New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-06
ROMANTIC STORY OF HIS ROYAL
NlGHNESS THE KING OF TIGREs

Among Joaquin Miller's "Songs Of tn
Sunlands," says the San Francisco Cal, is
the following exquisite poem. entitled
'ThOmas Of Tigre:''
King ofTigre, comrade true:
Where III all thine isles art thou:
Sailing on fOLsecb blue
Nearing Amapaa now:
King OF Ti.1e. where ays !!.Ou!
Battling for Antilles queen:
Sabre ht. or olive Dough!
Crown Of dust. OF laurel green!
Rowing love or marriage vow!
King and c0m;aGc. where ari tA0N:
Sailing on Pacific seas:
Pitching tent III PimO nov.
Underneath magnolia trees!
TbatCh OF palm. or ceda, bou.NJ
Soldier singer. where AZ. thou:
Coasting Oh the Oregon:
Saddle bow, OF blVchen brow:
Round the Isles of Amazon!
Pampas plain. or MOUNTAIN brow:
Prince of yoyeys. where art ihoui
Answer me from out :he West.
am weary. stricken now:
Thou art strong and would rest:
Reach hand with lifted brow
King OF Tigre. where art thou:
For the information OF Mr.. Miller Tic Cal
will state that his royal higness. the King
OF Tigre. is at present sojOurnlng at lead
ing hotel of this city, engaged in shutting
Idcluc DIctZtS dAo III my " ACCUSAlLO III
the great and growing metropolis around
him the insignificant town he beheld here
more than score of years ago. He is reg.
istered simply as ''James Thomas, New Or.
leans" and is unaccompaDied by the glitter.
ing retinues that usually attend monarchs
in their travels. In fact, his kingdom is q
thing of the past. 1t has shrunk to the
compass Of a memory and twenty-five line
poem and he now fOrcibly realizes that all
navfh1v nnrsnifS oON anti and nj ",
in "vanity and yexation OF spirit"
Though many of Miller's admirers have
supposed "Thomas of Tigre' a mere poetic
creation, such is not the case; Colonel
Thomas is anything but ethereal in appear.
ance. Forty years OF age, over six feet in
height. broad shouldered, wei! propOrtioned
and muscular. with q thoughtful blue eye.
cheek brorzed by exposure to the Southern
SUNS. he is the beau ideal OF a dashing sd.
yenturer.
A New Yorker by birth. he processes
pride III his humble origin. ua;npered by
honorable Indulgence. after many struggles
with adverse circumstances. III his early
youth he began the study OF law in Il little
village OF Northern Ohio. In an evil hour
he visited the city OF Cincinnati. and while
doing its various wonders witnessed q pop.
nlar actress i'll the role OF J.t'iei. She car.
ried his nusophisticated heart by storm and
an attack OF theatrical ambition succeeded.
His talents for high tragedy not proving
remarkably brilliant. he finally found him.
self in TIE streets ot New Orleans, not only
triendless bu: penniiess. He vas soon after.
ward Frustrated by che yellow fever. and
but for the charity and care OF the Sisters of
Mercy would doubtless have terminated his
career there and then. Eu recovering and
being turned adritt on his own resources he
could find nothiu. better 10 90 than to join
the expedition Of Lope. against Cuba.
which was then being organized. In due
time he sailed for the Queen Of the Antilles.
and after participating III many pe!Ils and
much hard fighting was glad to escape from
the island latter the defeati in i canoe with
tiriited hope!essiy about on the broad bosom
Oi the guilt. and after being reduced to the
verge OF starvation, We're fortunately picked
Mp by passing ycsse! and carried 20 New
York There Ac Hohemian!zed IN garnet.
having Tor his associates such men AS
George Lippayd. William North. the poet.
Charles Seymour. Reapa.h and f!;z James
O'Bri.H.
!: was du,!u. these ;nise:abi. and happy
days tina; be developed u faculty toi rhyn'
ing that gave lin much s:anGiD. among his
immediate ac4uaintances. BY an Unex.
Tected stroke VI fortune he was at length
called IRON his literary drua gerry. and in
stalled as editor Of the Broolyn .ldreytiSer.
He had no sooner accumulated q limited
stock OF cash il his new position than he
became inorose and discontinued. and in
spite of the remonstrances OF his friends. ]
set oft once more for the sunny South. a;
New Orleans he became connected with |
the Bee. and subsequently with the Crescent. |
and on the latter journal was making rapid |
progress toward position, when an untortu. |
nate sttdiv Of rivalry ruined all has pros. !
poets. Being challenged, he appointed q
place OF meeting at the town OF Aisiers. and |
u duel followed. Receiving painful ]
wound himself, he mortally wounded his |
adversary, and was compelled to fly to !
Texas, and. afterwards. through Northern |
Mexico TO California. He was next heard
IF in connection with tilibustering expedi- |
ion, and was so disguised with the result |
hat he has ever since carefully avoided the
slightest allusion to the affair.
After visit to San Francisco. he ven.