New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-25

ctr ldo that no man can take without know.
ing the keen misery OF mourning over q
wasted life.
Pfaf's was Lothing more than German
beer saloon of the better kind, but it was
the common resort of the New York Bo
hemians. Putting pipes and drinking beer
there, were often found men, and women,
too, without pipes, who had fame in other
places, among them Fitz James O'Brien,
George Arnold, E. G. Wilkins, Miles
O'Rielley Halpin, Artemus Ward, with
artists and actors like George Jordan and
Dolly Davenport, all of whom have gone to
their long home.
With these male members of literary Bo
hemianism we're associated in mutual ad-
miratiOn few women who have been heard
from outside of New York. Ada Clare was
the most prominent of this branch of no
bility, and they called her the Queen of
Bohemia. She had beauty, was an author
ess, actress, and finally died last spring of
hydrophobia from the bite of a pet dog, her
best friend. Adah lsaacs Menken, who was
born in New Orleans and died at Paris
living half q life, was of the same set. Her
life, like her book, was "Infelicia." 1t was
sunshiney and shadowy. a broken poem.
We read now that her remains are to be
removed from the cemetery in France where
they have rested for five years. Five years
was the time bargained tor with the custo.
dams of the dead in which the remains
could have Christian sepulchre. A
few Christians will ask, "What harm
can be done by the dust of the
poor Menken' Very. Many more will
care nothing about it. The inscription on
her tomb is of her own device. 1t is as if
she acknowledged the failure of her life, as
If she appealed to something above the
friendships of men and women, which did
not outlast the health and beauty of her on
whom it was bestowed; ON the little marble
slab is cut in relief the figure of hand
pointing upwards. and the words beneath
the hand come like a wall from an over
charged and and disappointed soul. They
are the summing up of a case which has
been argued by good and bad deeds, and
submitted to the Court of highest appeal in
the words written on marble, "Thou know
est"
The name of Dora Shaw has been men.
toned IN connection with the Bohemians
She Is we'll known here as one who did not
write Beautiful Snow" and once made
poor appearance at the Varieties Theatre.
She died about two years SINCE Others
there are who became infatuated but un.
tainted with Bohemian life. Of these are
Mary Hewins Burnham, who once married
George L. Fox, and who still sparkles in
New York correspondence. William Win.
ter, OF the Tribune, was claimed BY the
Pfaff people, but he had the foundation for
habits which led him through the life of
carelessness into better things.
The last Of the Bohemians was seen in
the remnants of Henry Clapp, and the tribe
existing in New York within two decades
last past is now extinct. Such people in
great numbers could only live in a cosmo.
politan city, such as they did live in. They
have gone, and it is better so. Literature
will thrive as we'll, and not miss the lopped
OF branches. Besides, journalism and press
writing is found to be done best by the best
men. 1t has been found that newspaper
man can be, and be judged, as other men,
and live like them, neither in a cellar or
garnet. Writing is something more than
acting. The clown drops humor with his |
motley suit; it was not his. and he is glad to |
be rid OF it. But the writer must needs |
write something of his life into his ESSAYS.
He should have good life. The most
mantle can not cover the
vices of the Bohemians. They were
talented, but that made their loose |
deeds still worse, and these they
endeavored to gid and call freedom The |
Woodruff once asked General Butler how
she could protect her character from SIAN
der, and the General said: "Character, |
madam you never will be happy until you
lose your character" 1t was so with many
Of the Bohemians. They courted noto.
riety which killed their usefulness when
achieved. A new set of workers are grow
ng up; if they are lees brilliant they will
cave better fruit; and on the young men is
centred the hope OF journalism. The b.
lemians of the Pfaf class will soon be
orgotten but while they are remembered
he remembrances will only be laden with
thoughts embraced by kindness for the
kindness which was in them, and sadness
or their unhappiness.