The Washington times., 1911-11-10
JOAQUIN M|LLER,7HE
CALIFORNIA POET,
IS SEVENTY TODAY
Californians Here Uneasy
About Condition Of
Famous Man.

Joaquin Miller, the California poet
whose cabin now stands In Rock Creek
Park. is seventy years old today. While
the California Association in Washing
ton will not celebrate his birthday in
any formal way, still the organization
Is thankful that the "Poet of the Sier-
ras" is still among the living. 1t was
the intention of the association to have
met the first Sunday in November, at
which time resolutions of congratula-
tions were to have been drafted and
sent him at having reached this ripe
old age, but bad weather prevented the
meeting,
However, It is the intention of the
association to hold a banquet some time
during the early part of December, at
which the members Of Congress from
California are to be present. This ban
Quet will be strictly in the interest of
the California Association In Washing
ton, but Mr.. Millers name will be one
of the topics Of the occasion.
Since the Miller cabin was moved
from its old location and erected in Rock
Creek Park, 1t has been the intention
of the California Association to hold
Ia big meeting some Sunday. but in
variably something has interfered all
along to prevent such a gathering.
His Work In Capital.
During the years Mr.. Miller lived in
Washington, back in the '70's, he en-
gagged in newspaper work, but since 1887
he had made his home in and about
Oakland, Cal.
Among his works that are dear to the
hearts OF every Californian in Washing
ton. and to people who love such liter
ature, are found:
Songs of the Sierras," Pacific
Palms." Songs Of the Sunland," "The
Ship. of the Desert" Life Among the
ras. THE One Fair woman % "Thc I
shasta" Memorie and Rime," Bar ~
Of nands Msw Ycr he B5enEs qf Far
Gotham" THE Building Of the city
"chants Of the Boer," "The Silent
Man." The Danites," and ",Tally-Ho."
uneasy about the condition OF the fam
Gus old poet. From California comes
the word that he will hardly live more
th than year longer He is anxious, even
home State. Indiana, and then pay
G;ss Mash'ngfen foI one one, more visit before he
jit afl depends upon God whether I viii
ever get back there again. I'd love to
get back for WHILE" ...
Lives Near Oakland. ,-
Miller now lives at FruitvilIe, Cal,
just short distance from Oakland
His home is but simple cottage, set
/ ting upon hill, surrounded by a clus-
ter Of Japanese cypress aand eucalyp-
tus trees, At his home he Is spending
his closing days peacefully and quietly
|. with his wife and his lovely daughter.
Juanita,
He now spends about three-fourths OF
his time in bed. Last spring he became
III. and 1t was thought he would not
live very long, but he regained strength.
His wife and daughter We're In New
York at the. time. but went West. and
have been living with him since then.
Californians here are greatly interest
ed In the fact that the city. Of Oakland
Is going to purchase Miller's estate
after he dies and make a beautiful
park out of 1t in honor of the man
whose writings have made him and that
Romed About the wiIds.
For seven years he aimlessly roamed
through the wilds of northern California
and southern Oregon. sharing the life
and dangers of gold-diggers, lumber
men, and trappers, and finally casting
his lot with a tribe of Indians, becom-
with the white men altogether by this
81 ep. He was treated with contempt,
like oil "squaw-men" and retailiated by
leading the Indians in their attacks
upon the white settlers.
After seven years of this life young
Miller returned to his home in Oregon
and began to study law in the office of
George M. Williams, at Eugene, Ore,
who afterward became Attorney General
OF the United states. The following
year Miller became express messenger
in the gold-mining districts of Idaho,
which position he resigned to become
the editor Of a weekly newspaper IN
Eugene. Ore. The paper was shortly
afterward suppressed by the authorities
because Of the seditious character OF
its editorials.
It was while he was editor Of that
paper that Miller became acquainted
with "Minnie Myrtle" frequent con-
brs 81 to the
marriage and two children were the
result Of that union. Their married life
was not happy, however. His wife soon
separated from Miller and took the