Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-06-30
Milton ~

IL was the first word that the born poet
had spoken during the interview, and his
voice was so very sweet and musical that
the editor looked at him curiously, and
wondered if he had sister.
Milton; is that ALI"
"Thets his furst name," explained Mr..
McCorkle.
The editor here suggested that as there
had been another poet of that name
"Milt might be took for hint Thet's
bad, reflected Mr.. McCockle with simple
gravity. "Well, put down his hull name
Milton Chubbuck."
The editor made note of the fact. "Tn
set it up now," he said. This was also
hint that the interview was ended. The
poet and patron, arm in arm, drew toward
the door I'm next weeks paper" said
the editor, smiliDgly, in answer to the
child-ike look of inquiry in the eyes of
the poet, and in another moment they were
gone.
The editor was as good as his word.
He straightway betook himself to his
| case, and, unrOlling the manuscript, be-
gan his task. The woodpeckers on
the roof recommended theirs, and in
a few moments the former sylvan Sc
clusiOn was restored. There was no
sound in the barren, ban-like room but
the birds above, and below the click of the
composing rule, as the editor marshaled
the types into line in his stick, and array
ed them in solid columns on the galley.
Whatever might have been his opinion of
| the copy before him, there was no indica-
tion of il in his face, which wore the
stolid Indifference of his craft. Perhaps
this was unfortunate, for as the day wore
| on, and the level rays of the sun began to
pierce the adjacent thicket they sought
| out and discovered an anxious ambushed
figure drawn up beside the editors win
dow--a figure that had sat there notion
less for hours. Within, the editor worked
on as steadily and impassively as Fate.
And without, the born poet of Sierra
Flat sat aud watched him as waiting its
decree.
The effect of the poem on Sierra Flat
was remarkable and Unprecedented. The
absolute vileness of its doggeral, the gra-
tuitous imbeCility of its thought, and above
all the crowning audacity of the fact that
it was the work of citizen and published
in the county paper, brought it instantly
into popularity. For many months Cal
averas had languished for sensation !;
since the last vigilance committee nothing
had transpired to dispel the listless ehaui
begOtten of stagnant business and growing
civilization. In more prosperous moments
the office of the Record would have been
simply gutted, and the editor deported; at
present the paper was in such demand that
the edition was speedily exhausted. In
brief, the poem of MIR. Milton Chubbuck
came like special providence to Sierra
Flat. 1t was read by the camp-fires, in
lonely cabins, in faring barrooms and
noisy saloons, and acclaimed from the
boxes of stage-coaches. 1t was sung in
| DnEar Elat with tho addition ~
chorus, and danced as an unhallowed
rymthmic dance by the Pyrrhic phalanx of
One Horse Gulch, known as "The Festive
Stays of Calaveras. Some unhappy
antiquities of expression gave rise to
many new readings, notes and commenta-
ries, which, | regret to state, were more
often marked by ingenuity than delicacy
of thought and expression.
Never before did poet acquire such sud-
den local reputation. From the seelusien
of McCorkle's cabin and the obscurity oil
culinary labors, he was hailed forth into
the glowing sunshine OF Fame. The
name of Chubbuck was written in letters
of chalk on unpainted walls, and carved
with pick ON the sides of tunnels. A
drink known variously as " The Chubbuck
Tranquillizer," or "The Chubbuck Ex-
alter" was dispensed at the bars. For
some weeks a rude design for Chubbuck
statue, made up of illustrations from circus
and melOdeon posters, representing the
genius of Calaveras in brief skirts on a
| flying steed in the act of Crowning the
poet Chubbuck, was visible at Keeler's
Ferry. The poet himself was overborne
with invitations to drink and extravagant
congratulations The meeting between
Colonel Starbottle, of Siskyion, and Chub-
buck, as previously arranged by our Bos-
ton" late of Roaring Camp, is said to have
been indescribably affecting. The Colonel
embraced him unsteadily. 81 could not
return TO my constituents at Siskyion, sir,
if this hand which has grasped that of the
gifted Prentice and the lamented Poe
should notbave been honorcd by the touch
of the gOdlike Chubbuck. Gentlemen,
American literature is looking up Thank
you, will take sugar in mine" 1t was
"Boston who indited letters of congrat
ulations from III. w. Longlellow, Tenny-
son and Browning TO Mr.. ChubbuCk, de-
posted them in the Sierra Flat post. office
and obligingly consented to dictate the re-
plies
The simple faith and unaffected delight
with which these manifestations were re-
ceived by the poet and his patron might
have touched the hearts of these grim
masters of irony, but for the sudden and
equal development in both of the variety
of weak natures. Mr.. McCOrkle basked
in the popularity of his pyOtege, and be-
came alternately supercilious or patroniz-
ing toward the dwellers of Sierra Flat;
while the poet, with hair carefully oiled
and curled, and bedccked with cheap Jew
elry and Haunting neck handkerchief, pa
raded himself before the single hotel As
may bc imagined, this new disclosure OF
weakness afforded intense satisfaction to
Sierra Flat, gave another lease of populari
ty of the poet and suggested another idea
to the facetiOus " Boston"
At that time young lady popularity and
professionally known as the "Calilornia
Pct " was performing to enthusiastic audi
ences in the interior. Her speciality lay in
the personation of youthful masculine
character; as a 9Ga1jn of the street she was
irresistible, as a negro dancer she carried
the honest miners heart by storm. A
saucy, pretty brunette, she had preserved
wonderful moral reputation even under
the Jove-like advances OF showers of gold
that greeted her appearance on the stage
at Sierra Flat. A prominent and delight
ed member of that audience was Milton
Chubbuck He attended every night
Every day he fingered at the door of the
Union Hotel for aglimpse of the "Califor-
mia Pet" 1t was not long before he re-
ceived note from her-in "Boston's"
most popular and approved female hand
acknowledging his admiration. 1t was
not long before Boston was called upon
to indite suitable reply. AT last, in
furtherance of his facetious design, it be-
came necessary for Boston to call upon
the young actress herself and secure her
personal participation. To her he unfold
cd plan, the successful carrying out of
posteTity as a practical humorist. The
"Californin Pets" black eyes sparkled ap-
provingly and mischievously. She only
stipulated that she should sec the man first
"a concession to her feminine weakness
which years of dancing Juba and wearing