Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-06-26
CALIFORNIA REMINI$CENCES.

Jay Charlton, the New York
correspondent the Danbury News,
speaking of "Gabriel Oonroy" and
its author, says: "Bret Harte really
owes little to California, He never
made his pile there. After it had
refused to make him wealthy he
panned out from himself some
sketches and poems that did more
for the glory of California than
California ever did for him. | have
heard him express the same aver
sion to California that he expresses
in his book. He is personally not a
popular man; but Eve always liked
him. His conversation is as good
as his writing. He once told me
that at certain time he was in an
inland valley, where sunset had
taken to a tavern a number of
struggling travellers, of whom he
was one. In a corner sat a little
man with his head bowed upon his
hands in melancholy meditation
Men were sitting around playing
cards and drinking, when suddenly
there rose a tall, strong stranger,
who, folding his arms, roared:
81 am the man from the noun
tainsw
| There were no responses. This
was a challenge to fight. There
was fight in the air. Again he
said, with words of emphatic in
tent:
al am the man from the noun.
tainsw
He got no takers. The affair
became very impressive, and the
mans manner became more and
more obtrusive. Suddenly the lit,
tie fellow who had been sitting
quietly with bowed head in the
corner, softly rose, and in subdued
but earnest tones, uttered:
"And-I-am-the-m e-man-from
-the-valley!"
The big bully looked at him fol
a moment, and then took out.
This reminds me of a story tolC
me by General John Goshwilder
one Of the leading capitalists o
California, and one Of the really
good fellows of that State. On
day in the early times he wa
standing in a pioneer shanty sa
: loon, in company with a great bi!
fighter who was the terror of thC
camp and town. There was moth
ing that this giant could no
whip, and very little that he haC
not whipped. This big fellow
was sitting near the bar when
stranger entered. He was a ney
! conner in town. He was not NOR
than twenty-five, slenderly built
pale, with big eyes, delicate fea
J lures, and a hand like a girl, H
stepped quietly up to the bar ant
, asked for glass of brandy. TIL
, glass was placed before him, where
, upon the bully rose from his chair
put his big, brawny hand in from
Of the youngster, took the brand
and drank it. The young man SAT-
i nothing, but quietly laid down fou
} bits and said:
: "Give me another glass q
: brandy"
The brandy was put out, the gla;
!. was filed, and the bully agai
|. reached forward, took the brand
and drank it. The youngster pu
four bits on the counter, and sale
easily:
"Give me tvo glasses of brandy
The two glasses were put on
filled, and the bully the third tim
reached forward, took a glass an
drank it. The young man paid I
!" attention, even to the giants pisto
and knives, but, taking the 9TH
: glass, drank it, and put down s
= Then, with easy manner, he left IL
| bar for the door, walked five or s
steps, ,Sturned like a flash Of ligh
ming and shot the bully throu9
the heart. Ashe walked out of ii
door he said To one of the bystan,
- ers:
"That fellow might have hu
somebody yet"
y Jim Kavanagh, formerly memb
=, of Congress from Montana, W