The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-08-05
THE Luck Of Roaring Camp"
How Nearly Brot Harte's Story wa
Onoe Refused by a Publisher.

lfs'9T tNew York sun.l 1iir
q "And so you were the originator Of
the Oceriand Monthly Magazine, and
really stood sponsor for Bret Harte"
| said to Mr.. Roman, Of San Francis
co. "fi H' ''' Iihh NH
ayes sir. like some ofyour prom
inent Eastern publishers, felt that !
must own and run magazine, So |
started the Overland. Its early life
was a struggle, more particularly
owing to its want of an editorial
head. made several trials, and fin
ally Mr.. Harte's nano was suggested
TO me. lie came by appointment,
and at the very moment l was con-
sidering change ofdie for the cover
The cut representing a grizzly stand-
ing alone, without, surrounding
seemed so bare of suggestion that |
had determined OIL some alteration.
MY partner and chief! clerk sfmade
several sketches, but they failed to
please me. So, intent were we on
this subject that Mr., Harte was neg
lected after recognition. Then, as a
matter Of easy introduction tothe
business he aud Iwere to discuss, !
called attention TO our want, never
iinaging that he could help us out.
| What was surprise wien, on taking
a pencil, he simply drew two lines
placing our grizzly on the Pacific rail
road. The die neededno other iluish.
It. seemed an inspiration, and |
thought ii he were so apt in this par
ticular, what might he be capable Of
IN Illuminating the inside pages OF
my magazine. ia rra.air,. Ji5 1IC
"From that moment he had my full
confidence. Alter little talk | coll
cluded an agreement with him to
furnish an article month, aud so
generally supcrintena the magazine.
The preiiminaries of that month over,
and his opening article furnished, hi
aud started on a fishing excursion
to Sonora. We were having ancex'
cellent time, blending magazine will
sport, and had determined on I
longer, stay, when a letter from m,
partner, after reading the proof d
'rhe Luck of Roaring Campo de
nouncing IL 'as wholly indecent ant
unfit for publication III q ihoral mag
azine,' caused us to hastily pack oul
traps and return.
, "Mr. Harte was out Of sorts th'
whole way, and Inursed my disap
7 pointment at his first venture. How
ever, he said he had other matter
> that might please the iastidious c.
: and there need be no delay In tn
months issue. lie did not try to ex
! plain away C--,s objections, bu
! said that tho, argument was take
!, from real life, too real perhaps, an
q that maybe his philosophic treatmei
was OF fault. On reaching my offic'
y L met several of the establisEmer
v ready with their condemnations, eve
10 uplipted hands, and all prophecy
u ing that such an article would be
is death blow to my magazine Mr., Har
in the meantime had hurried to h
IN home for other MSS. l took Il
10 proof home when l went to lunc
IL aud thought that perhaps after req,
ling it in the sanctity might get
y better idea how TO caution and d
l. rect Mr.. Harte as to magazine moral
,e ,e Pursuing my habit Of resting for q
10 hour on the lounge, | gave the proc
to my wife to read aloud, as was
common practice, and lay with close
eyes, expecting fearful encount
with her, yet hoping for some fay
ut from her critical judgement. W
,g struck particular with its descripti
al force and conciseness in narrati,
" and was thinking what q waste
g. Imagination over so trivial an act
ID dent when heard q sob, and ookil
d up, my vile was in tears. That w
III enough. l rushed to the Office an
a. without explanation, ordered Il
IN article inserted, and so The Luck
m Roaring Camp appeared. Onr Sal
ID Francisco papers were somewhat car
A. full in the notices, and / waited mo
N eagerly orthe Eastern papers. TIL
ID Icame, and was universal in the
,s, praises; and thenI told my wifc III
" she was truly the sponsor of BI
I'd hafte' NOD .i1i,so 90 i,fi iplo.