The Life of Bret Harte Part 29

[65] Horace Greeley, "An Overland Journey from New York to San Francisco."

[66] _How Santa Claus came to Simpson's Bar._

[67] _A Ward of the Golden Gate._

[68] S. C. Upham, "Scenes in El Dorado."

[69] Volume xv, page 466.

[70] See also page 103, _supra_.

[71] The late Sherman h.o.a.r of Concord, whose name is inscribed on the tablet in Memorial Hall devoted to those Harvard Graduates who lost their lives in the Spanish War, was almost exactly such a character as Bret Harte described,--long to be remembered with affection.

[72] H. H. Bancroft, "Chronicles of the Builders."

[73] C. W. Haskins, "The Argonauts of California."

[74] Benton, "The California Pilgrim."

[75] _A Pa.s.sage in the Life of Mr. John Oakhurst._

[76] Delano, "Life on the Plains."

[77] "The Virginia Editor is a young, unmarried, intemperate, pugnacious, gambling gentleman."--George W. Bagby, "The Old Virginia Gentlemen and Other Sketches."

[78] They were the Reverend Walter Colton, Chaplain in the United States Navy, and Alcalde, as already mentioned, and Dr. Robert Semple, a well-known Pioneer politician.

[79] "Men and Memories of San Francisco," by Barry and Patten.

[80] "California: its Characteristics and Prospects."

[81] See also _supra_, p. 169.

[82] It must be admitted that the ministers were placed in a difficult situation, being obliged to cope with the hardy, humorous materialism of Pioneer life. The following dialogue is an authentic ill.u.s.tration:--

"Mr. Small, do not you believe in the overruling Providence of G.o.d?"

"Which G.o.d?"

"There is but one G.o.d."

"I don't see it, Parson. On this yere Pacific Coast G.o.ds is numerous--Chinee G.o.ds, Mormon G.o.ds, Injin G.o.ds, Christian G.o.ds, _an' the Bank o' Californy_!"--"The Californians," by W. M. Fisher.

[83] A traveller pa.s.sing through Dolores in Mexico was the witness of a marriage like that of Stephen Masterton: "Whilst stopping here I saw a smart-looking Yankee and a Spanish girl married by the priest, whose words were interpreted to the bridegroom as the ceremony proceeded. The lady was of rather dark complexion but extremely pretty; and although she knew scarcely a word of English, and the bridegroom knew still less of Spanish, it was evident from the eloquence of the glances which pa.s.sed between them, that they were at no loss to make themselves understood."--"Personal Adventures in Upper and Lower California," W. R. Ryan.

[84] Mrs. Kemble, on the other hand, as the Reader may remember, described him as "tall." His real height, already mentioned, was five feet, eight inches.

[85] W. D. Howells, "Literary Friends and Acquaintance."

[86] See Pemberton's "Life of Bret Harte," page 228.

[87] _My Friend the Tramp_, written in 1872.

[88] Samuel Bowles, famous as Editor of the "Springfield Republican."

[89] Pemberton's "Life of Bret Harte," page 133.

[90] Pemberton's "Life of Bret Harte," page 136.

[91] Pemberton's "Life of Bret Harte," pp. 137-142.

[92] These lectures, with a short address delivered in London, have recently been published in a volume ent.i.tled "The Lectures of Bret Harte,"

by Charles Meeker Kozlay, New York.

[93] Pemberton's "Life of Bret Harte," page 145.

[94] Pemberton's "Life of Bret Harte," pp. 168-170.

[95] It was now a Commercial Agency, the grade next below that of a Consulship.

[96] Pemberton's "Life of Bret Harte," page 173.

[97] Pemberton's "Life of Bret Harte," page 186.

[98] Pemberton's "Life of Bret Harte," page 181.

[99] See footnote on page 244, _supra_.

[100] Pemberton's "Life of Bret Harte," p. 265.

[101] St. Kentigern established a Bishopric in the year 560 in the place which afterward became Glasgow, and thus he is regarded as the founder of the city. His monument is shown beneath the choir of the Cathedral where his body was interred A. D. 601.

[102] By the regulations then in force Consuls were forbidden to be absent from their posts for a period exceeding ten days, without first obtaining leave from the President.

[103] Pemberton's "Life of Bret Harte," page 334.

[104] Mary Stuart Boyd. See "Harper's Magazine," vol. 105, page 773.

[105] His friend and travelling companion, Colonel Arthur Collins.

[106] See _ante_, page 245.

[107] See _ante_, page 209.

[108] When news of the death of d.i.c.kens reached Bret Harte he was camping in the Foot-Hills, far from San Francisco, but he sent a telegram to hold back for a day the printing of the "Overland," then ready for the press, and his poem was written that night and forwarded the next morning. A week or two later Bret Harte received a cordial letter from d.i.c.kens, written just before his death, complimenting the California author, and requesting him to write a story for "All the Year Round."

[109] A miner, writing in August, 1850, from the Middle Fork of the American River, said: "When I came up here, the river was a roaring torrent, and its _sombre music_ could plainly be heard upon the tops of the mountains rising to a height of about three thousand feet."

[110] G. H. Denny, President of Washington and Lee University.