New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-10

'> II W
once said TO him that Il was easy 10 write like &
mcdman Clarke replied. mo. sir; 1t Is not easy
70 write like madnan, but It is very easy to
write like a fool
Clarke was induced to come 10 NewYorI By Fi.x.
Greene Halleck who made him familiar In an ex-
trnvaganza. "The Discarded" ard who OF all others
onnrociated him and was one Of his warmest ard
stanchest friends. A Bohemian OF Pohemlans he
soon attracted he notice OF the coterie OF literary
men who made up the Bohemia Of that day. His
unloubtcd ability and genial nature made him
fayorite though the critics were severe There 10
no doubt that his life was partially bighted by an
early love affair.
Petween the years 1919 and 1871 he composed ana
gave to the world most of his poetical eifusions.
many OF them through the newspapers but me
larger part in book form. The latter were se7erh
times published, but are now very rare ana ex-
pensve The most important were ReVlew OK
the Eve OF Eternity" 1920; THE Elixir OF Noon
shine" 1922; THE Gossip Laugh with the
Ladies' a Grin with the Gentlemen" 1924; Poetic
Sketches" 1926: "Afaca or the Bellies OF BROAD
way" 1879; Death in Disguise temperance
poem 1888 poems, 1886. and "A Cross and
Coronet" his last effusion. in ISL. clarke oi'sn
wrote in a very dashing. erratic style and was oc-
caslonally sarcastic and severe in his retorts
Generally his poems wete written in a genial vein
or with a view not infrequently OF pleasing the
eentler SEX This was his weak side, and from
lncautious personal illusions TO ladies' whom no
admired he occasionally got himself into trouble
He loved pretty women with poets ieeihs
Now twilight lets her curtain DOWN
And pins 1t with star
Sometimes given
Whilst twilights curtain gathering far
Is pinned with single diamond star
:, ne one quotation that saves the name OF MaeDon'
aid Clarke from oblivion. All the bellies and topics
slehr ed his poems. he cOulu
he humorous sentimental and indignant In RAPID
succession as his writings show Tnere Is d VEN
of tenderness pervsding all their grotesquehess anu
irregularity and they contain many touches ot
delicate human sensibilty His ODDITIES "ere al
amiable: he had no vices and was always IN MS
way a gentleman He was rather vain OF MS
annearance as well he might be. for he was de-
cidedly a handsome man. He walked erect having
a military air. and with measured gait ana seemeu
as willing to be observed OF others as he was 10 Cd
serve them. a.,
Mary Augusta Brrndridge. a poor actress on the
boards of the Park Theatre, was induced TO marry
Clarke upon the representation that he was worth
$4,000 The marriage took place on the loth OF Juiy'
1871 and was dissolved the following March. "hen
Clarke became so destitute that he hardly KNEW
where his next meal would come FROM the actress
took pity on him and stealthily supplied him with
food and money This kind office also per-
formed by Halleck of whom Clarke said: i would
rather have kind word from that nobleman Fitz-
Greene Halleck than from an emperor
In 1910 Haleck was living in Warren-st. where
he was often in the habit of having Clarke happen
IN, To breakfast with him. one morning Clarke
awoke 10 find himself penniless, and, though very
hungry having prospect OF meal AT loss
what 70 do he was passing Hallecks door when
the poet called him In and gave him two-doiiar'
and la half gold piece. on his way to the Astor
House he CHANGED TO meet a street musician VINO
was playing Mary Of Argyle" an old ballad Of
fond
strains of music Clarke gave the man the only
coin he had the gold piece given him by Haleck.
who had happened 10 witness the whole aHair.
Clarke In speaking OF It, said: Il ran one way 10
get rid OF Halieck, and the fiddler ran the other
way to get rid of me- thinking had given him
the coin by mistake" This Is only instance
OF the happygo-ucky way in which the mad poet
lived.
He possessed a finely shaped head. 'and the gem
eral contour of his features was regular, and tho
expression Of his cOuntenance mild ana agreeao'e.
lie generally wore placid. benignant smile pu'
sometimes appeared to be absorbed In deep thought
evidently not having his mind upon the moving
,hrong and changing scenes around him HIS
rai,nent was what would be termed SHABBY
genteel" but there was something magnetic ABOUT
the man which especially excited interes; in his
behalf His unbuttoned "Byronic" shirt collar
looked peculiarly odd when contrlsted with the
trim attire OF the majority Of his fellows He
loungsd about the street. assuming an distracted
ai- with his gaze fixed upon the pavement as II
weighed down by some poignant sorrow When
audiby addressed BY an acquaintance ne returned
the salute as IL suddenly aroused from deep
s,een and after faint smile OF recognition. would
relansa into his accustomed brown study How
does he llye?" Was often the question OF SYM
n,.hatic women Would the unfortunate gentle
man accent of some gratuty? was not unfre-
ouently added as the melancholy genius was on
his accustomed tramp. inteatly seeking Tor some
thing he WAS never to find on earth. Macdonald
Clarke never suffered for food while there was
ANYTHING in Windust's storeroom. neither dd no
lack few shngs to sg Win the ms rensrous ser
whose motto Let us live by the way included
the mad poet within Its range ~. -
was never heavy, and there is bit OF pathos IN
the entry HAD to pawn my diamond ring one
slit OF a LADY,. and so tick at Delmon:cos TOT
We was a regular attendant at the theatre. and
Grace Church one who knew him well has said
that a k!ndlier more lovab!e man never ivea, put
had only , to s a h once 70
sse nsss 6} Sfnas @'T S3 Clarke @
taken to the city jail b. a policeman and put IN .
ces The darkness OF despair must heve come
him hsrs and the Poet anes and oo4sd
the room for the next morning he was found
dead in pool OF water smile upon nls 'dr n one ne
81 the most beautiful spots In Greenwood cemetery,
overlooking sylvan Lake he was n ia 70 rsss
Halleck and few other friends
teacher OF the class in the Waits Mission Sunday.
school felt confident that he had made an IMPRESSION
u" And now. Mike" he said. adapting his style Of
talk to the vocabulary of the class. what 5ort OK
"Dcad ones ANSWERED snub-Ncsed Mike. SOL