Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-15

bard indirectly with many of his little
foibles. joaquin had an incorrect idea
of Byron, and being such an impassioned
admirer of him, it was not strange that
he did, almost imperceptibly to himself,
fall into an imitation of many of his
whims. Lord Byron said that he did
not admire a learned woman, ergo
Joaquin professed horror of literary
women. He kept his literary library in
his law office, and when would ask him
for any information in literature, poll
tics, science or current topics, he would
tell me not to seek to know anything;
that was more attractive to him as l
was. Lord Byron, for the sake Of being
witty, said that he could not endure to
see beauty at beefsteak," and, in conse-
quence, my poet always spoke of wo-
men who enjoyed a good meal deri.
sively-called them "gormandisers, J.,
and the like. He never liked to see me
partake of much food. OF course | was
interested in making myself agreeable
| had a desire to please my poetic liege,
and | went hungry until | became quite
pale and interesting; but it was all in
vain, for my poet went down to the
classic shades of Oregon and made love
to bouncing Willamette girl, who
weighed two hundred pounds, avoirdu-
pois, and who ate all she wanted.
A PRIYcELY PRESENT.
This little episode of the fathers ten
der regard for his children is peculiarly
rich; Joaquin, as you all know is very
eccentric in dress. He was always very
singular in his taste in making any little
purchase for myself or the babies He
always taught me to disregard jewelry
and ornaments, but last winter he sent
Maud little present in jewelry-I sup
pose to encourage the child in her studies.
Maud was in anxious anticipation of
this present, for he had written her for
months that he had locket and chain
for her, which he would send as soon as
he got his photograph ready for it, and
hoped she would be a good girl. just
before | left Portland it came. / re-
ceived package of papers in the mail,
and upon unrolling them cut it dropped
a huge chain, which looked like, the tail
of magnificent serpent, and quaint
looking locket. Ipicked | it up tenderly;
| looked at it; tested tit was brass,
and must have cost him about twenty
five cents But you know it isn't the
value of gift which makes it precious.
FEAsTING IN LONDoN-sTARvIYG IN PORT
LAND.
Mrs. Miller drew a touching picture
of her desolate widowhood after Joa-
quin's departure for London, and closed
her lecture with the following glowing
satire: 1t must not be imagined that
what have said tonight will wound the
pride or injure the feelings of Joaquin
Miller, should they reach his ears, Pol
lock, in reprobating the practice of
duelling, says that wise men could
never tell what honor meant, or why
that should be called honor which makes
man murder man and break the laws of
God" In my observations Of the vari-
Gus positions in which men move in the
world l think have discovered what
honor is. The dishonest merchant who
will allow himself to be sued by his
washerwoman, and who will cheat his
workmen out of their wages, if he has q
note matured in bank, will strain every
nerve to meet it, because his honor is at
stake.
The lecture was a complete success
throughout, and will stamp Mrs. Miller
as possessing as much merit as does her
gifted husband.