A Bygone Bohemia

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Bibliographic Information

Rawson, A. L. "A Bygone Bohemia." Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly. 1896. 96-107.

Type: Magazine ; Genre: essay, history, biography

Abstract

Nostalgic recollections about both the Pfaffians and the coterie of bohemians who gathered at Ada Clare's 42nd St. apartment as well as, in some cases, Pfaff's itself.

People Mentioned in this Work

Andrews, Stephen Pearl [pages: 103]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians. He is identified as an "advocate of Free Love, Alwato, the proposed universal language, or the Volapük of that day, and author of the 'Basic Outline of Universology,' and by general consent Pantarch of the Universe. He said Ada was a spark from the divine fire, the over soul" (103).
Arnold, George [pages: 97,101,103,106,108]
Ballard, Anna [pages: 104]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians. She accompanied Clare to Cuba (104).
Benton, Joel [pages: 103]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians.
Benton, Myron Beecher [pages: 103]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians.
Brisbane, Albert [pages: 103, 105]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians. He is identified as "the apostle of Fourierism in America, and later the inventor of the proposed tubular railway, or hollow ball way" (103). He ran a commune in Strawberry Farms, New Jersey, that George Arnold was also a part of (105).
Clapp, Henry Jr. [pages: 97-100]
Clare, Ada [pages: 101-103]: Referred to Clare as the “queen” of the Bohemian circle at Pfaff’s, Rawson describes the coterie that Clare gathered at her home in Forty-Second Street. In contrast to Henry Clapp’s “evil influences of pipe, beer, cynic jokes,” Clare provided a congenial atmosphere for the Pfaffians during her Sunday night receptions. Rawson ascribes to Clare a pivotal in maintaining the Bohemian society during this time: “Ada Clare was magnetic in addition to her mental brightness and store of maternal treasures inherited from her family, and with her wealth and beauty she attracted the higher grades of men and women.”(103)
de Gurowski, Adam Count [pages: 103, 105]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians. He is identified as a "Polish author and revolutionist" (103) who was a visitor to Pfaff's (105).
Deland, Annie [pages: 105]
Dodge, Ossian Euclid [pages: 103]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians.He is identified as "the humorist" (103).
Elliott, Charles Loring [pages: 103]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians. He was a "portrait painter" (103).
Fry, William Henry [pages: 103]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians. He is identified as an "operatic composer."
Gardette, Charles Desmarais [pages: 103]: Identified by Rawson as an occasional visitor.
Gay, Getty [pages: 103]
Gayler, Charles [pages: 103]
Goldbeck, Mary Freeman [pages: 103]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians. Rawson describes her as "...Mary Freeman, who was later Mrs. Goldbeck, a genius in water-color miniatures."
Halpine, Charles Graham [pages: 103]
House, Edward Howard [pages: 103, 107]
Howells, William Dean [pages: 99]: Howells is not specifically mentioned by name, but it is clear from the context of the essay that he is being referred to by Rawson.
Howland, Edward [pages: 107]
Lester, Charles Edwards [pages: 106]
Ludlow, Fitz Hugh [pages: 103]
Masset, Benjamin [pages: 101, 103]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians.
McWatters, George S. [pages: 107]
Menken, Adah Isaacs [pages: 103]
Nasby, Petroleum V. [pages: 99]: There is an illustration in Rawson of Josh Billings, Mark Twain, and Petroleum V. Nasby, where the three men are identified as "Three American humorists, in the Pfaffian Days" (99).
Neill, Harry [pages: 101, 103]: Rawson spells his name"'Harry' Neill" (103).
North, William [pages: 103]
O'Brien, Fitz-James [pages: 103, 105]
Oscanyan, Christopher Bey [pages: 103]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians. He is identified as a "once Turkish consul general" (103).
Page, William [pages: 103]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians. He is identified as "the artist" (103).
Pfaff, Charles Ignatius [pages: 97]
Ruggles, Edward Dr. [pages: 103]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians. He is a "gem painter" (103).
Schwartz [pages: 103]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians. He is called an "engineer and rival of Ericsson" (103).
Seymour, Charles Bailey [pages: 103]: A member of Clare 's coterie of Bohemians.
Shanly (Shanley), Charles Dawson [pages: 100]
Shaw, Dora [pages: 104]
Shaw, Henry Wheeler: There is an illustration in Rawson of Josh Billings, Mark Twain, and Petroleum V. Nasby, where the three men are identified as "Three American humorists, in the Pfaffian Days" (99).
Shepherd, Nathaniel Graham [pages: 103]
Thompson, Launt [pages: 103]: Launt is identified by Rawson as a "sculptor" (103).
Thomson, Mortimer [pages: 100]
Twain, Mark [pages: 99]: There is an illustration in Rawson of Josh Billings, Mark Twain, and Petroleum V. Nasby, where the three men are identified as "Three American humorists, in the Pfaffian Days" (99).
Ward, Artemus [pages: 101,103,107]
West 42nd St. Coterie
Whitman, Walt [pages: 100,103,106]: The author mentions Whitman's visits to Pfaff's (106).
Wilkins, Edward G. P. [pages: 101,103]
Winter, William [pages: 101,103,106]
Wood, Frank [pages: 103]