Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-18
nohsmfnniam.

rather-the outgrowth Of high enlighten-
e and liberal culture.
First discovered in Paris, though il was in
Greece and Egypt, ages agone, Bohemia
may be in 0taheite OF Terra del Fuego In the
coming time.
A new plant in America as yet--for all is
new here-this is fitted TO be its natural
cline, and will, one day, doubtless become
its recognized home.
The elements Of Bohemianism are here
more than anywhere else-extravagance,
independence, courage, recklessness, intens-
ity, freedom and whatever aids in the
curious composition.
What is Bo~hemianism 2
Many talk Of II, yet no one defines. It
has various meanings, and is understood by
each Bohemian according to his custom and
his character.
1t has an i'll and a good sense; is q mix.
ture, as every thing human is, Of opposites-
purity and impurity light and darkness
beauty and defOrmity; advantage and disad-
vantage.
Bohemianism, at its best, is individuality
directed to self culture; independence tenn
pered by art; charity for all weakness, suf-
fering and error reasoning toward the xes-
thetici the practicability, so far as possible,
Of idealization.
Every man and every woman with literary
or artistic tastes, who thinks and acts for
himself or herselfi who obeys the prompt
iDgs of the mind and the dictates of the
heart; who seeks to be more than to seem
who is opposed to sham and can't, is a Bohe-
milan.
With this nature and proclivity comes
what appears eccentricity, what is called
affectation; and out of it is born disposition
to extremes, a love of paradox and contra
diction; a passion for menta' warfare with
received opinion, and an ~unconquerable hos
tility to injustice in any form.
The Bohemian from his charity and indie
pendence essays to preserve a sort of balance
in the uneven scales of society; to go to the
opposite extreme from that of the commu-
nifty to dispel the absurd affectations that
hide and eventually destroy humanity.
His is a heavy task, too heavy for one NOR
tai or for few. He ever struggles; he dies
struggling, with his desire ungrati6ed, his
goal unreached.
He sets himself against society, and it
against him. In such an uneven contest it
is not hard to guess the victor.
His existence is a series Of triumphant de-
feats but his consolation is to know he has
been himself; hat he has never repeated
echoes never been guilty of the only inf
delity-the denial of his own belief.
Bohemians are there, and many, who add
weaknesses and defects innumerable to their
account, who regard dissipation and debt and
de%bauchery as indispensable to their class.
No true Bohemian makes pretension to
moralityj that would be the can't the phari-
seeism he 80 detests.
He has faults, and he knows it; he Is not
ethically over. fastidious, but he does not
seek vices or boast of them.
He may be, and is generally, a moderate
worshiper at Bacchus and Venus's shrines,
is addicted to late hours, convivial occasions;
has certain Irregularities is more generous
than he can afford; frequently embarrassed
but means well, and is well, therefore.
If a Bohemian, now and then, become ex-
hilarated with wine; love some woman
through sympathy, but without the worlds
sanction; live beyond his means; express a
great heresy; offend stupid responsibility, or
entertain so-considered romantic views of
life-it is purely his own affair, we opine.
If he err, he wrongs himself and those
that belong to him, not the million others
who would not give a farthing for his souls
salvation. H.f.
The Bohemians, with all their faults, do
actual good, though they gain no reward.
They are in advance of their time, usually,
and denunciation often follows their kindest
and purest act. They will not conform, and
hence are they socially damned.
Society avenges itself on them by mis-
representing them while living, and abusing
them when dead.
Well, what care theyP They were reck
less when they dragged existence after them,
as the convict his ball and chain. When
they are happy in unconscious clay, surely
LDey are not troubled.
Every true Bohemian has a mission; it is
his nature and his fate to be just what he is;
and truly is it no fortunate destiny. Saturn
was above him at his genesis, and no breeze
from Hybla blew into his infant soul.
He is a kind of martyr to public opinion,
which is never his, and his crime is that he
will not look through the distorted lorgnette
of prejudice and passion.
He appears extremely odd because he is
extremely sincere, and always affected be-
cause always natural.
A few respect, honor, cherish him, it may
be; but they are not those who rave place
or power, and he goes, therefore, unsuccess-
full through the world.
People may praise him for his criticism,
bis epigram, his poem, his lecture, his pic
ture, his bust, his last bon.mot, or his first
success in a new field; but when he is
wretched, penuiless, sick, dying, he finds his
friends have crossed the sea.
Dead, he may command some honor; for
TO Death a certain Difference is paid-per-
hsps persons are kind then because they
know their kindness is of no avail. His
funeral then may be well attended, and re-
gretS expressed, and even tears shed that
never welled out of the heart.
Light, merry, rollicksome Bohemian as thou
seemest, darkness, seriousness aud sorrow
lie often beneath the surface and the close
observer often sees the serpent's head be
tween the Haunting flowers.
Thou Rivest others comfort and charity
when thou art myself beggared. At the
opera or the theater, in the saloon or the
drawing. room, pictures of the past and
future shadow the cleaning of the hour.
Think not of that. Drain the wine-cup to
beauty, and echo back the laugh though it
choke thee.
Turn away suddenly from that picture that