The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-04-14
For ffs .4ykar5dae Tysteiey. THE BOHEMIANS."
William Winter Ills Life and Writings
 in Prose and Verse.
rY RUFUS R. WILSON.

n kIt1 ' R hiiSON
 In looking over the names of those who d, the present day compose Amer lca's minor minstrelsy. we are attracted ,o one in particular William Winter one of those lesser minstrels, who make up in beauty and sweetness what the lack Tn volume and force, and the ablest and best known of any of the little eoterie who used to gather around Harry Ciapp. It Pfa:f' $ cave. Tn New York 4 New Englander by birth. and born Ill iSs6. his youth was spent in and about Eus- ton. where he graduated at the Harvard law school. but following the naiural ben, of his genius. finally chose the call ing of ! journals; and man of letters Though he lived m one oi the most cul- ;ured and ee.ser, alive of cities. his rare and versatile mental gifts brought him ai m early age before the public. He became 'he companion ard eploye. the counsel inss oi noted authors. like Holmes and other, and oi Long fellow. III particular. MO early became warm friend to the younger poet. ani >o continued uni.l h.. -!ea.a. About ls5g. Winter dulled to Nes Neft. and at enCe became a clever soIkes sol tae metropolitan IT press. He aa5 already made the acquaintance oi Ft,- Iames o'linen, and Il was no; long 0et5ge he became one of the little band, whose center MAS Harry Clapp. and 0: whor! se much that was silly. false. and malicious. has been written. The New York ltohemians." as they are loosely and of;en wrongly called. were men who had d.iieren; lives. and possessed far diff
 
 would have Us believe. When Winter came among them was the season ofthe hsh, hear, and the leaning flagon. when he chimes are heard al midnight. and he bloom Is ea ,ae rye. l; Is true ina; he gay. and. !, times. too reckless life which they lead. was in many things in- iariouS, bui the stimulus to composition which the clash of gifted intellect gave, cann c; oe sainsaid. This was the most brilliant and fertile period oi the young poets fife; and i, was al this time that he !irs, 2,ira cted the attention of the general ! public His most notable contribution io the literature Of the " Bohemians. and, on ihis account. the most striking poem that eser came from his pen, IS " OIsia. Who has TO, read these ring- ins aal fiery, though gloomy. lines, without feeling all that was Bohemian in hls nature thrill and throb into life Who etres tsr rolhing alone IS free Su, doAa, good ,elio~, and drink wlth me, With a eagcles, heart and . merry eve. He laughs al the W os.d as the world goes by. He laughs !, power. and ~crlth. and fame He laughs al virIue. he laughs aI shame;  He laughs s, hope and he laughs a, fear; Al memory dead caves, crisp and scrc. He langhs al ihe future cold and dim Nor earth nor Heaven Is dear to him. o. ,ha, is comrade fl for me
 He cares for nothing, his soul IS free. Free as the soul of the fragran, wine Su down good ieile" my hear, IS i.ne. For heed not custom. creed TOT las care for nothing that ever sa~. In every civ n,y cups qaaa
 And over ;he ot4alIee rot aa! iaugh | laugh Ike the cruel aal ,arbs.lea, wave laugh a,ihe church and ia.-st d; iac grave. Ilaugh a, joy, and ael, know
 That fnerTay. nefT'ly, laugh ai woe
 
 And he cares for nothing. htng Is hc-- Come on. old fellow. and dFiRk with me W,th you will drink 10 the solemn past. Though the cup dram shall be my ias;. 1 will drink to the phantoms of love and truth 1, To ruined hopes and wasted youth. l will drink 10 the woman who wtoagh, my
 woe,
 In the diamond morning Of long ago. l will drink 10 the thought of better time To innocence gone. like death-bcll chime l will drink 10 the shadow of coming doom To the phantoms that wait in my lonely tomb. Twill drink to my soul, in its terrible mood. Dimly and soicmniy understood.
 And. last of all, 10 the monarch Of sin. Who conquered that palace and reigns within. My sight is fading-it dies away
 ! cannot tell IS t night or day.
 Through awful ehasms I plunge and fall-
 '.Orgia " should be read again and again. As we read it, we can almost see