The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-15
A True Bohemian.

They are perfect Bohemians. I Away:
say! But why do you smile in that po
fitely contradictory way?" asked Mrs
Brown as she and several others were dis
cussing mutual friends over their after
noon tea in Mrs. Grey's drawing-room.
Because have a little idea OF my owl
about the Days. I think they merely
play the part, and are not genuine arti
cles.'
They play it pretty well, then" de-
clared Miss Leigh as she slowly slipped
| her tea Don't you think so. Mr.. Oar
mg?" turning TO the only man present
Now with whom am 1 to agree?
laughed Mr.. Daring. 1T would not be
polite to take sides in the discussion
would it?''
20, nonsense," said the hostess. 1--WE
are not sensitive. Let US by all means
analyZe the Days Bohemianisn. Proba-
! bly, our ideas differ materially in regard
TO Bohemians, and none of US would agree
| precisely as TO what ingredients go tc
make or mar this new fad"
! New fadi Why, Bohemianism is not
| new" insisted the first speaker.
Not new" replied Mr.. Daring. "but
1 agree with Mrs. Grey; it is new in the
way we have taken it up. Won't you
begin. Mrs. Brown"
The Days carry out my idea of the
character. They are people who Ike
outre things who adore artists and mu-
slclans. VINO always get hold of the lat
est oddly in the way of a stranger, who
are seen at studio teas and charcoal club
entertainments, whose wunctions are in
variably different from the conventional.
VINO have catchy expressions about art on
their tongues end, VINO forever have a
chaf1ng dish upon their table, and whose
mouse reeks with cigar smoke"
You certainly have described our
friends to IT," remarked Mrs Grey,
and you should add that one is always
urged to smoke, particularly in the draw
ing-room; that books and papers are scat
tered galore in what one tries TO think
IS picturesque confusion, while Mrs. Day
insists that she adores smoking, and yet
by no chance have even the most curious
seen her indulge in it more than to light
a pert-looking cigaret, and allow it to go
right out"
You are both telling in your descrip-
TONS" declared Mr.. Daring. 81 see in
my minds eye the Days home and sur
roundfngs. although as yet have never
entered those sacred precincts
You are deemed too conservative,
probably" suggested Miss Leigh, but
now, Mrs. Grey, as Mrs. Brown has given
her ideas of Bohemians, won't you tell
yours?'
'Ah!' answered the hostess, my ideas
fear are not prepossessing, for l confess
in my se&et soul that am fearfully old
fashioned and conventional, and therefore
have little admiration for true Bohemi-
ans, who, I am sure, never pay their
debts; are not addicted to bathing; live
on their wits, or upon other people; have
a lordly contempt for what a day may
bring forth, are spendthHftS when money
comes to them, and equally so when they
can obtain credit. My idea is that they
are selfish, caring for those only who can
amuse them; are clever, perhaps, and en-
pertaining at times, but never to be Gull
tivated extensively, unless one can af-
ford to be dfsillusionized'
20, dear, how sweeping commented
Mrs. Brown 81 never imagined you were
So"
$50 conservative-did you, dear? We'll,
never mind: one must have a few bal
ance wheels in society or it would plunge
too deeply into new paths. But Mary"
turning to Miss Leigh, sit is your turn
now"
Il am afraid my thoughts of Bohemi-
ans are romantic. I like to imagine them
as artists, musicians, literary characters,
those whose works are not always appre-
ciated, and who have TO strive and some
times even scheme TO get on, but who.
through it all, are hail fellows-well-met
happy-go-lucky, charming companions,
caring only to be amused, and never to
be materially AIDED
And always eating from a chatting
dish, " insisted Mrs. Grey; you must not
forget that"
And living in a funny little fiat. hung
with Oriental draperies. queer conceits
of armOr, japanese swords and mediae-
val pictures; only those things out of your
pretty SKETCH" insisted Mr.. Daring.
No" Laughed Miss Leigh. But what
does Mr.. Daring think?"
''Oh! l think that you are all right"
How potter exclaimed the listeners.
And all wrong, too.' he added smiling.
Mrs. Grey is correct, however, entirely
so indeed, about the Days. They are not
genuine Bohemians, for Notwithstanding
their devotion to chafi1g dish cooking
and smoky atmosphere. they have a de-
cidedly practical vein, and besides they
always pay their bills, and are most trust
worthy members of the community"
There! That IS virtually an admission
that bona-fide Bohemsns are not" mIr-