Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-21
MRS. MILIER's MISERY.


SuGerIngs and Prfvaffons of tn Q
Deserted wife OF the Poet or the
sierras-HOw and why Joaquin
Sent HIS Family Adrift. iA1
From tho San Francisco Chronicle.l
We were shown to Mrs. Millers pri-
vate room, and were kept waiting but a
moment when the lady herself came to
the door and conducted US into what she
called her workshop" She had been
engaged inviting judging by the books
and papers which lay scattered around.
In appearance Mrs. Miller is little
above medium height has fair COM
plexion, heavy eyelids, which have a
fashion Of dropping over pair of pretty
blue eyes, and an abundance of dark.
brown curling hair, which she wears in
loops and curls about her face. Her
manners are selfpossessed, easy and
graceful, and her conversation particu-
lnrly smooth and pleasing. She did not
show the slightest consciousness Of be-
ing an object of special interest. Our
conversation naturally ran upon general
topics, when her lecture Of Tuesday was
mentioned. She said she had been ad-
vised by her friends to take Mr.. Miller
for the subject of her lecture, which had
been hastily prepared since her arrival
in San francisco. She should change
it, aud In some respects she hoped to
improve it. She seemed rather dissatis-
fled with the effort, but cheerful and
hopeful of the future. Ny lady friend
suggested that it might be well to dwell
more at length upon her .deseriion by
Mr.. Miller. and the suferings and priYa-
tons she had undergone.
That would be complaining,n she am
swered. 80.
My friend continued, ~ noticed par
ticularly that in Your lecture you showed
no feelings of malice or viLdietivaness
toward Mr.. Miller"
81 have no such feelings toward him,
she answered, "if ever had
Perhaps the greatest charm Of Mrs.
Miller's conversation is her humorous
satire, 20 closely mingled with pathos
No one appreciates the poet joaquin
Miller's foibles and petty whims and
yanities with o keener sense of the ludi.
crous than she. Her delicate humor
softens her satire, which, while II falls
softly upon the ear, cuts none the less
severely. She keeps you not only inter-
ested but amused, and does 1t all so ma
turally. Anything like pretense or af-
fectation seems foreign to her nature.
Speaking of the people she had met in
San Francisco, Mr. Charles Warren
Stoddard was mentioned among others,
and the poets works naturally came in
for share of our talk. 81 see Joaquin
appreciates him, she remarked; "once
in while be absorbs line of his poetry,
merely to show his regard for the poet ]
suppose. He pays his devoira TO many
authors in the came way, she added,
smiling.
i asked Mrs. Miller If her children
were with her She said they we're not.
then correcting herself, added, and her
voice was soft, low, and full of tenderness
in speaking OF them: They are always
with me. 1t is their presence thstnerves
and sustains me" 'IIl BlUlll III 81
She showed us their pictures. Maud,
the eldest child, has beautiful face.
As picked up the likeness of the sec
ond--a boy perhaps six or seven years
Of age--f could not but remark How
much he looks like his father" Just
like him, she answered with a pleased
expression, and she asked
"Did yon know Joaquin2"
! answered, had never met him.
{ She continued: i see both the Chron-
icle and Call caught the name of Hair
Il suppose they thought the name a
poets iancy), instead of Hal, for my
baby. I'm sorry, poor child, he has
only that sirgle little name. Sometimes
I prefix it with Prince" "
Mrs. Miller's appearance would indi-
cate good health. Naturally, she told
.us, she had perfect health; but that last
trip over the mountains had given her
physical and nervous system q shock
from which she had not yet recovered.
Before Mr.. Miller left the country for
England he had wished to dispose Of all
his personal effects, ard to leave no
burdensome cares behind him. II was
necessary great poet should be free
from the petty annoyanees of this life,
particularly such as wife and children,
and be set about clsAring his path Of any |
distinctions that might tend TO draw his |
soaring thoughts earthward. His FIRST |
step in that direction was to order his !
wife to leave her home THAT home where |
the sunaowers grew and blossomed ra-
dainty, and where growing corn, peas
and potatoes decorated the front yard, |
and go to her mothers. His next vas TO
dispose Of bis spotted courser. She OBJ
jeeted to leaving her home, humble
though it was, knowing how unfit she
was at that time to endure the hardGhips
of the journey. But he commanded, !
and she started at once, provided with
Just money enough to pay her necessary
expense Her lonely journey led her
three days in an open stage and over
rough road, one by water three days
more by stage, and as many more over
a mountain trail on horseback, with al
child in her arms. One month after she |
reached her mothers house her young
est babe was born. would not have |
left home under those circumstances"
indignantly replied my. lady friend !
" ] would not have undertaken such !
o journey at the bidding Of any
man. 81 know / should not have
gone, she answered; but / had
no individuality. i would not have
said no to anything my husband might
have hidden me do. During ny illness
1 was delirious for many weeks, and
,,. zen restored 10 consciousness i re-
-,I.'se - - letter from Mr. Miller asking
me 70 mak1 arrli~.li,-. ,
the grounds oI ~. c.-S ~ clf'Ilr N