The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-02-24

any longer. It's name is so cheapened
that tho very mention OF it has ring
of sham sentiment and sham mirth;
even it's tried gold has been so lacquered
that it looks like pincbbeck. But there
was Bohemia worth knowing even SO
late as Ronald Marsh's day, and the
great Young man sometimes strayed
into it, and tried to feel as if he were
native there.
There was, and is, a dingy back room
in one of the Oldest houses in the Strand,
a mere box of an apartment, IN
which, by crowding themselves i'm
comfortably, ten men of average breadth
of beam can sit around the clumsy CEN
ter-table. Half one side of the room is
occupied by window, but the smoke
incrusted wall of 3 ,neighboring build
ing rises within two yards of it, and
gruesome twilight reigns within the
apartment even at noontide. There,
once q week, in the days of which l
write, spectral-looking figures sat and
held high converse on books and pict-
ures and the drama, and on the men
and women who wrote, or painted, or
played. The air was heavy with tobac-
co-smoke and the scent OF strong pota-
blcs, and q new conner, entering from
the fresher air OF the Strand, had some
ado to make out the inmates OF the
room. The spectral nine welcomed the
poet with grave voices, and wedged
themselves closer to make room for
him. The Leader took his seat with an
air of modesty, and the spectral nine
began to chatf him.
II am sorry to tell you, Mr.. Marsh"
| said one speaking from the cbudlest
corner. " that the petition yet awaits q
signature.
1"What petition?" asked the poet, re-
moving his sombrero, and passing a
hand of unusual wilderness through his
auburn locks.
/" The petition responded the other,
bending forward to be more impressive,
and waving the smoke aside with one
hand" 81 gned by the crowned heads
of Europe, the Pope of Rome and the
English Archbishops, and now awaiting
the signature of the Metropolitan of the
| Greek Church Mt Moscow
81 do not read the newspapers, 81 said
the poet, daintily lighting q cigar.
"What is the object of the petition?'
"Gentlemen!'' cried the man in the
corner, II appeal to you: +" Is it not
unfair for Mr.. Marsh to feign Ignorance
on such o topica"
Unfair in the extreme" said eight
solemn voices. Disingenuous, one
added, when the grave murmurs had
died away. They all echoed" Dis
ingenious.
"Thc distinguished personages al
ready enumerated" said the man in
The corner, " address their petition to
you, sir, and entfeat you not to smash
things They dread the advent Of your
coming volume. They beseech you to
spare the Christian faith, and to al
low monarchical institutions final
chance"
The poet smiled. and caressed his
shavcn check with the tips of his
fingers. Many Il true word is spoken
in jest, and the man in the corner was
nearer the mark than he fancied.
"lf the prayers of the great can not
move you,n pursued the man in the
corner, "you are man, for you are a
poet-the greater includes the less
and you may be moved by the petit
tons OF the lowly. | have maiden
aunt, harmless creature, who resides
hard by, and clear starches for 4
Bishop. If you destroy the Church
you take away her means of livelihood.
Smite the lofty. if you will, but spare
the humble. Spare my maiden aunt y
All the solemn voices murmured, led
by man in another corner: "Spare,
oh, spare his maiden auntn'
"a special fund shall be set apart
out of the publishers profits said the
poet, land your maiden aunt shall be
provided for.''
"He unbends," said one. I" He L
human after all. He can gleek upon
occasion, like the Athenian weaver
''Let us take him into our collective
BOSOM" said the man in the corner
"Let us stand him drinks. Lorr;mer
when the glad child of the sun broke in
upon us You were in possession OF the
ear of the house. Continue. Poet. be
silent A harp less varied than thine
own awakes in praise of beauty"
Gentlemen, "'said Mr. Lorrimer. who
beamed rubicund and jovial through the
smoke, "she is a sumner! | do moi
speak unadvisedly or as one who has nc
knowledge. II was / who folnd her.
She has the grace of Venus and the
voice and figure of what's-his-name
/ have no prctense to classical attain
ments, gentlemen, and I wish that on,
gifted young friend could describe hel
for me-
"We shall judge for ourselves wher
she makes her debut" said the man il
the corner. But, in the meantime
who is she9 Where does she come
from?n
"You shall know all know sale
Mr.. Lorrimer, with a superhuous ap
pearance of candor. Burnley ha
bought bit of fishing at place called
Hickey, down in Berkshire, Little bi
of place, with little bit of theater
and the worst company l eaer saw
Burnley asked me down, and, of course
with nothing doing at the end of May
down went. Went to the theater frs
night. Play was. 'As You Like It A.
I l liked it, it was the most fearful rub
bish ever staged. Even Shakespeare
couldn't live through that interpreted
ton. But, begad, gentlemen, in walk!
Rosalind, and l thought must b.
dreaming. Such figure, such voice
such q stage presence, such a style
Face not particularly pretty, but swee
and expressive, and all that sort O
thing. Made me laugh, begad; made
me cry; did what she wanted with me