Writing to a friend in Boston, in 1893, Field said that he thought “the alleged advertisements at the end of the volume are its best feature.”  These were introduced by a letter from one of Field’s favorite fictitious creations, “Felix Bosbyshell,” to Messrs. Ticknor & Co.: 

CHICAGO, June 26th, 1887.

Dear Sirs:—­I am informed that one of the leading litterateurs of this city is about to produce a book under your auspices.  Representing, as I do, the prominent advertising bureau of the West, I desire to contribute one page of advertisements to this work, and I am prepared to pay therefor cash rates.  I enclose copy, and would like to have the advertisements printed on the fly-leaf which will face the finis of the book in question.

  Yours in the cause of literature,

  FELIX J. BOSBYSHELL,
  For Bosbyshell & Co.

This was accompanied by a Publisher’s Note, which Field also supplied: 

It is entirely foreign to our custom to accept advertisements for our books; but we recognize the exceptional nature of the case and the fine literary character and high tone of the Messrs. Bosbyshells’ offering, and we cheerfully give it place over leaf.

In his discriminating and felicitous introduction to his friend’s book, Julian Hawthorne said:  “The present little volume comprises mainly a bubbling forth of delightful badinage and mischievous raillery, directed at some of the foibles and pretensions of his enterprising fellow-townsmen, who, however, can by no means be allowed to claim a monopoly of either the pretensions or the foibles herein exploited.  Laugh, but look to yourself:  mutato nomine, de te fabula narratur.  It is a book which should, and doubtless will, attain a national popularity; but admirable, and, indeed, irresistible though it be in its way, it represents a very inconsiderable fraction of the author’s real capacity.  We shall hear of Eugene Field in regions of literature far above the aim and scope of these witty and waggish sketches.  But as the wise orator wins his audience at the outset of his speech by the human sympathy of a smile, so does our author, in these smiling pages, establish genial relations with us before betaking himself to more ambitious flights.”

[Illustration:  PAGE OF ADVERTISEMENTS FROM “CULTURE’S GARLAND.”

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