"Bohemia is nothing more than the little country in which you do not live. If you try to obtain citizenship in it, at once the court and retinue pack the royal archives and treasure and move away beyond the hills"

This quote by O. Henry records the elusive and frequently romanticized idea of Bohemia. It suggests that Bohemia is more of a frame of mind or a principle rather than a physical area you can populate. The notion of Bohemia generally refers to a lifestyle that accepts flexibility, imagination, and frequently nonconformity-- related to artists, authors, and free thinkers who reject social standards.

O. Henry metaphorically explains Bohemia as "the little nation in which you do not live", implying that it represents an idealized or unattainable location. This suggests that when individuals think about Bohemia, they are typically envisioning a place that is far-off from their daily lives-- full of flexibility, creativity, and unlimited possibilities. Nevertheless, the minute one tries to chase or get a definitive location within this 'nation,' it becomes evasive. By mentioning that "the court and retinue load the royal archives and treasure and move away beyond the hills", O. Henry is illustrating that the essence of Bohemia is short-term. It moves away just as you believe you are close to understanding it, suggesting that the pursuit of this idealized lifestyle can never genuinely be satisfied within the restrictions of truth.

This quote can likewise be interpreted as a commentary on the human propensity to glamorize various lifestyles. When people stand outside a lifestyle or culture and gaze upon it, it appears more enticing and rich with chances than it may be in practice. However, when one attempts to fully immerse themselves within it with the intent to 'own' or fully 'incorporate,' they discover that the magic they perceived from afar is more nuanced and tough to select.

O. Henry's observation speaks with the universal theme of the turf always being greener on the other side. Bohemia, like lots of dreams, always appears more genuine, vibrant, and accessible from afar than it is when subjected to the scrutiny and limitations of real life.