The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-17

contributor to it, and during its four years of publication he wrote several hundred pieces for 1t, illustrating nearly all of them with pen and ink sketches. Next to Artemus Ward, he was the most original and popular writer for that most brilliant of humorous journals. For .Hys. GrHndy, during it's short life in 1865. he wrote constantly. His best efforts as humorous writer were the "McArone Letters,r most of which appeared in
 Iianify Faiy. We shall speak of them more fully in another place.
 Like most of his fellow Bohemians. Arnold coured the literary muse to win hls daily bread, and was thus compelled to join the oallings of journalist and poet l; and this he did with marked success. He was prolific writer, and while, as might be expected, he often gave to the world things tha, were only of passing worth. he wrote much that will live. One of his prevailing characteristics, trait seldom found in men who live by the pen, was the slight value he put on literary rep utA,ion and the indifferenee he showed in regard to his own. His writings, though finished with care, were no sooner out of his hands than they were forgotten and neglected by their author. George Arnold was the most lovable and the bes, loved and those who knew him best loved him most. @He had a smile" !" said one who knew him more than we'll, ''and kind word for every good fellow. His large humanity was quick to find excuse for the errors of others. He could throw himself with hearty zest into the pleasures of the passing hour; and thus wherever he went he attracted friends. Among men of letters his presence was sunshine His temperament was gentle and cheerful and made more attractive ! by the subdued vein of sadness that per vaded all which he did and said. To those who only know him by his writings the personality of Arnold seems to take on much of the mellow richness of ,he season which he loved so we'll. One cannot think of him as a young man. but rather as one who even in boyhood took on the softness and ripeness which are usually associated with age. Compelled by his own exe.tions to win his daily bread, he had adopted the aveeation of | writer. and labored honorably ard faith fully to W n livelihood. Never receiy- ing more than a comfortable competence
 he always suited his tastes to his purse and lived plainly. but comfortably His every action was governed by the highes, ideas in regard to honesty and integrity :: with him his word was a solemn com pact which he never violated. At one time during his career he was fond of assuming an air of heartlessness ard of viewing the deeds of others with the eye of cynic; but this cloak always fitted him badly, aud during his las, years he thre. ii off entirely. He hated cant, hypocrisy and decei,fulness, ard Ge- manly amJ outspoken as himself Ar hold belonged to the very small class of wha, may be called hDe men. and his de- termination to always act himself cx- plains much that would otherwise seem strange and cratic.
 George Arnold's career as Bohemian was the mes, melancholy and much to be regretted period of his life. We are told that when very young man his affcc- tions received a severe blow from which they never recovered. This may explain why he sough, the comp.nionship of those who were always witty and gay and who loved the flowing bowl and the mid nigh, revelry more than was for his own good. The life of Bohemi.n, while in q very few things IL was an advantage to the poet, |, was, taken all Tn all, severe loss 10 George Arnold and to the world. His was a temperament and his genius that needed for different surroundings and for different influences 10 reach its fulles, maturity and bring forth its choicest fruit. A life tha, Is plain, ele- vated and pure, combined with high thinking and length of years. are what arc needed to make a great poet. How dtferen, was the case with Arnold. The sp,ri, of Bohemianism never ceased to exercise over his mind an unhealthy in iiucnce that was damaging Tn the ex- trcme. The poet labored under great disadvantage. whose ideas of pure and noble womanhood were drawn from con- panionship with such women as poor Matilda Heron or unfortunate Ada Clare The poet u. nature needed constant asso- cIatton with those scenes which above all oihers.hc loved best 10 describe-intlma,e kno. ledge of the choicest thoughts of all ages and thorough acquaintance with
 ne sishes, and best standards of the po- eic arr. and companionship with those ~ho were IS pure and gentle as in hs inne; nature was he himself Could these things have been given him, and with them length of life, America mish, have listened to a poet of Nature that would have challenged comparison even with Wordsworth. But il is useless Ia speculate upon possibilities, whics. in the relentless workings cf Fate never could have been such. Sure se are that New York, w.th its vsnroaness. the man. fold temptations that crowd around the brilliant and gay and allure them from the path ot duty, its increasing rush and roar, its never ending hurry and hustle. proved death t,igh, upon the genius of true poet. And Il Is more than proba- ble that the excesses indulged in bps the Bohemians did more than all else to has ten Arneld's early death. The early months of 1865 were very sad ones to the poet, hu, they were full of promise. The war had scattered his companions far l.--