The weekly Shasta courier., 1872-12-21
Mrs. N. Myrtle Miller.

Rounded on another's woe.
Though my many faults defaced me,
Could no other arm be found
Ihan the one which once embraced me,
To infict cureess wounds"
The Press of San Francisco has been
almost, If not quite, unanimous in its
praise OF Mrs. Miller's two lectures in
this city.
Ihe subject announced was an attract
i've one, promising to give us glimpse
OF :" the poet and the man - who has late
" made considerable sensation in the
literary world. There are very few per-
sons who do not have some curiosity to
know the domestic life of literary men
and women, and when an opportunity
was offered to make the acquaintance Of
Joaquin Miller, through one who had
once been his wife, considerable interest
was shown either to hear in person or to
read what Mrs. Miller might say.
For ourselves, we must confess that
the announcement did not strike us
pleasantly; and after the lectures were
delivered we were no better satisfied.
For woman who had sincerely loved
the poet of the Sierras," who had been
the confidante of his aspirations and the
mother of his children; for her to reveal
his weakness and eccentricities to the
cold and curious multitude, seemed al
most sacrilegious. 1t was proving false
to trust, which, however deeply he had
sinned, should have been sacred in her
eyes, and SO kept forever.
1t was not necessary that she should
vindicate herself in the eyes of the world
No one doubted that she had been greatly
wronged, shamefully neglected, cruelty
disappointed, by the man who had prom
lsed to love her for richer, for poorer, in
sickness and in health, till Death them
should part. Every one knows the story
OF her toll and her privations, while
struggling to maintain-all unaided by
him who should have cared for them
her little ones in Portland Everyone
has felt thrill of indignation at the
heartless desertion of that father who,
while glorylng in his new-found reputa-
ton, while receiving honors from the
noble OF the earth, forgot that greater
than all literary distinction, better than
all earthly honors, is the possession of
pure manly heart. Everyone knows,
too, that if Joaquin Miller has not
equaled Byron in poetic genius, he has
not failed to initiate successfully some
OF his vices. Why, then should Mrs.
Miller, tell the story of their married
life why make public those little things
which her husband in his confidence in
her, feltthat the world would never know?
She had our deepest respect and sympa-
thy before; she has them still; but when
she stepped upon the platform to tell the
inner life of Joaquin Miller, we think
she erred, and erred deeply. 1t was
STOPPING to crafty the lower natures of
her hearers, the love of gossip, and the
morbid curiosity which is always felt
where there is a separation between man
and wife. 1t was encouraging a growing
tendency in our midst, to spread before
the world on every occasion the private
lives of those around us.
Moreover, Mrs. Miller was not reduced
to the necessity of choosing for a sub
ject the revelation of her former hus-
bands character, as she might with some
excuse have been, were she only equal
to this. But every one has accorded to
her the possession of considerable liter
ary ability /; indeed, her lectures show
tins IN their energetic criticism. their
keen analysis of character, and in not
descending to that low, vindictive
spirit which characterides less refined.
less intelligent natures. Why could she
not have used her talents in the produc-
ton OF lecture worthy of her pen, and
at the same time free from all domestic
allusions? Would not her silence on
the great sorrow of her life have been
far more eloquent than words?
We admire her energetic efforts to
support her children. but the step she
took was not necessary to accomplish
this. A lady as well known and with as
versatile talents as Mrs. Miller possesses.
could have found it no difficult thing to
obtain employment school, perhaps.
where she could have taught, and kept
her little ones around her, or connec-
ton with some paper or magazine, which
would have been renumerative. No. all
no! the desire to support her children.
which she gave as an excuse for her ap-
pearance before San Francisco audi
ence, did not Justify her in speaking
whitening sarcasms of their father, or in
pandering to the curiosity of her hear
ers.
We could not help feeling moment
airy respect for joaquin Miller. when. on
being interviewed by a reporter, he had
not word of reproach for her who was
once his wife. True, you may say the
fault was all his, and he could not vindi-
cate himself yet it would have been but
natural that he should have felt some
strirings of indignation at her recent
course Who is it that has said, that
though friends become the bitterest enc
mics, the revelations impaired to each
other during their friendship should
ever be sacred.
Our thoughts revert to a sweet and
gentle lady who died few'years ago.
the wife of the poet whom Joaquin Mil
Ter so much admires-Lady Byron. Hers
was long life after her separation from
her husband, and many and frequent
were the comments made on their es-
franUamapt vat che rox-o. lr,x- I'll.