Fields was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. His father was a sea captain and died before Fields was three. At the age of 14, Fields took a job at the Old Corner Bookstore in Boston. Afterwards, he wrote for the newspapers, and in 1835, at age 17, he read an anniversary poem entitled Commerce before the Boston Mercantile Library Association.
No one spoke in the shop, The barber was busy, and he couldn't stop; The customers, waiting their turns, were all reading The "Daily," the "Herald," the "Post," little heeding The young man who blurted out such a blunt question; Not one raised a head, or even made a suggestion; And the barber kept on shaving.
"Don't you see, Mr. Brown," Cried the youth, with a frown, "How wrong the whole thing is, How preposterous each wing is, How flattened the head is, how jammed down the neck is -- In short, the whole owl, what an ignorant wreck 't is! I make no apology; I've learned owl-eology.
I've passed days and nights in a hundred collections, And cannot be blinded to any deflections Arising from unskilful fingers that fail To stuff a bird right, from his beak to his tail. Mister Brown! Mr. Brown! Do take that bird down, Or you'll soon be the laughingstock all over town!" And the barber kept on shaving.
"I've studied owls, And other night-fowls, And I tell you What I know to be true; An owl cannot roost With his limbs so unloosed; No owl in this world Ever had his claws curled, Ever had his legs slanted, Ever had his bill canted, Ever had his neck screwed Into that attitude. He cant do it, because 'Tis against all bird-laws.
Anatomy teaches, Ornithology preaches, An owl has a toe That can't turn out so! I've made the white owl my study for years, And to see such a job almost moves me to tears! Mr. Brown, I'm amazed You should be so gone crazed As to put up a bird In that posture absurd! To look at that owl really brings on a dizziness; The man who stuffed him don't half know his business!" And the barber kept shaving.
"Examine those eyes I'm filled with surprise Taxidermists should pass Off on you such poor glass; So unnatural they seem They'd make Audubon scream, And John Burroughs laugh To encounter such chaff. Do take that bird down; Have him stuffed again, Brown!" And the barber kept on shaving!
"With some sawdust and bark I could stuff in the dark An owl better than that. I could make an old hat Look more like an owl Than that horrid fowl, Stuck up there so stiff like a side of coarse leather. In fact, about him there's not one natural feather."
Just then, with a wink and a sly normal lurch, The owl, very gravely, got down from his perch, Walked around, and regarded his fault-finding critic (Who thought he was stuffed) with a glance analytic, And then fairly hooted, as if he should say: "Your learning's at fault this time, anyway: Don't waste it again on a live bird, I pray. I'm an owl; you're another. Sir Critic, good day!" And the barber kept on shaving.
First it was the sun putting on a show with a dazzling 'ring of fire' solar eclipse earlier this month.
Now it's the moon's turn.
That's because eclipses of the sun and moon usually come in pairs, meaning tonight's Full 'Hunter's Moon' will pass into the shadow of the Earth and trigger a partial lunar eclipse that will be visible across the UK and Europe.
The spectacle will begin at 20:35 BST and end at 21:52 BST.
So how can you catch the best view? MailOnline takes a look.
Spectacle: Tonight's Full 'Hunter's Moon' will pass into the shadow of the Earth and trigger a partial lunar eclipse that will be visible across UK and Europe from 20:35 to 21:52 BST
A partial lunar eclipse happens when the moon passes through the outer region of the Earth's shadow (its penumbra), and only a section of it crosses the umbra (the darkest part of the Earth's shadow)
Where can I see the partial lunar eclipse from?
Skywatchers in a host of European countries including Britain will have the best chance to see the astronomical event.
A partial lunar eclipse happens when the moon passes through the outer region of the Earth's shadow (its penumbra), and only a section of it crosses the umbra (the darkest part of the Earth's shadow).
From the UK, we'll only see a small fraction of the full moon pass into the umbra.
At the eclipse's maximum, which will occur at 21:15 BST, just 12 per cent of the moon will be in Earth's shadow and 6 per cent in the umbra.
As well as those in Europe, stargazers across Africa, Asia and western Australia will also have a good view of the rare sight, while a few US states may be able catch a glimpse of the end of it once our natural satellite climbs above the horizon.
