The New York herald., 1922-10-22

life Bret Harte was valued personal friend
of my own. This vas when he became a
constant visitor at our second home,
Broadway in Worcestershire WIFE he and
my father were engaged together in drama
tizing some of the we'll known American
stories. Ny childish vision of him in the
velvet coat and with thick, curly, brown
hair has grown dim with passing years;
but the picture of him at this later time
1896 and subsequent years-is clearly be-
fore me- Thick, silky, white hair, parted
in the middle of the forehead; white.
slightly dropping mustaeheS a reddish
complexion. suggesting permanent sunburn
from the blaze of Californian sunshine;
light blue eyes: / stiH hear the character
istic voice. with it's low toned modulations-
l remember the consistent "smartness" OF
Bret Harte's appearance; the well cut
clothes; the tie socks and handkerchief sll
matching in color; the rather pointed shoes
(he had very small feet). and closely fitting
"spats"; the Immaculate evening dress. He
spoke frankly of the luxury it was to him
TO dress thus "in purple and fine linen"
after years OF rougling it in the sold dig
gers red flannel shirt, loose slacks and
stiff high boots How We enjoyed the tales
he told when-sitting over coffee and cigar
at the dinner table, or under the old green
gage tree on the lawn-he became reminis-
cent of early days ard sketched for us brief
and stirring word pictures of his adven-
lures as Express Messenger, riding on the
box OF the stage with Yuba Bill un-
pleasantly conscious of the packets OF
"greenbacks'' concealed in his boots and OF
"the gang" all skilled revolver shots, ready
for a "holdup" where the road was mar
rowest and most deserted. And the stories
Of his camping days! How they
brought to our minds those masterpieces:
The Luck of Roaring Camp" "The Out
casts of Poker Flat" How Santa Claus
Come to Simpsons Bar and other favor
ites 1t was delightful to listen to anec-
dotes whimsically told by the creator OF
col. Starbottle." Jack Hamlin' and The
Heathen Chinee."
1 have given some OF Bret Harte's let
ters to my father 1 will now quote from
some he wrote to me, much later; all
written in light vein.
I had promised to send him some white
fantail pigeons from my pen. and he wrote
10 me:
The Red House. Camberley. Surrey,
Dec. 8. 1899.
DEAR MISS MAY:
The Dovecote is finished and ready for
your pigeons and if you will kindly send
me those you spoke of '"The Red House"
will be delighted. Don't give yourself
any trouble, for l shall be glad to remit
to you any disbursements you may have
to make to others to enable the birds TO
travel comfortably and as becomes their
degree and condition as former tenants
OF Pye Corner.' If there are any first
class pigeon tickets take EN-, l should
not like them to mix with any "tum-
blers' or vulgar acrobatic fowls travel
ing or ION tour
L am here trying to get rid of a nasty
cold. which / set up in London after leav-
ing Broadway But the fog and gloom
have followed me even to this sunny hill
side.
1 shall see that the pigeons are safely
housed unless-horrible thought!-they
should turn out to be carrier pigeons and
calmly return to Pye Corner, In which
ease shall send you all sorts of abusive
messages stuck all over their wings.
With love to all at Pye Corner. Yours
always sincerely. BRET HARTE.
'The name of our house at Broadway.
His fears were. in a sense. realized, for