Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-30
Joaquin JsiiIcr.

A New York correspondent Of the Springfield
Republican sharply criticises the new poet after
this fashion;
While | am in a favorable humor toward ac-
tors and players a word about Cincinnatus H.,
otherwise joaquin Miller. "Ihe Wild Singer
of the Serras" did not make the same impress
sion here that he did in London, where they
are not familiar with the true type of the Dor
der ruffian. This reckless rider, rough fighter,
and daring filibuster, bosom friend of William
Walker and Kit Carson, two men as far apart
and unlike as JEFF Davis and Garibaldi,l seemed
a man about thirty, pale, thoughtful, slender,
with the STOPPING shoulder OF sedentary life.
His dress was tashy, velvet and high coloTs,
red necktie and gold ornaments. His panta-
looms were tucked into the tops Of shabby boots.
To the observant he conveyed the idea that he
was a Shrewd, cool hand, as clever as his poe.
try proves him, but acting part His evident
study of Byron has not been of the nobeman's
poetry merely, but he has also learned the
method of drawing the attention Of the public
to himself by an affectation and pretence. In
his letters and conversation Miller hints darkly
at scenes of wild crime, for which no grand jury
will ever indict him. In a letter written in
England he speaks in mild depreciation Of the
days when he carried a revolver, and had q
"rather loose way of using it." Now, that is
rather loose way of insinuating that he has
been concerned in killing or wounding his fell
low men, but, for my part, / do not believe
it. Having had a long and disagreeabe
experience of lawless society, and the
exceedingly unpleasant class of men to
which Miller pretends to belong, | can say
boldly that | nayer saw an outlaw in the least
resembling Miller And | may add that men
who have really done murder, or drawn
weapons in the fierce life of the frontier, are the
last men to talk about it. Your frOnticrsman,
who keeps private graveyard for his victims,
and talks of his loose way with his tube" is
H. otrrbp hos 1ava
drawn bead on anything more resembling him
self than the California iacBass rabbit.
In respect to Millers poetry, it is safe to say
that the eulogistic strain caught from his Eng
liSh admirers has come to an end. The review
in the World from the trenchant pen OF Mr..
Hurburt was a clear and decisive summing up
against him, and what he writes in future Will
be carefully Sifted As the inception of all art
is imitation, it is not strange that young poet
lacks originality, but may We not reasonably
expect that one who processes to sing his own
experiences of the fresh, eXUbcrant western life,
and who makes a pTetense Of having dWelt IN
such dim forests and "unfathOnabe canyons,
that books are unknown to him, should be dis
tinctvely American, and not treat his trappers
and Indians in a diluted imitation OF Byron,
Browning and Swinburne?
The excelleuces of Millers poetry are found
in those portions not American at all, but
which might be written in any part of tue
MoIlu, M hH'i"'it I"oti' ~ ~ ~ ~.
that II Miller mas put iorth us verses ~ Iallc-
| full sketches they would stand upon their pOeti-
cal merits, put when nc grossly lnlsfepIeseI5s
historical characters ana attempts 10 persuade
the reader oy falsely aHeSinS personal llllllla
cy and participation win ulS heroes II 0yGones
aqMeSuon oil literary morals ms poem "alAet
III nicaragua, SeleraIy eolSnleteu tue ucst
part oil MS WORK PurP0rts 10 DC personal eA -
perlence. he mas followed II WIN "a a Ielter
IN Whlch ne Claims an h!li'iaey WIN alEer IN
Caliorhla, tnougn III inlS Ietter ne says 49in-
ing OF ms nIl9usIeLllS II diler
knew Waiker wheG ne was Cdiiorlla Jaw, INV
yer, as ne says nc qua, IT must nave p G'i
ID Joaquin TENDER years, lot Malher Ieit as ~
norma on tue SONORA eNpeultloni III 1917
IN 1898 he claimed 10 De president Oh Lower GaI-
iornla, ana surrendered ms command 10 OaPt'
Burton, TO save himself rom inc MeNlcans, III
May 1901 inere was no oilG ol the HINT Oh
Miller WIN MN Ill foo4oia' oh MS return IL 10
C"lol ma uO VI r''Ii"SH ."c -ntNN'