Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1905-07-20
Joaquin Miller at Fair.

the new world. and the foolhardy ad
venturers who haye braved endless
leagues of untried seas bore ashore the
cruclfx and standards of Spain, the
simple natives, naked but unblushing,
gathered at the water's edge and chirp-
ed in chorus, "We're discovered"
1t must have been with some such
feeling that Cincinnatus Heine Miller
made the discovery when he reached
Europe after an early and obscure life
spent in Oregon, that he had sprung
into the limelieht and had all at once
become real poet. He was all at
once discovered, although the primi-
tive Oregonians of the early days were
never appreciatiye of his early efforts
along poetic lines. and the early resi-
dents of Eugene, were the future
"Poet of the Sferras" lived, we're in.
clined to make sport OF the poetical ef-
fusions of Mr.. Miller. The same lines
which we're to make him famous both
in Europe and America were given pub
lication in the Oregon State Journal,
published in Eugene for the past half
century by Harrison r. Kincaid, ex-
Secretary of State OF Oregon. The late
Elisha Applega'e. who was prominent
in Oregon politics, once went into the
Journal Office and asked Mr.. kincaId
whv he persisted in printing such crazy
stuff from Miller's pen. Mr.. kincaid
justified himself by remarking that all
poetry was more or less c'szy.
Eugene was the scene of Joaquin Mil
ler's boyhood days, his parents owning
one Of the best farms near the mouth OF
the Mohawk, eight or ten miles across
the Willamette from Eugene. Joaquin
attended school at the old Eugene Aca'
DENY, end among his classmates were
J. NJ. Thompson, J. n. Matlock, and ii.
r. Kincaid. All except Thompson are
still living.
Mr.. Kincaid has said that Miller was
embittered against Oregon when he let'
Eugene, and evidently thought his ef
forts bad not been properly appreciated
Asa result, when he reached Europe
he gave out the impression that he was
from California. He is eaid to have al
wavs been az peculiar as he is now
In ea,ly life he persisted in wearing
I'm ,kekin moccasins, Ind an style.
Miller married in Eugene, and old
settlers still point ont IN old-time dwell
inc with gable windows that is said to
have been the first home of Nj Ter and
lis b,ide, Minnie Myrtle MID r. Short
lv after their marriage tie two moved
to Ea. tero Oregon, making the journey
over the mountains from Eugene tt
Canyon CITY on horseback, carrying q
new. born baby on the horn OF the sad
dla. The wife had considerable literary y
talent. and some of her poems were
printed in the early Oregon papers.
Soma of the old friends OF the couple
have expressed the opinion that the
separation Of the two was caused tc
some extent by literary je..lousy. Min
n;e Mvr,le Miller returned to the home
of her childhood in Coos County
where she died number OF years age
after marrying again One OF the
daughters, Maud Miller, achieved con
siderable prominence on the stage.
Joaquin Miller is at the Exposition
ia one of the best living, moving exhib
it's ou the grounds. HIS ~hiskers are
"a long and wavy as ever, his frontier
boots are the sane pattern, at lesst
the long, black coat OF the frontel
Judpe and the broad-brimmed black
hat that goes with it are there. The
saucy mustaches curl as audaciously al
ever, ard one could be sure that thii
WAS the er.atic "Poet of the Sierras," al
he loves to be called. When told HI
hadn't charged bit, his reply wa