The Luck of Roaring Camp | Page 3

on he found
himself affected, even as he had been affected in the conception and
writing of it--a feeling so incompatible with the charges against it, that
he could only lay it down and declare emphatically, albeit hopelessly,
that he could really see nothing objectionable in it. Other opinions were
sought and given. To the author's surprise, he found himself in the
minority. Finally, the story was submitted to three gentlemen of culture
and experience, friends of publisher and author,--who were unable,
however, to come to any clear decision. It was, however, suggested to
the author that, assuming the natural hypothesis that his editorial

reasoning might be warped by his literary predilections in a
consideration of one of his own productions, a personal sacrifice would
at this juncture be in the last degree heroic. This last suggestion had the
effect of ending all further discussion, for he at once informed the
publisher that the question of the propriety of the story was no longer at
issue: the only question was of his capacity to exercise the proper
editorial judgment; and that unless he was permitted to test that
capacity by the publication of the story, and abide squarely by the
result, he must resign his editorial position. The publisher, possibly
struck with the author's confidence, possibly from kindliness of
disposition to a younger man, yielded, and "The Luck of Roaring
Camp" was published in the current number of the magazine for which
it was written, as it was written, without emendation, omission,
alteration, or apology. A not inconsiderable part of the grotesqueness of
the situation was the feeling, which the author retained throughout the
whole affair, of the perfect sincerity, good faith, and seriousness of his
friend's--the printer's--objection, and for many days thereafter he was
haunted by a consideration of the sufferings of this conscientious man,
obliged to assist materially in disseminating the dangerous and
subversive doctrines contained in this baleful fiction. What solemn
protests must have been laid with the ink on the rollers and impressed
upon those wicked sheets! what pious warnings must have been
secretly folded and stitched in that number of "The Overland Monthly"!
Across the chasm of years and distance the author stretches forth the
hand of sympathy and forgiveness, not forgetting the gentle
proof-reader, that chaste and unknown nymph, whose mantling cheeks
and downcast eyes gave the first indications of warning.
But the troubles of the "Luck" were far from ended. It had secured an
entrance into the world, but, like its own hero, it was born with an evil
reputation, and to a community that had yet to learn to love it. The
secular press, with one or two exceptions, received it coolly, and
referred to its "singularity;" the religious press frantically
excommunicated it, and anathematized it as the offspring of evil; the
high promise of "The Overland Monthly" was said to have been ruined
by its birth; Christians were cautioned against pollution by its contact;
practical business men were gravely urged to condemn and frown upon

this picture of Californian society that was not conducive to Eastern
immigration; its hapless author was held up to obloquy as a man who
had abused a sacred trust. If its life and reputation had depended on its
reception in California, this edition and explanation would alike have
been needless. But, fortunately, the young "Overland Monthly" had in
its first number secured a hearing and position throughout the
American Union, and the author waited the larger verdict. The
publisher, albeit his worst fears were confirmed, was not a man to
weakly regret a position he had once taken, and waited also. The return
mail from the East brought a letter addressed to the "Editor of the
'Overland Monthly,'" enclosing a letter from Fields, Osgood & Co., the
publishers of "The Atlantic Monthly," addressed to the--to them--
unknown "Author of 'The Luck of Roaring Camp.'" This the author
opened, and found to be a request, upon the most flattering terms, for a
story for the "Atlantic" similar to the "Luck." The same mail brought
newspapers and reviews welcoming the little foundling of Californian
literature with an enthusiasm that half frightened its author; but with
the placing of that letter in the hands of the publisher, who chanced to
be standing by his side, and who during those dark days had, without
the author's faith, sustained the author's position, he felt that his
compensation was full and complete.
Thus encouraged, "The Luck of Roaring Camp" was followed by "The
Outcasts of Poker Flat," "Miggles," "Tennessee's Partner," and those
various other characters who had impressed the author when, a mere
truant schoolboy, he had lived among them. It is hardly necessary to
say to any observer of human nature that at this time he was advised by
kind and well-meaning friends