Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-05

Minnie Myrtle's idea Of Joaquin


The Poet and fhe Man.
| CaHfornia's long-haired rhymster, Joa
| ouin Miller, seems destined to attain al
| that notoriety which he so much Graves
| through his eccentricities If not from the
merits of his verses. Recently we had a
romantic story from California of his early
| loves, of his union Ia the vale of Shasta
| with dusky belle of the forest, and his
| final heartless desertlon of bis tawny bride
after short period of welded bliss. How
be again took unto himself spouse and
how she too was deserted, Is matter of
common report. The remarkable letter of
this lady presenting her case to the public,
which was published shortly after the
reports of this -diseaion were first circula.
ted, startled the world. 1t revealed the
fact that, with all his brilliancy, she was
perhaps 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--has just arrived in San
Francisco, and confirms the reports. 1t is
pleasing 10 reflect that Miller's own reputa-
ton insures the success, 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 enterprising
Bohemian OF the local press. He reports
her as tall and rather fragile iu appearance,
with a countenanee 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 centre of the room holding a
sheet of manuscript in her hand, and with
her dark tresSes of rich, wayy hair flowing
unconfned ever her shoulders, would at
that moment have formed fine subiecs for
the brush os ga artist. The reporter ex-
planned the object Of bis visit, and was in
vited TO seat himself Inanswer to query
by the reporter, Mrs. Miller stated that aha
had not intended to lecture when she ar
rived in that city; but al the earnest solici-
tation Of many friends-and she had friends
she had consented to deliver desultory
synopsis of her knowledge of joaquin Mil
Ter as poet and man.
Reporter: VIII your lecture detail Mr..
Miller's alleged disregard of your comfort
and your affection for him?
Mrs. Miller (sadly): Oh, no; / do not
wish, and 1t is not my intention, to parade
my woes and sorrows before the world.
Reporter: In what portion of Oregon did
Mr.. Miller and yourself live, when he be-
gan TO write?
Mrs. Miller: When we went to Oregon
the first time we resided at Eugene City.
We afterwards lived at Canon City, Grant
county.
Reporter: How long ago was that?
Mrs. Miller: About eight years.
Reporter: BE was practicing law then,
was he not?
Mrs. Miller: He was.
Reporter: Did be write for the press at
that time?
Mrs. Miller: He wrote verses, but they
did not possess any great merit.
Reporter: While in Canon City, did he
engage in any other business?
Mrs. Miller: He entered into several spec
but they were failures.
Reporter: You visited San Francisco at
one time with Mr.. Miller, did you not?
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 weekles, and doing
other literary work.
Reporter, MIR. Miller was not as success
full then as he has been since?
Mrs. Miller: No, be wrote great deal
and made many attempts TO have his pro-
auctions published, but he failed in many
instances.
Reporter:
WHERE WAS he SUCCESSFUL?
Mrs. Miller: He published serial story
n the Police Gazette in 1853, believe.
Reporter: Do you remember the title of
he story?
Mrs. Miller: think he called it Devils
CASTLE" ..
Reporter: In what other quarters was he
uccessfui?
HRS. Miller: The Golden Era and the
Mercury, Mr.. Ford's paper, published some
# his articles. Some of my own writings
we're published in the Golden Era.
Reporter: Was he in the habit of writ
ng continually?
Mrs. Miller: He wrote whenever he had
eisure.
Reporter: Yeu returned to Oregon after
hese experiences of metropolitan literary
ife, did you not
Mrs. Miller: 1t was at that time that we
vent to Canon City.
Reporter: Where did Mr.. Miller prepare
lis ''Songs of the Sierras?''
Mrs. Miller: In Grant county, Oregon.
In fact, many of his poems were written in
hat county.
Reporter: Has Mr.. Miller ever visited the |
scenes be describes?
Mrs. Miller: Never; he gained all his
of prairie and tropics from his
reading.
JOAQUIN AnLLER'S NAME.
Reporter: he has given himself rather
anciful appellation. Do you know how he
received it?
Mrs. Miller: He was a great admirer Of |
Joaquin Murietta, the bandit, and one of
he FIRST poems he published depicted Muri-
eta as hero, which caused Mrs. Mary A. |
oawtelle, VINO was very well acquainted
With MIR. Miller. TO designate him as 1JOa-
Iuin" Miller. The name pleased him, and
ne resolved TO assume il. The first vol
1me he published was entitled "Joaquin
st al" This is the original of his nom de
plume.
Reporter: What do you think Of his
poems as productions of genius
Mrs. Miller: l would not, under any
detract from his literary
anne; for be works hard, and has earned
MS reputation as a poet dearly. He de-
serves the success TO which he has attained,
md would not sully his literary fame on
any consideration.
Reporter: He does not write as freely
hen as bis poems might indicate?
Mrs. Miller: Not at all. He labors over
3very word, culling word here and line
here, and reads and re-reads before he is
satisfied.
Reporter: How does the sentiment of
lis writings accord with his real character?
Mrs. Miller: Very well indeed.
Reporter: He appears to consider all wo-
men angels?
Mr.. Miller: Silent angels, though. His
deal of woman is passive creature, over
whom man must have complete and undis-
,uted control. His poem, Given So"
which know was intended for myself, is
ample:
"She has not much to say, and she
Lifts never voice to question me
In aught dO-and that is much.
! love her for her patient trust.
Andmy loves forty-fold return
value have not TO learn"
That is bis idea exactly, and he has acted
t out in his whole life. Another portion
If the poem speaks of
"That round, brown, patient hand
Others, that never rests till 1 return
which | think is a true reflex of his senti-