Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-02
THE POET AND THE MAN.
Minnie Myrfle's Idea Of Joaquin
More of the Poet of the etefras.

| from Lne merits Oi MS VERSES. hcCcutl)
we had romantic story from California
of his early loves, Of his union in the
vale of Shasta with a dusky belle of the
forest, and his final heartless desertion
of his tawny bride after short period
of welded bliss. How he again took
unto himself spouse and how she too
was deserted, is matter of common re-
port. The remarkable letter of this lady
presenting her case to the public, which
was published shortly after the reports
of this desertion were first circulated,
startled the world. 1t revealed the fact
that with all his brilliancy, she was per-
haps the greater genius of the two.
They are remarkable pair, to say the
least, and hence the recent reports that
she was about to come before the
public with lecture, have been re-
garded with no little interest, Mrs.
Miller-Minnie Myrtle Miller she calls
herself so that Joaquin has not bit of
advantage in poetic cognomen-ha
just arrived in San Francisco, and con-
firms the reports. 1t is pleasing to re-
| fleet that Miller's own reputation insures
the sneers, for time, at least. of the
undertaking. OF course one Of the first
things that happened to her after her
arrival was an interview by an enter
prising Bohemian of the'local press. He
reports her as tall and rather fragile in
appearance, with countenance that an
artist would deem interesting, although
not absolutely handsome Her eyes are
soft, but do not lack courage. When the
reporter was received by the lady she
was standing in the center of the room,
holding a sheet of manuscript in her
hand, and with her dark tresses Of rich,
wavy hair flowing unconfned over her
shoulders, would at that moment have
formed a fine subject for the brush of an
artist. The reporter explained the OBJ
ject of his visit and was invited to seat
himself. In answer to query by the
reporter, Mrs. Miller stated that she had
not intended to lecture when she arrived
in that city, but at the earnest solicita-
ton of many friends--and she. had
friends-she had consented to deliver
desultory synopsis of Joaquin Miller as
poet and man.
Reporter; | have read
THE SYNOPSIS OF THE LECTURE
as published in one of the city papers,
and should judge from it that you in
tend to indulge in sarcasm more than
sadness when you deliver it.
Mrs. Miller: am afraid that synopsis
will not DO. 1ia
Here the lady took up the synopsis re-
ferred to and glanced over it with de-
| cidedly dissatisfied air.
The conversation then branched off
into a more interesting channel, turning
upon the poet himself.
Reporters In what portion of Oregon
did Mr.. Miller and yourself live, when
he began to writer
Mrs Miller: When we went to Oregon
the first time we resided at Eugene City.
We afterwsrd lived at Canon City, Grant
county. o
Reporter How long ago was that?
Mrs. Miller: About eight years.
Reporter: He was practising law then,
was he not2 fg f.rafstf. .afffh
Mrs. Miller: He was.
Reporter: Did he write for the press
at that timer
Mrs. Miller: He wrote verses, but they
did not possess any great merit.
Reporter: While in Canon City, did
he engage in any other business2
Mrs. Miller; He entered into several
speculations, but they were failures.
Reporter; You
VISITED SAN FRANCISCO AT ONE TIME
with Mr. Miller, did you not2
Mrs Miller: When we left Eugene
City we came TO this city, where for
period of several months we led sort of
Bohemian life; writing for the weeklies
and doing other literary work.
Reporter: Mr. Miller was not as sue
cessiul then as he has been since2
Mrs. Miller: No; he wrote a great
deal and made many attempts to have
his productions published, but he failed
in many instances.
Reporter:
WHERE WAS HE SUCCESSFULLY
Mrs. Miller: He published serial
story in the Police Gazette in 1863, be-
lieve. ilill lllIoJ .l
Reporter: Do you remember the title
Of the story2 t't'A
Mrs Miller: l think he called it the
Devils Castle
Reporter: In what other quarters was
he successful? /
Mrs. Miller: The Golden Era and the
Mercury, Mr.. Ford's paper, published |
some of his articles. Some of my own |
writings were published in the Golden |
Era.
Reporter: Was he in the habit of
writing continually? .r r.r.
Mrs Miller; he wrote whenever he
had leisure.
Reporter: You returned to Oregon
after these experiences of metropolitan
literary life, did you not2
Mrs. Miller 1t was at that time that
we went to Canon City. L-I
Reporter Where did Mr.. Miller pre-
pare his "Songs of the Sierras2"
Mrs. Miller: In Grant county, Oregon.
In fact, many of his poems we're written
in that county.
Reporter: Has Mr.. Miller ever visited
the scenes he describes2
Mrs. Miller: Never; he gained all his
knowledge of prairie and tropics from
his reading.
JOAQUIN MILLER NAME.
Reporter: He has given himself a
rather fauciful appellation. Do you
know how he received it2
Mrs. Miller: He was great admirer
of Joaquin Murietta, the bandit, and one
Of the first poems he published depicted
Murietta as hero, which caused Mrs.
Mary A. Sawtelle, who was very well
acquainted with Mr. Miller, to designate
him as joaquin Miller. The name
pleased him, and he resolved to assume
1t. The first volume he published was
entitled " joaquin ct al This is the
original of his nom de plume.
Reporter: What do you think Of his
poems as productions of genius?
Mr.. Miller: / would not under any
circumstances, detraot from his literary
fau,a for ha src-l.- ta-1 ,rI hoe aarnad