Page:History of Oregon Literature.djvu/269

 saved the original of Joaquin, Et Al. It would have been a treasure now, gifted as he proved to be. Miller was exceedingly human, not in the highest sense either. It was when I was printing this job that I suggested that he use "Joaquin" as a pen name.

Mr. Himes' claim that he suggested the pen name "Joaquin" is a little like "Seven cities claimed old Homer dead." It is also said that Ina Coolbrith, the California poet, proposed the literary use of this name.

During the same interview, Mr. Himes furnished the text of the speech he gave on July 15, 1905, at the old Oregon Building, during the Lewis and Clark Exposition, at a banquet in honor of Joaquin Miller:

I feel highly honored in having been asked by Mr. [Robertus] Love to respond to this toast, but I am fully aware that I can not do the subject justice. The presence of Mr. Miller tonight throws me into a reminiscent mood. My mind runs back to an April day in 1868 soon after I first engaged in business for myself with an office at the corner of Front and Stark Streets, then over the Ladd and Tilton Bank. My equipment was small and customers few.

Early on the April day mentioned a gentleman appeared, of medium stature, mild blue eyes, fair complexion, flaxen hair, flowing beard and "negligee" attire—saying,

"I am from Canyon City. I have a few lines to print. What will be the cost?"

And he handed me a roll of manuscript. I took the manuscript. Upon examination I found it was a poem entitled, Loua-Ella; or, a Tale of the Rogue River War [Specimens]. I scanned the man before me closely, endeavoring to decide in my own mind the question of his sanity, also the further and more important question to me, of his ability to pay the price for printing his production. In a few minutes I told him what the work would cost. To my utter surprise he handed me twenty dollars to apply on account. Then I had no further doubt of his entire sanity. The work was finished to the poet's satisfaction, the lines making a small volume of