St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-19

heard many drOll story IN the line of
Truthful James remarks. The idea, II
not the story itself, could have been de-
rived from no other Jim of that time,
says the San Francisco Examiner.
Harte's start in life was at the ellis
cabin. There he wrote the poems that
made him famous, and it was ellis who
forded the river and took them to San
Francisco for publication. Twain was
often sheltered at the ellis cabin, and
it is not unlikely that he also picked up
stray bits of suggestion beneath that
roof. for although ellis devoted himself
to mining alone, he was looked upon as
a genius at quaint storytelling, and had
literary ability enough to be the critic
of the party.
The ellis home that was known to
the young writer's has gone, but III it's
place there is a more stately mountain
residence. ellis made his mining pay,
and now he is the owner of large area
of land, living in the comfortable style
of country gentleman.
The estate is located on the Tuolumne
side of the Stanislaus. and the house,
overlooking that far-famed river, is at
the top of an eminence with an unpoetic
name. a useful species of animal may
have sometime roamed that region, or
Mark Twain may there have grown
sarcastic, but it must be related that
the mansion of ellis is located on jack
ass hill. The proprietor is camplais-
antly satisfied with that name, and
there is no reason why the world should
not be.
Jackass hill is situated in Tuttletown,
and Tuttletown is justly celebrated for
a wayside inn conducted by TWO maiden
sisters, where chicken is served three
times day to bOarderS and travellers
alike.
Table mountains straight ridge looms
close at hand, and some few miles in the
opposite direction, across the stream, is
the historic camp of Angels. Sonora,
the Tuolumne county seat. is seven
miles to the eastward. BOWS fiat,
Browns flat, Shaw's flat and great
variety of other flats are in that region.
Poverty bar isn't far away, but it can
not easily be found. for every native,
when asked the road to Poverty, or to
the bar, will steer the stranger to the
nearest saloon.
Mr.. ellis, though courtly character,
popular, fond of society and rich, re-
mains a bachelor. 1t is an easy and a
sort of romantic life he leads, attended
by what followers he chooses, and he
seldom leaves his hills. In San Fran
cisco he has long list of acquaintance
among the leading families, and is al
ways welcome in society.
TO get to the realm of ellis the road
is much the same as it was in the earlier
mining DAYS. A railroad runs from
Stockton to Milton, to be sure, but it Is
beyond the latter point that the natural
difficulties OF the journey are encoun-
tered. There'ls stage line. however.
| of the old-tashiOued order. and cum
| berSOme vehicle is rolled over the thirty
| FIVE miles in from seven to nine hours.
The traveller is met on The train that
| goes out of Stockton by an agent who
| collects fares in advance for the double
| purpose of competition and of cheating
stage robbers. After the agent gets
| through with his assessments there is
| little treasure left.
| Horses aDd stage are quickly changed
| after the afternoon ride to Copperopolis.
| By the aid of the strong side lights the
| driver points out the many places at
| which rObberieS have been committed
boulder beside the way, a conveniently
located tree or a sudden turn in the
road.
"Black Bart's Rock' surmounts the
highest point of the road, and there may
be seen the neighboring pinnacle from
| which the robber watched the stages
with his telescope. learning about his
approaching prey at long distance
Five miles down the grade and there
is Stanislaus. The ferry boat on the
river is called boat by courtesy. but in
reality it is floating bridge. with stout
fence OH either side to protect travellers
in the rushing spring tides, and the
whole affair is secured in place anu
pavigated by means of rope. The
ferry bridge is just long enough to ac-
commodate the stage and four horses.
a few miles beyond the river is Tut