create an absurdly grand atmosphere. The humor lies in the fact that all this high ceremony surrounds a completely ordinary event — a guy simply reading his own poems to some college students.
Line-by-line
ILLINOIS. {Ab Eugenic Agro, peccatore misere}
Even the mail-carrier appeared to know what fragrant humor escaped from the envelope.
BROTHER ----: I am to read some of my things before the senior class of the Chicago University next Monday evening.
As there is undoubtedly more or less jealousy between the presidents of the two south side institutions of learning...
I take it upon myself to invite the lord bishop of Armourville, our holy père, to be present on that occasion in his pontifical robes and followed by all the dignitaries of his see, including yourself.
The processional will occur at 8 o'clock sharp, and the recessional circa 9:30. Pax vobiscum.
Salute the holy Father with a kiss, and believe me, dear brother, Your fellow lamb in the old Adam,
Tone & mood
Playful and irreverent from start to finish, Field writes with the confidence of someone who trusts his audience to appreciate the humor. There’s no malice in his satire; instead, he has a keen eye for pretension and enjoys deflating it with clever Latin phrases. The tone remains warm, even when it's poking fun.
Symbols & metaphors
- Pontifical robes and dignitaries — Church vestments and titles represent the grandeur of Chicago's newly wealthy civic class. Field employs the elaborate rituals of Catholic ceremony to satirize how money and status disguise themselves as something sacred.
- The processional and recessional — These liturgical terms, taken directly from church services, turn a poetry reading into a religious ritual. In doing so, they subtly poke fun at the self-importance of literary events and the extravagant ceremonies of institutional life.
- Armourville — The made-up place-name takes a jab at Philip Armour, the meatpacking mogul. By naming a 'see' — a bishop's territory — after him, it blurs the line between commercial power and religious authority, implying that in Chicago, they are one and the same.
- Pax vobiscum — The Latin blessing, delivered earnestly at the end of a scheduling note, clearly indicates that Field is up to something. Using sacred language in a mundane context drives the entire piece.
- Fellow lamb in the old Adam — This self-description captures both innocence and original sin in one phrase. Field is expressing that he and his reader share a common humanity — they’re flawed, humorous, and shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
Historical context
Eugene Field spent a significant part of his career as a newspaper columnist in Chicago, writing for the *Chicago Morning News* and later for the *Chicago Record*. He became well-known for a column titled 'Sharps and Flats,' which combined poetry, humor, and incisive social commentary that took aim at Chicago's boastful civic culture during the 1880s and 1890s. This piece exemplifies that tradition. The mentions of south-side institutional rivalry highlight the real tensions between the University of Chicago (supported by John D. Rockefeller) and other local institutions, while 'Armourville' takes aim at Philip Armour, one of the city's leading industrialists. Field passed away in 1895, as Chicago was still basking in the aftermath of the 1893 World's Fair, a time when the city was eager to showcase itself as a world-class cultural hub — precisely the kind of pretentiousness Field loved to poke fun at.
FAQ
It is both, in a way. Field often blurred the boundaries between prose and poetry in his newspaper writing, and this piece is best seen as a prose poem or a satirical sketch. The 'poem' lies in how the letter is performed — the humor arises from the structure, not from meter or rhyme.
'Ab Eugenic Agro' playfully translates to 'from Eugene Field' in mock-Latin, while 'peccatore misere' means 'a miserable sinner.' This phrase humorously mimics the self-critical tone often found in Catholic devotional writing, where authors typically refer to themselves as unworthy sinners in the eyes of God.
This nickname is a satirical jab at someone associated with Philip Armour, the meatpacking mogul from Chicago. Field came up with the term 'Armourville' to poke fun at how wealthy industrialists had essentially turned into the unofficial rulers — or 'bishops' — of Chicago's institutions.
Field references the genuine rivalry between universities on Chicago's south side, probably the University of Chicago and another school. By acting like a peacemaker while clearly causing trouble, he satirizes the trivial politics of both academic and civic life.
The Latin phrases — *Pax vobiscum*, *pontifical robes*, *processional*, *recessional* — are the essence of the joke. By wrapping a simple event like a poetry reading in the elaborate ceremonial language of the Catholic Church, Field highlights how absurdly self-important literary and civic culture can be.
It’s a phrase that intentionally contradicts itself. “Lamb” evokes ideas of innocence and purity, often seen in Christian imagery, whereas “old Adam” points to original sin, highlighting the flawed nature we all inherit. Field is suggesting that both he and his reader embody a mix of innocence and sinfulness, which makes for a humorous and humble way to conclude.
It was Field's popular newspaper column in Chicago, blending poetry, humor, and social satire. This column earned him a spot as one of the most read journalists in the Midwest during the 1880s and 1890s, and pieces like this one reflected its characteristic tone — local, witty, and always light-hearted.
Mostly the latter. Field wasn't crafting anti-religious satire; he was wielding religious language to poke fun at the pretentiousness of Chicago's civic and academic elite. The church imagery resonates because it provides the richest ceremonial vocabulary at his disposal, not because religion itself is under attack.