LEARNING A TRICK.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 841, 19 April 1906, Page 21

LEARNING A TRICK.

The daughter of Bret Harte, with the aid of a number of her father’s English friends, has opened a typewr ting office in London.

She is a profic ent typewriter, and an American journalist, calling to have some copying done, complimented her on her skill.

“My skill, such as t is, isi due to practice,” said M.ss Harte. “It was acquired very painfully, like the markmanship of one of my fathers Western friends. “My father used to tell of a man called Redwood James, a character of California. James in a bar one n ght, drew a revolver and shot the ashes from the cigar of a friend on the other side of the room.

“The friend laughed, and calmly drank off the remainder of his 'cocktail. My father said to Redwood James : “ ‘That must have requ red considerable practice. ’

“‘Practice!’ Redwood replied. ‘I should say so, young man. I guess I sp’iled more’n three dozen Chinamen a-learnin’ that there trick.’ ”