Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
October 1, 1871
Knoxville Daily Chronicle
Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee
What is this article about?
Joaquin Miller thanks English and American audiences for the reception of his poem 'Songs of the Sierras' and defends killing off all Indian characters, stating it reflects the race's passing, while portraying Kit Carson as a brave man amid criticism.
Clipping
OCR Quality
97%
Excellent
Full Text
Why Joaquin Miller Kills His Indians.
Joaquin Miller writes a card, thanking the English and American people for the kind manner with which his poem, the "Songs of the Sierras," has been received.
In it he explains why he permits all his Indian characters to die. He says:
"As Kit Carson was allowed to die in obscurity, without so much as a six-line paragraph to chronicle the event, it strikes me as a little strange that men now cry out against my attempt to preserve the memory of this truly brave and good man.
No sincere, impartial man can read my allusions to Carson and say I have represented him as anything but a true man. The Indian girl is permitted to perish because it is in the order of things. She represents a race that is passing away. It would have been contrary to the order of things to have allowed her to escape. There is not one Indian in all my songs that survives, not one Indian woman that does not die a violent death, because this is as it is. I have done my work advisedly, such as it is, and if I have created a sympathy for the Indian girl that compels an outcry, it is surely more perfect than I had thought."
Joaquin Miller writes a card, thanking the English and American people for the kind manner with which his poem, the "Songs of the Sierras," has been received.
In it he explains why he permits all his Indian characters to die. He says:
"As Kit Carson was allowed to die in obscurity, without so much as a six-line paragraph to chronicle the event, it strikes me as a little strange that men now cry out against my attempt to preserve the memory of this truly brave and good man.
No sincere, impartial man can read my allusions to Carson and say I have represented him as anything but a true man. The Indian girl is permitted to perish because it is in the order of things. She represents a race that is passing away. It would have been contrary to the order of things to have allowed her to escape. There is not one Indian in all my songs that survives, not one Indian woman that does not die a violent death, because this is as it is. I have done my work advisedly, such as it is, and if I have created a sympathy for the Indian girl that compels an outcry, it is surely more perfect than I had thought."
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Fate Providence
Misfortune
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Joaquin Miller
Songs Of The Sierras
Indian Characters
Kit Carson
Race Passing Away
Literary Defense
What entities or persons were involved?
Joaquin Miller
Kit Carson
Indian Girl
Story Details
Key Persons
Joaquin Miller
Kit Carson
Indian Girl
Story Details
Joaquin Miller explains in a card that he allows all Indian characters in 'Songs of the Sierras' to die to mirror the passing of their race and defends his positive portrayal of Kit Carson against critics.