In the early days Rev. Charles Gordon Ames preached for a time in SantaCruz. Later he removed to San Jose, and occasionally addressed SanFrancisco audiences. He occasionally was original and witty and was in demand forspecial occasions. In an address at a commencement day at Berkeley, Iheard him express his wonder at being called upon, since he hadmatriculated at a wood-pile and graduated in a printing-office. Severalyears after he had returned East I was walking with him in Boston. Wemet one of his friends, who said, "How are you, Ames?" "Why, I'm stillat large, and have lucid intervals," said in reply the witty preacher. He oncetold me of an early experience in candidating. He occasionally was asked to preach inWorcester, where there was a vacancy. Next day he met a friend who toldhim the results, saying: "You seem to have been fortunate in satisfyingboth the radicals and the conservatives. But your language was somethingof a surprise; it does not follow the usual Harvard type, and does notseem ministerial. You used unaccustomed illustrations. You spoke ofsomething being as slow as molasses. Now, so far as I know, molasses isnot a scriptural word. Honey is mentioned in the Bible, but notmolasses."

J0AQUIN MILLER

The passing of Joaquin Miller removed from California her mostpicturesque figure. In his three-score and twelve decades he found wideexperience, and while his garb and habits were somewhat theatrical hewas a strong character and a poet of power. In some respects he was morelike Walt Whitman than any other American poet, and in vigor and graspwas maybe his equal. 0f California authors he is the last of theacknowledged leading three, Harte and Clemens completing the group. Formany decades he lived with his wife and daughter at "The Heights," in theleghills back of 0akland, writing infrequently, but with power andinsight. His "Columbus" will probably be conceded to be his finest poem,and one of the most perfect in the language. He held his faculties tillthe last, writing a few days before his death a tender message of faithin the eternal.

With strong unconventionality and a somewhat abrupt manner, he wasgenial and kindly inside his feelings, with hot affections and greatcompanionability.