The Independent . Dickens— a kind of awed recognition ofthe greatness of humanity, anincreased sympathy for all. The climax is prepared fromthe beginning. Oakhurst is cool,unselfishly gives his horse tothe woman, is determined tobring safety to all, and neverthinks of forsaking his weakercompanions. He is sympathetic,understanding, thoughtful, andeven childlike, kissing theDuchess as he goes to hissacrifice just as Sidney Cartonkissed the little dressmaker inA Tale of Two Cities. The atmosphere, too, is ro-mantic; the amphitheater withprecipitous cliffs, the shadowscreeping up the mountain, th
The Independent . Dickens— a kind of awed recognition ofthe greatness of humanity, anincreased sympathy for all. The climax is prepared fromthe beginning. Oakhurst is cool,unselfishly gives his horse tothe woman, is determined tobring safety to all, and neverthinks of forsaking his weakercompanions. He is sympathetic,understanding, thoughtful, andeven childlike, kissing theDuchess as he goes to hissacrifice just as Sidney Cartonkissed the little dressmaker inA Tale of Two Cities. The atmosphere, too, is ro-mantic; the amphitheater withprecipitous cliffs, the shadowscreeping up the mountain, themoaning of the trees, the greatstorm, the snow drifting downon the dead—the atmosphere ofromance. The story is one of contrast:the good and the bad throwntogether; wicked outcasts sing-ing a hymn; ignorant people en-raptured by the Iliad; the flowerof goodness springing in thehearts of those too evil even forPoker Flat. Simple, tender, poetic, ele-mental, The Outcasts of Pokerbret harte Flat is a noble AS Mr. John Oakhurst, gambler,stepped into the main street ofPoker Flat on the morning of thetwenty-third of November, 1850, hewas conscious of a change in its moralatmosphere since the preceding night. Twoor three men, conversing earnestly to-gether, ceased as he approached, and ex-changed significant glances. There was aSabbath lull in the air, which, in a settle-ment unused to Sabbath influences, lookedominous. Mr. Oakhursts calm, handsome face be-trayed small concern of these ^hether he was conscious of any predis-posing cause, was another question. Ireckon theyre after somebody, he re- 546 fleeted; likely its me. He returned to hispocket the handkerchief with which he hadbeen whipping away the red dust of PokerFlat from his neat boots, and quietly dis-charged his mind of any further point of fact. Poker Flat was aftersomebody. It had lately suffered the lossof several thousand dollars, two valuablehorses, and a prominent citizen. It wa
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