The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-24
GRIEF DRIVES
MIRTH FROM
ALL BOHEMIA
Sudden Death of Dan
O'Connell.
POETS LIFE QUICKLY ENDED
HEART FAILURE FOLLOWED AN
ATTACK OF PNEUMONIA.
One of the Best Known and Best
Loved of California Writers,
His Was an Ideal
Existence.
POETS LIFE QUICKLY ENDED
HEART FAILURE FOLLOWED AN
ATTACK OF PNEUMONIA.

. Dan O'Connell is dead. The grim de-
stroyer yesterday with a swift, sure, I'M
expected stroke, sent woe into the hearts
of the innumerable friends of the jovial,
generous poet Waltontan and prince of
Bohemians.
: Dear old Dan" as he was lovingly
called, was one of those rare souls which
always transfused hope and sunshine into
the hearts of all who came within the
circle of his warm friendship. AS a poet,
and he was a poet, he loved nature and
his happiest moments were spent in the
sylvan shades of the SierraS.
In days gone by much OF his time was
:: devoted TO whipping the mountain
streams for trout and filing his poetic
soul with gems which he afterWard
poured forth in song.
In camp with a few kindred spirits Dan
was in his element. His appreciation of
natures beauties was sublime, but the
characteristics of his Celtic forefathers
were always. bubbling forth, and he min
gled wit with poetry while preparing the
morning or evening meal And he was a
good cook. too.
In Bohemia he was the merriest wit of
all. and with his humor ran a wealth of
. sentiment and characteristic philosophy
that bound all men to him with chains of
lasting affection.
The dead poet was man of strong in
oividuality in many respects. but one had
to know him to appreciate his worth. Elk
ternally ne was rollicking, jolly good
IeloW, with never care and not a
thought Of the morrow. He was content
like Tom Moore, to live for to-day alone
Care came to him as to all men. but he
laughed 1t to scorn' and with true Irish
philosophy drove the unwelcome visitor
from him.
only an incident. He sought not for fame,
nor for a monument, other than to be al
ways remembered and given small niche
IN friendships sanctuary AS he once said,
THE only epitaph worth having is He
was good fellow"
When the news of Dams death reached
Bohemian
of sorrow fell upon the home of the Owl.
Young men and old. who had heard the
expressive voice of the lamented poet at
many jlnks; when he read some little SEN
tiTnent of his own, felt they had lost a
brother; And those who knew him best
with choking. voice and tear moistened
eyes told of his manifold virtues Dan
O'Connell's absence from the festivals of
fun, wit and sentiment, which fill up the
pleasant hours in the Bohemian Club, will
b be regretted as long as the club shall ex-
list for his name both in and out of
ly every member of the club has some
% personal momento of dear old Dan" and
this one TO DR.. Payne. written on the back
of photograph, is truly characteristic:
ITO Theodore F. Payne:
And when the years lie upon our Shout
ders, dear friend like a heavy burden
may we, by the divine philosophy inher-
tied and acquired, laugh care to scorn,
and shake hands with the grim reaper not
asa foe. but as a friend, in our transla-
ton to. the hevaen reserved for good fell
.'February 6, 1892"
. Many of the dead poets gems were pub
'ljshed in a little volume entitled Lyrics, -
and no sweeter verse has been written by
!; any of his Western contemporaries. 'Sing
Me q Ringing Anthem" is full of earnest
ness and shows the true literary ability
of the writer. One. of his sentimental
poems is here given:
swEETHEARTs AND WIVES
If sweethearts were sweethearts always
q. Whether maid wife.
:. No drop would be half so pleasant
In the mingled draught of life.
But the sweetheart has smiles and bushes
When the wife has frowns and signs.
And the wifes have wrathful glitter
For the glow of the sweetheart's eyes.
If lovers were lovers always.
The same TO sweetheart and wife,
Who would change for future of Eden
The joys of this checkered life?
But husbands grow grave and silent,
And cares the anxious brow
Oft reDlace the sunshine that persisted
At the words of the marriage vow.
yIappy is he whose sweetheart
Is wife and sweetheart still
Whose voice, as of old. charm;
Whose kiss. as of old, can thrill.
who has plucked the rose. to find ever
It's beauty and fragrance increase,
AS the flush of passion is mellowed
In loves unmeasured peace.
Who sees in the step lightness;
Who finds in the form form al grace grace.
In the wtchery Of the face.
Undimmed and unchanged. Ali happy
Is he. crowned with such life.
Who drinks the wife, pledging the sweetheart,
And toasts in the sweetheart the wife.
Since the publication of his Lyrics
c Dan O'Connell has written many beaud