The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-10-06

l" An old Stoy." When zzs Lasteyn died O'Brien vas rendered by Raymond who had arisen from Creeley's assist ant to be his greatest rival and who was ever searching for fresh talent-a position as editorial writer on the Duiy 7fsses. The offer was accepted, but regular, con- stant work was always distasteful to O'Brien, and so very little came of the engagement. During this period he also wrote for the Home /oEysak, the Ev<a- ing Post and the WAig Revifw. In 1853 he became contributor to Haybey's [ .hagazine, and in so doing formed the leading literary connection of his life. Within the next ten years he wrote for it sixty-six articles, besides writing much for the Wteky. His most remarkable contribution to the latter was The Ode to Kane" though he also wrote for it . series of Man About Town" letter., as sprightly and dashing as those of Willis .nagassse-whose failure was to put % the fullest test all that was honorable in nature of George William Curtis-he wrote several of his best stories. He was dramatic critic of ability, and wrote several pieces for the stage, all of which were successful when first introduced and one or two of which are still acted at in- tervals. But his finest contributions to literature were the two stories, " The Dia- mond Lens" and "The Wondersmith," :" which appeared in the AHanhit .honthly in 1858 and '59. Their peculiar and marked originality wen them instant attention and raised to higher level the whole field of magazine fiction. From its inception O'Brien was contributor to Family Eaiy-whose grim humor and manner of looking upon the dark side of all events is still recalled by those who took part in the late war-and many of his finest poems appeared in its pages.
 Like many ot his companions o 'Brien's modes of composition were fitful and un- steady, for he wrote only when compelled by necessity or impelled by fancy. His biographer, NIT. Winter, has given us. in his tender and appreciative sketch of the dead, glimpse into the workings of his mind and the way in which his writings were created:
 Amid chaos or tempest he va. al- ways seeing, always thinking, always at work. Perhaps he liked best to drift in the sunshine and to make merry with genial companions but he could nerve himself to effort when the occasion de- handed, and he could execute prodigious tasks with amazing celerity. Times of indolence and times of tremendous ex- ertion checkered his life all along the whole of its course. He was not fluent writer, because he thought deeply and wrote logically, and was fas,idious in taste but his creative literary impulse was exceedingly strong, and his feelings earnest. He possessed an ample com mand of the resources of literary ar, his mind was replete with what 1t had ab- sorbed in hours of apparent idleness, and he worked with relentless purpose and absorbing zeal. In this way il chanced that he could accomplish formidable task in surprisingly short time, yet al ways deliver his work rounded and fin- ished as if with the serupulous labor of weeks"
 Another Of his companions. Stephen Fiske. has added his testimony in regard to o'Brien's literary habits: 'Brien could write nothing carelessly. His dia- monds were all polished and faceted. He never seemed 10 fnd them ;n the rough although he drew them from an appar- ently inexhaustible fountain' w. have several astonishing instances of the tasks performed by him in incredibly shor, periods of time. The Fallen Star" finished poem. was written in a single night: s" The Sewing Girl" in the lodg- ings of his friend Winter. when its author was absolutely suffering from hunger :: and one of his best stories " at odd mo- ments in the rooms of the poet Aldrioh. Al one time O'prien thought of collect ing his writings, but only prepared lit tie page and list of contents When set- ting out upon his last journey he told his friend Davis that he had in contempla- ton a great work, thought out through years of thinking which he would write when his soldering was over. Had he lived would anything have come of this :?
 Among his Bohemian" friends, though he and Clapp were open enemies, O'Brien was very popular; for his buoy- ant, animal spirits, and the real with which he enjoyed the pleasures of the passing hour, always made him the soul and life of his party. He was brilliant talker, and like all of his race, ever ready with brilliant repartee and graceful jest {; yet his sensitive, finely constituted nature, could sweep at will the whole range of human passion, from boisterous mirth to softest melancholy. His voice, wonder fully tender, and low, and sweet, thrilled all. especially his brother poet, George Arnold, who thought it "the richest. sweetest, most persuasive, of all male voices D0wer in itsalf He could read finely, and in a way tha, ever moved and swayed his listeners.
 In his treatment of the practical things of life, O'Brien was improvident and thoughtless. Left to himself. he be- came instantly reduced to half-furnished room in some dingy hotel, solitary suit of clothing, and nothing else. He was frequently without pen, bottle of ink, or sheet of paper, or money to purchase either" Though he had an aptitude of getting into debt-a thing in which he differed but little from thousands of others-he douhtless never nnada