Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-10-30
Talk with Joaquin Miller. the .PJ O
of the SlRHRAS

joaquin Miller, the poet OF the Slerras -
author OF "Songs OF the Sierras, :" "Songs OF
the Suhlands," &c. who lectures at Lincoln
han tonight, has been domiciled at the Ar.
liDgton since Thursday night. represen-
tative OF THE STAR called at his hotel this
morning and sent up his card. The waiter
returned, saying Mr. Miller would be down
in moment. Soon afterwards q gentle
man little above the medium height
with blonde beard and hair of the same hue
cut rather short; with mild blue eyes aui
pleasant expression of face came down the
stairway and walked to the newspaper stand
where he purchased some postage stamps
for letters which he held i'm his hand. THE
STAR man had expected TO see in Mr.. Miller
man similar in appearance to the Inflated
bllibuster. Gen. Walker whom the Poet OF
The Slerras" has described as having
"A piercing eye, princely air,
A presence Ii Ike a chevalier.
Sombrero black. with plume OF snow
Ihat swept his long silk locks below;
And Spanish spurs with bells of steel
That dash'd and dangled al the heel"
Judge of his surprise, therefore on being told
by the waiter That is Mr.. Miller" Some
what doubling the assertion THE STAR man
inquired of the gentleman. lis this Mr. Mil
Ter, the poet?" and received in response
pleasant "Ies, sir; / am glad to See YOU"
a brief conversation followed, during which
Mr.. Miller stated that he would make ''his
hrst appearance on any stage" at Lincoln
Hall to-night-a fact which he thought was
not generally known. ''Im not at all afraid
however" he added pleasantly. "for have
$1,000 In the presence of many great men in
Europe and was not frightened, and don't
propose TO be frightened here"
Have you been to see the President yet,
"No,' he replied; 81 don't propose TO run
AFTER anyb body. ! gave him an Invitation TO
attend the lecture to night, and have Just got
ietter (Which he exhibtedO saying that he
VIII be there. / confess ] feel gratitiei at
this, because rather like Grant"
evening"
London-the clubs, and the support England
gives her literary men. / shall then come
across the Atlantic and pitch in heavy on
The way literary men are ignored i'm Amer
lea. Here the soldiers (officers) and the poll
tlcians come i'm for all the honOrs, while the
literary men are looked down upon with
contempt. j shall show this up without ref
himself"
On being asked how he would answer the
objection that literary men are not practical
men, he replied: The objection isn't worth
answering. Look at Gladstone and Dis
raeIl. Are they not literary men and states
thought BY the way. where is Newspaper
th'rn."
THE STAR man offered TO show him the
office of the gentleman he was seeking. On
The way down bill board, bearing poster
OF ms lecture, was passed. Stopping in front
pi IL ne pointed ont with his cane the words,
~ ct and Ora'Or." Now, that's a lie" ne
excla med mean the last part of ii. AS
! said. ! have never appeared on a public
stage in my life, and the first thing + shall
Tell my audience is that it's a lie I'll have
10 stir The boys up about that. The fact is.
never attended a lecture in nv life. Gen.
EutIer did get me TO go TO his talk in New
York, but / couldn tstay to hear it OUT On
being asked If ne had read a certain work. he
replied, No; don't read much; Ihavn't a
book in the wOrld-nOt even a dictionary"
On being told that he was evidently q reader
of nature, he said, - Well, always try to use
my eyes to the best advantage, of course"
lie said lac had not been around at all in
Washington, but had been To Arlington. He
would probably leave for Chicago, where ne
lectures next, after the lecture to night, but
was not certain. He never knew five min
utes before where he was going. Vine
he wanted To go to any place, he said To tn
porter, "ltere, want TO go TO such place
get me hack and ticket and put IN in
The cars, so won't go astrAy.'' GA arriving
opposite the Treasury he was askeI If n
knew what building il was: and after cave
fully surveying it, inquired, That is the
money place isn't it?'
Mr.. Miller, who is evidently about thirty
SIX years of age, dresses tastefully in plum
cOlOred SLOUGH hat, black coat, dark vest and
light pants. He wears several diamon2
rings and also diamond shirt buttons.