year's literary output. Harte's star was, briefly, in the ascendant.

However, Harte had accumulated a number of debts, and his editorial
policies, excellent in themselves, but undiplomatically executed, were
the cause of a series of arguments with the publisher of the OVERLAND
MONTHLY. Fairly assured of profitable pickings in the East, he
left California (permanently, as it proved). The East, however, was
financially unappreciative. Harte wrote an unsuccessful novel and
collaborated with Mark Twain on an unremunerative play. His attempts
to increase his income by lecturing were even less rewarding. From
his departure from California in 1872 to his death thirty years later,
Harte's struggles to regain financial stability were unremitting: and
to these efforts is due the relinquishment of his early ideal of "a
peculiarly characteristic Western American literature." Henceforth Harte
accepted, as Prof. Hicks remarks, "the role of entertainer, and as an
entertainer he survived for thirty years his death as an artist."

The final period extends from 1878, when he managed to get himself
appointed consul to Crefeld in Germany, to 1902, when he died of a
throat cancer. He left for Crefeld without his wife or son--perhaps
intending, as his letters indicate, to call them to him when
circumstances allowed; but save for a few years prior to his death, the
separation, for whatever complex of reasons, remained permanent. Harte,
however, continued to provide for them as liberally as he was able. In
Crefeld Harte wrote A LEGEND OF SAMMERSTANDT, VIEWS FROM A GERMAN SPION,
and UNSER KARL. In 1880 he transferred to the more lucrative consulship
of Glasgow, and ROBIN GRAY, a tale of Scottish life, is the product of
his stay there. In 1885 he was dismissed from his consulship, probably
for political reasons, though neglect of duty was charged against him.
He removed to London where he remained, for most part, until his death.