It was in September, 1870, that Harte in the make-up of the Overland found an awkward space too much for an ordinary poem.  An associate suggested that he write something to fit the gap; but Harte was not given to dashing off to order, nor to writing a given number of inches of poetry.  He was not a literary mechanic, nor could he command his moods.  However, he handed his friend a bundle of manuscript to see if there was anything that he thought would do, and very soon a neat draft was found bearing the title “On the Sinfulness of Ah Sin as Reported by Truthful James.”  It was read with avidity and pronounced “the very thing.”  Harte demurred.  He didn’t think very well of it.  He was generally modest about his work and never quite satisfied.  But he finally accepted the judgment of his friend and consented to run it.  He changed the title to “Later Words from Truthful James,” but when the proof came substituted “Plain Language from Truthful James.”

He made a number of other changes, as was his wont, for he was always painstaking and given to critical polishing.  In some instances he changed an entire line or a phrase of two lines.  The copy read: 

  “Till at last he led off the right bower,
    That Nye had just hid on his knee.”

As changed on the proof it read: 

  “Till at last he put down a right bower,
    Which the same Nye had dealt unto me.”

It was a happy second thought that suggested the most quoted line in this famous poem.  The fifth line of the seventh verse originally read: 

  “Or is civilization a failure?”

On the margin of the proof-sheet he substituted the ringing line: 

  “We are ruined by Chinese cheap labor,”

—­an immense improvement—­the verse reading: 

  “Then I looked up at Nye,
    And he gazed unto me,
  And he rose with a sigh,
    And said, ’Can this be? 
  We are ruined by Chinese cheap labor!’
    And he went for that heathen Chinee.”

The corrected proof, one of the treasures of the University of California, with which Harte was for a time nominally connected, bears convincing testimony to the painstaking methods by which he sought the highest degree of literary perfection.  This poem was not intended as a serious addition to contemporary verse.  Harte disclaimed any purpose whatever; but there seems just a touch of political satire.  “The Chinese must go” was becoming the popular political slogan, and he always enjoyed rowing against the tide.  The poem greatly extended his name and fame.  It was reprinted in Punch, it was liberally quoted on the floors of Congress, and it “caught on” everywhere.  Perhaps it is today the one thing by which Harte is best known.

One of the most amusing typographical errors on record occurred in the printing of this poem.  In explanation of the manner of the duplicity of Ah Sin, Truthful James was made to say: