proof-reader was ready to throw up her engagement rather than go
any further with a story so wicked and immoral. There was
consternation throughout the establishment, and the head of the
concern went to the office of the publisher with the virginal
proof-reader's protest. Unluckily, Mr. Roman was absent from the
city. Harte, when notified of the obstacle raised in the way of
_The Luck of Roaring Camp_, manfully insisted that the story must
be printed as he wrote it, or not at all. Mr. Roman's _locum
tenens_ in despair brought the objectionable manuscript around to
my office and asked my advice. When I had read the sentence that
had caused all this turmoil, having first listened to the tale of
the much-bothered temporary publisher, I surprised him by a burst
of laughter. It seemed to me incredible that such a tempest in a
tea-cup could have been raised by Harte's bit of character
sketching. But, recovering my gravity, I advised that the whole
question should await Mr. Roman's return. I was sure that he would
never consent to any "editing" of Harte's story. This was agreed
to, and when the publisher came back, a few days later, the embargo
was removed. _The Luck of Roaring Camp_ was printed as it was
written, and printing office and vestal proof-reader survived the
shock.'

It is amazing to think that, but for the determination and
self-confidence of quite a young author, a story that has gladdened
and softened the hearts of thousands,--a story that has drawn
welcome smiles and purifying tears from all who can appreciate its
deftly-mingled humour and pathos,--a story that has been a boon to
humanity--might have been sacrificed to the shallow ruling of a
prudish 'young-lady' proof-reader, and a narrow-minded, pharisaical
deacon-printer!

It is appalling to think what might have happened if through
nervousness or modesty the writer had been frightened by the
premature criticisms of this precious pair.

The "deacon-printer" mentioned by Pemberton was Jacob Bacon, a fine
specimen of the printer of the latter half of the last century. He was
the junior partner of the firm of Towne and Bacon, the printers of
Harte's _first_ volume, The Lost Galleon. Mr. Towne (not _Tane_, as
spelled in Merwin's Life of Bret Harte) obtained judgment in Boston for
the printing of that volume. (See further, Mrs. T. B. A