Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-09-28
A CARD FROM JOAQUIN MILLER.
pianasion In Reply 20 a Pew cris-

e.a.a falhMa
To the Editor Of the Tribune:
SIR-As | left England suddenly,
barely saying gsod-by to few friends at
hand, have ever since felt like making
some public expression of my gratitude
to that country for its noble treatment
of me and my crude Songs OF the Sier-
ras, and as the American press has as
rule treated me with similar generosity
and as / am now about to return for
time to the Sierras and my home on the
Willamette, / take the occasion to briefly
thank both countries together.
First, let me speak of England, for
was she not first to speak of me2 Look
ing back few months to venture that
now seems to me like a dream, / am
bound to say that the conduct of that
country in holding up my hands when
they were not strong, when in fact had
neither money, name nor influence, ap-
pears to me every day as / recall it,
manly and generous beyond calculation
England the terms Of the expression of
thanks are threadbare. Permit me 70
say simply, | thank you'll | stood by
Niagara the other day and kissed my
hand to Canada, and, with the expert
ences OF the last six months rushing
across my mind, | said, hat in hand,
England, | thank you'll"
While the American press has been
more cautious and qualified in les re-
views, ! belieFe, ss "a rule, it has been
honest and well-meaning. England was
treating with stranger who appealed to
her generosity, and SO she refused to see
faults while she could find any merits to
commend. America, 'hoWeYeg, ia anx-
iouS and concerned about her literature,
and is ready to point out faults that they
may be avoided in the future. At least
that is what the author Of the severest
criticism have yet seen, writes me, and
| am ready to believe him. The public
is full of good will. The sale of the
book proves that, and | have nothing
now to complain Of | shall return to
the Sierras, and the pastoral bspkG Of
the Willamette, VI glad and grateful, and
With lifted face,
A few lines about Walker and Carson.
Gen. Walker, as California lawyer, was
q plain man in dress and manner.
When he became President of Nicara-
qua, he adopted the dress, manners and
religion Of the country. His eye was
the most remarkable ! ever saw-the
keen, sharp fash of broken steel in the
sun. If have ovedrawn his virtues, |
do not regret it. formed my estimate
of the man when had but little to love;
and little kindness went long way. /
believe, however, that investigation will
prove that am not far wrong in either
bis personal appearance or public life.
A tall man" believe, in the old term
as used by poets, did not always imply q
man of uncommon stature,
Aa Kit Carson was allowed to die in
obsourity without so much as six-line
paragraph to chronicle the event, it
strikes me as a little strange that men
how cry out against my attempt to pre-
serve the memory of this truly brave
and good man. No sincere, impartial
man can read my allngiopg 70 cAEson
and say hgye represented him as any.
thing but d true man. The Indian girl
is permitted to perish because !. is in
the order Of things. 81 q represents a
race that is pe..l pe.slng away. 1t would
nave Oe- =. contrary to the order of things
, 20 have allowed her to escape. There
is not one Indian in all my songs that
survives, not one Indian woman that
does not die violent death, because
this is as it is. ! have done my work
adyisedly, such as it is, and il have
created a sympathy for the Indian girl
that compels an outcry, it is surely more
perfect than had thought.
JOAQUIN c. H. MILLER.
Astor House, N. Y, Sept. p, 1871.