A partial lunar eclipse happens when the moon passes through the outer region of the Earth's shadow (its penumbra), and only a section of it crosses the umbra (the darkest part of the Earth's shadow)
The reason for this fleeting opportunity is because the eclipse will take place during daytime.
Ironically, those in the US, Mexico and parts of South America were the ones who got the best view of the 'ring of fire' solar eclipse, but that will now flip round because it is the eastern hemisphere that'll be facing the moon when this lunar eclipse occurs.
How can I catch the best glimpse?
The partial lunar eclipse can be seen with the naked eye, so there's no need for binoculars or a telescope.
However, the only problem skywatchers might encounter is the weather.
Most of the UK is expected to be blanketed by cloud this evening, bar a few pockets in central parts of England and the South West.
If there is a break in the cloud, members of the public should find a spot away from streetlamps and other sources of light pollution to get the best view.
The moon will officially be full at 20:35 BST (15:35 ET) today. The eclipse will begin from this point and end just under one hour and 20 minutes later at 21:52 BST (16:52 ET).
Problematic: Most of the UK is expected to be blanketed by cloud this evening, bar a few pockets in central parts of England and the South West
What is a lunar eclipse?
An eclipse occurs any time a planet or moon passes between another planet, moon or the sun.
Depending on their orbits, they can be total or partial.
A lunar eclipse is a specific event which happens when Earth lines up directly between the sun and the moon.
When this happens, Earth blocks the light from the sun to the moon. Earth's shadow then falls on the moon.
During a lunar eclipse, we can see Earth's shadow on the moon.
They can last for several hours, but it is rare for a period of total eclipse to last longer than 100 minutes.
At least two lunar eclipses happen every year.
Why is it called the Hunter's Moon?
October's full moon has been called the Hunter's Moon in the Northern Hemisphere since the 18th century.
This is because it is particularly bright and long in the sky, giving hunters the opportunity to stalk prey at night.
When was the last lunar eclipse in the UK?
There was a total lunar eclipse visible from Britain last year.
The astronomical event, which took place on May 16, 2022, could also be seen over South America, most of North America and parts of Europe and Africa.
The entire moon turned red when the lunar eclipse reached totality.
The eclipse as a whole lasted for more than five hours but observers in Britain could only see it from 02:32 BST – 05:10 BST.
Who can see it? People across Europe, Africa, Asia and western Australia will have a good view of the rare sight, while a few US states may be able catch a glimpse of the end of it once the moon climbs above the horizon. Most of the western hemisphere won't be able to see it
There was also a partial lunar eclipse in November 2021.
This was unusually long, lasting more than six hours from the moment the moon entered the Earth's shadow.
The early part of the partial eclipse was visible from the UK but by the time it had reached its maximum the moon had already set.
Generally speaking, a lunar eclipse happens between two to five times a year, with a total lunar eclipse occurring at least two every three years.
The next total lunar eclipse won't be until March 14, 2025.
Why does a lunar eclipse follow a solar eclipse?
When a solar eclipse occurs on one side of the planet – as it did for the western hemisphere on October 14 – it tends to be followed by a lunar eclipse two weeks later (or sometimes precedes it).
While solar eclipses can only occur during a new moon, a lunar eclipse will only take place at full moon.
That is why it is happening tonight, when the Hunter's Moon becomes full.
North America and South America had the best view of the solar eclipse, but this time it will be the eastern hemisphere who gets to enjoy the lunar eclipse.
WHEN THE NEXT LUNAR ECLIPSES WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE UK
25 March 2024: Penumbral lunar eclipse
18 September 2024: Partial lunar eclipse
14 March 2025: Partial lunar eclipse
29 March 2025: Partial lunar eclipse
When to look up: The dates of the lunar eclipses coming up in the UK are shown above
Longest partial lunar eclipse in 600 years seen in northeast Japan
Tonight's Full Moon is know as the Hunter's Moon. Since most of us have not yet had hard frost, the 'botanical hunter' or forager in me takes to heart the ways of the old herbalists who would typically gather in herbs and seeds at the time of the full moon to assure maximum strength and viability. Try gathering in the last of your culinary, medicinal & tea herbs and seeds this weekend while the moon draws up potency like it pulls in the highest of tides.
