Joaquin's comments

Dillsboro News, 1909

(pointless but interesting)

CRYING NEED, AS HE SEES IT

Companies of Irritated Divines Came to the Front with Order to the Waiter

Joaquin Miller is to establish a colony of poets in Fruitville, Cal. Mr. Miller, discussing this colony recently said:

"We poets will, of course, argue and squabble. That will be delightful. Arguments and squabble. over Matthew Arnold, Swinburne, Tennyson and Keats are pleasant and sensible things, you know. They are not like political or religious arguments, which in their bitter rancor always makes me thing of three Maine divines.

"While three Maine divines were supping together, two of them began to argue about the comparative religious merit of the royal houses of Stuart and Orange. The argument became heated. The divines grew excited and angry.

" 'William III, was a great rascal,' " roared the first, as he struck the table with his fist. A great rascal, and I spit on his memory!'

"The second divine, turning very red, shouted:

"No, it is James II that was the rascal. I spit upon his memory!'

"At this point the third divine rang the bell, and said gently to the waiter:

" 'Spittoons for two, please.'"

Notes: Joaquin Miller was a notable poet/novelist from the late 1860s forward into the early years of the 20th century. He was allegedly born in Liberty but also claimed to be from Cincinnati.

He left Indiana with his father in the 1850s and ended up in Oregon, where he worked several professions until he became prominent as a poet.

Poets in those years were celebrities. Miller's life also included a divorce after he abandoned his wife and children in around 1870, spending his time becoming famous in Europe and maintaining several affairs with prominent women. His wife exposed him in a letter that appeared in many U.S. newspapers. Oddly, toward the end of his life, 30 years after his divorce, he reunited with Amanda. They had 3 children. 

Miller's first name was Cincinnatus Heine (Hiner, Homer) and at least one story said he was born in the "Wabash" district of Indiana in 1841. His Find-a-Grave page says he was born in Union County, Indiana.

His opinions were highly respected by newspaper and magazine editors of the day.

If such a poets colony was created, it's not important enough to research. Miller died in 1913.

I have another blog item on him. HERE