The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-01
BRET HARTE TALKED
THE AUTHOR GIVES LONDON REM
INIsCENCES OF CALIFORNIA.
In EARLY DAYS Gamblers Were the
Most Honest Of Operators and
Women Were at Premium.
London Sketch.

London Sketch.
Yes. have had a delightful chat with
Bret Harte, a chat full of descriptive and
interesting matter, the gist of which will
try to convey to you in his own illustrative
words although my space is very limited
Do not expect me TO give you a vivid de-
scription of his home. his sanctum, his sur
roundings-ln fact, all those accessories
of every day life that are interesting when
they relate TO the personality of a dis
tinguished man; for Bret Harte only con-
scented to be interviewed on neutral terri
tory. outside the radius of his own ia
miliar walls and remote from the entour-
age Of his home existence. | cannot there
fore. speak of historical souvenirs. nor of
walls hidden from view by portraits OF
well-known celebrities. There were no
precious relics. photograph albums or
autograph books lying about in the room
in which Bret Harte entertained me, for
the very good reason that We met at a
friends house, where the keynote of asso-
citation with the individuality of this bril-
liant author was to a great extent miss
ing. But l can recall his bright genial
face. his kindly smile. and the snow-whte
hair. which contrasted wildly with the
ruddy glow of his healthfuI compsxion
These personal characteristics | recollect
with great delight for they bring back
most of the local coloring which graceful
~ tinted the figures standing as models
to us during our recent brief conversation
He wrote quaint letter, too tinged with
just the faintest soupcon of protest against
my proposed interview. because he had not
long since been the victim of this modern
freak of Journalism; but in a rash moment
of which l begged for. and-weIi. the fol-
lowing lines viii show whether | was So
ilcitous in vain or otherwise. This is what
HE GROWS FACETIoUs.
Won't you grant me just a decent inter-
val in which to recover from my bushes
and shyness after Mr.. IS marked at
tentions? l do not even suggest that there
should be a close time for authors. or
that the same stag. should not be hunted
two weeks successfully. for have 1 not
given my word to a LADY,
When | found my wish about TO be
granted | wanted to know something CON
corning the individuality of some of Bret
Harte's favorite heroes. so on the occasion
of our meeting l inquired into the arriere
Hamlin or John Oakhurst. Bret Harte
replied thus; The gambler, twenty years
ago. in California, was really the moss
honest of all operators When he acted
otherwise he was looked down upon by
the fraternity of his profession and known
as the 'short-card sharp. His perfect equa-
nimity, GOODNESS and capacity for winning
and losing without emotional murmurs,
and his uniform correctness of demeano
gave him the distinct appearance of
Well-bred gentleman; as a matter of fact,
by very singular coincidence. the only
clergymen and gamblers"
Jack, Hamlin's was a distinct type?" l
inquired.
Certainly: of course, there were varia-
tons, but you might have found Jack walk
ing about under dozen aliases. He. how
ever, was more sentimental than the rest
of his fraternity, through his weakness for
music. At one time. after one of the great
fires at Maresville, he officiated at the organ
of church that had been rebuilt by contri-
buttons gratuitousy subscribed by gam
blerS. Churches drew substantial people,
and substantial people gambled; conse4
quently, the presence of a church in a
superior town was surety in favor of GUS
tom among the gambling element Do you
know how the flrst sanitary commission
drinking saloon by two or three gamblers.
Just after the news of one of the Northern
reverses, the sympathy of the crowd
greatly moved by the intelligence that sew
eral of its acquaintance were suffering
among the wounded. L am mighty sorry
for this, said of the profession. How
much are you sorry? promptly asked his
friend. Well. I'm sorry $500 And I'm
sorry $780, said another. And I'm sorry
$780, said a fourth.
THE SANITARY COMMISSION.
about ten minutes $4,000 was subscribed
by the gamblers and their friends Nobody
thought of withdrawing from self-elected
rivalry, and the entire amount was trans
mitted by wire to the organization after
ward known as the Sanitary Commission
Il see you go back occasionally to the
Spaniards, Mr. Harte."
~ eS. he replied, for they provide won
derfully poetic material. The keen specu-
lative American adventurer found himself
suddenly confronted with patrcian types
OF civilization and culture unknown to his
experience, and which had been left intact
upon the Pacific coast for nearly three
hundred years, during which period the
terial change among the Spansh-Amer-
leans. The Spanish hidalgo, often belong
ing to the flower of the old Andalusian
and Castilian aristocracy. who had emil
grated under missionary zeal, attended
only by a reverend father, or, perhaps.
an escort of dragons sent up from Next
CO. ruled over their thousands of acres
and hundreds of pious or converts In SIM
pie .patrician fashion: When 1 was keeper
the proceedings of these primitive justices
of the peace who ruled over the prairies
we're We're Arca nn IN their simplicity; the
Alcaldes in discussing questions of social
and domestic import were worthy of the
proverbal philosophy. of Sancho Panza.
They say that the old Dons in their mis-
sionary fervor. were fair types of Don
Quixote himself"
Spaniards and the Americana"
well, they were sharp and decisive, for
the simple Spaniard had no knowledge of
business and no conception of the destiny
of the country The American, consequent
ly, became poSSeSSor of his lands. some
times by marriage, sometimes by unjustifia-
bic trickery, until the Don was at last
compelled to retaliate by some more or less
g1IleleSs deception. 1t was discovered that
many of the grantS-some of which. by the
way. bore the seal of Charles V of Spain
were duplicated and there was grave sus-
picion OF forgery. The United States Land
Commission called upon to settle the
claims. some of which were tested by men
of singular probity
Tell me more about California / urged.
Were the women scarce during the first
period of emigration
Yes, indeed and what struck me forci
bly, was that the men were all so remark
ably young \ casual old man once ap-
peared with flowing white locks, and
caused quite n sensation; he was. in fact,
women closened friendship between men,
and the devotion which existed between
miners and their partners was quite touch
ing. The advent of women in the colony
was of course. hailed with enthusiasm,
and once a girls crinoline, being trans
ported by express POST, went aStray' by
accident whereupon il was seized and the
dggers made G Gle and danced aroune
81 hear YOUR works have been translated
into most languages-are you satisfied with
Yes" answered Bret Harte. with evil
dent plea sure II am quite satisfied. All my
hooks have been rendered into excellent
French and German, and they are so