St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-04
JOAQUIN MILLER,s SCHEME.


JOAQUIN MILLER's SCHEME.
Of the many stories told of Joaquin
Miller, the poet of the Sierras. while he
was here a few days ago, the following
is interesting in that it shows that the
poet tempers his muse with CONNER
cial enterprise and tact which, in this
particular case, was exercised most adj
vantageously to Mr.. Miller and his
friends, and quite disastrouSly to their
admirers.
1t was just above the city of Column
bus. O., that the scheming student of
nature bethonght himself to the build
ing of hermitage-a log cabin OF most
picturesque design and unique cOnStruc-
ton. The site selected was upon the
brow of one of the grove-clad hills
which overlook and surround Columbus.
Here the poet gathered his treetrunkS,
which he announced were hewn by his
his own hand, and the plas-
ter, mud and fire brick were
of his own composition. He
intended that his dream den should be
: realistic of hermit's life from birth to
burial. 1t is said he drew the prelimi-
nary plans for the excavation and front
elevation on the bosom of his glngham
shirt. Daily, for four months, the PEG
pie of Columbus watched the eccentric
Miller climb the steep bluff over the
rocky, winding road, and by slow degrees
erect his future home. Everything was
to be rustic; Just as nature had carved
limb, so should the poet employ it in
making lawn chairs and bencbr He
built fireplace of most cheerfC m lin,
over which he extended a mantel .-hch
supported huge pair of elk horns. said
to be trophy won by the poet himself.
His writing desk was of the rudest
con instruction, the chairs were odd and
homely. and all else about the premises,
even to the fence, the well and the "old
oaken bucket" we're the pride OF the
romantic scribe and the admiration of
visitors from the city.
~
When all was complete, and Joaquin
Miller had ensconced himself in and
about this homely habitation, from the
only window of which he could sit in
starlit night. and, gazing down upon the
tumultuous populace beneath his feet
and out upon vista Of great eXpanSe,
broken here and there by the dim lights
of modest hamletS. frame the theme
ofmuch of his Soul-stirring word paint
ing, the sharp, shrewd and and pene-
trating god of literature laid the
plan for his future Independence.
He contributed to the newspapers OF
| that vicinity in manner which made
his name household word. Little
children cried to see the dead man" in
his romantic hut: the women and
housewives of the city longed to sit IN
the poets garden and listen to the
music of his tongne, and then wake up
the next morning and find poem in
the daily press which was, in spirit,
such a parallel to their own sentiment
of the beautiful scenery and mat
| ures jeweled lacework" that
they grew sick of the city and longed
| for the country. The stream of visitors
| which daily come to see the poet in his
primitive retreat was simply immense.
The sight was grand, and the property
to the right and left and back of it
yawned for occupation. Other people
wanted to build ''up there" and soon
| the inquiry for corner lots. 'bred OF
acres lean,' was a matter at which
| the poet smacked his nervous lips. The
| property began to advance III price
| apace with the demand, and before
! long, people thought there was not
| another such precious spot upon
earth. The lots went fast to right and
left. and the poet poured out more
| poetry to the edification of the 'heav-
emily site" than would choke book
worm.
urhe cards had beenIdealt, the game
| played and Mr.. Miller ct al. had won the
| Jackpot. About this time, when new
houses had been contemplated and some
begun, when the public dream of pri-
vate life was about to be realized, the
poet of the Sierras was called away on
an errand. Taking his laundry and
elk horns with him, there was
nothing left in the rustic old
cabin save a lot of copy paper.
This the tramps used in various ways,
while the people of Columbus wondered
what had happened to or become of Mr..
Miller, and Mr.. Miller was holding close
council with few real estate men at
Washington. Upon the result of this
master stroke, the genial and ever
pleasant Joaquin has been enjoying life
''for long time now" H. w. W.
Hustle or Abandon.
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