Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-03-04

many an exciting tale in the primitive his.
tory of old Skeensboro, now WHITEHALL
Washington County CAronit1e.
Frank Bret Harte.
Frank Bret Harte, late editor Of the
Ocevldsd MostAly, leaves for the East this
morning. None, save few jealous ones
whose lesser flames have cast shadows when
the brighter light Of HsftsTs getits wn
introduced, but will regret his departure.
He has achieved literary fame which has
extended over the whole land, not based
on any one production, but the legitimate
result Of the earnest labor Of a man pos.
sessed Of all the required qualifications Of
man of letters, added to the rare faculty
Of knowing when and where to use them
to the best advantage. No matter what
what snst be said to the contrary, Mr..
Hatte has made the Overland. Il does
not follow that the magazine must die be.
cause he leaves it. Rev. William B. Bart.
lett, who succeeds Mr. Harte as editor Of
the Overland, is we'll known as a contribu.
tor to the Magazine. He is an elegant and
ready writer, and his articles are always
characterized by hearty, wholesome tone.
He is never morbid, nor does he dissect
with the literary scalpel as he Introduces
his subject. In nature and her works MI.
Bartlett is at home, and his descriptions
are particularly happy. How we'll his
powers are fitted to the editorial manage.
ment ofa magazine must yet be seen.
THE "HEATHEN cHINEE."
Among the many rhymes which Mr..
Harte produced, the one which has achiev.
ed the most popularity is the Heather
Chinee," which, as happy as it is, yet de-
pends somewhat for the favor in which it
was received on the interest taken in the
cody question about the time of its appear
ance. Although familiar to many Of our
readers, we venture to reprint it, knowing
that it will bear yet another perusal.
PLAIN LANGUAGE FROM TRUTHFUL JAMES.
Which l wish to remark
And my language is plain
That for ways that are dark,
And for tricks that are vain,
The heather Chinee Is peculiar,
Which the same will rise to explain.
All Sin was his name,
And shall not deny
In regard to the name
What the name might imply,
But his smile it was pensive and child-like,
As frequent remarked to Bill Nye.
1t was August the third,
And quite soft was the skies,
Which it might be Inferred
That All Sin was likewise;
Yet he played it that day upon William
And M in q way despise.
Which We had a small game,
And All Sin took hand;
1t was Euchre. The same
H did not understand;
But he smiled as he sat by the table,
With the smile that was child-like and bland.
Yet the cards they were stocked
In way that grieve,
And my feelings were shocked
At the state of Nye's sleeve;
Which was stuffed full of aces and bowers
The same with intent to deceive.
But the hands that were played
BY that heather Chinee,
And the points that he made
Were quite frightful to see
Till at last he put down right bower,
Which the same Nye had dealt unto me.
Then looked up At Nye
And he gazed upon me,
And be rose with sigh,
And said, " Can this be?
We are ruined by Chinese cheap labor"
And he went for that heather Chinee.
In the scene that ensued
I did mot take hand,
But the floor it was strewed
Like the leaves on the strand
With the cards which Ah Sin had been hidlag
In the game he did not understand.
In his sleeves, which were long,
He had twenty -four packs-.
Which was coming It strong,
Yet l state but the facts,
And we found on his nails; which were taper,
What is frequent In tapers-thats wax
Which is why treu1stk,
And my language IL plainj
That for ways that are dark
And for tricks that are tai6j
The heather Chinee is reculiar-
Which the same am free to maintaiu'
EARLY HISTORY OF THE OVERLAND"
Some singular literary episodes connect
ed with the early history Of tho Ocerlasd,
from the pen of. r. Watkins, the present
able editor Of the Baltimore Bulletin, may
be of interest. We clip from the article :
To the many curious instances Of obsts-
cles besctting the FIRST appearance OF works
| which have afterwards become famous, the
story called " The Luck Of Roaring Camp
-uow recognised as the best American
sketch Of its character, and the first Of q
series Of contributions to the permanent
literature Of the language is to be added.
The Overland Mosthly had reached, We
believe, the third number. 1t was pub
lished by the California srm Of Roman 8