"There's no betther place to see what's goin' on thin the Ar-rchey Road," says Mr. Dooley. "Whin th' ilicthric cars is hummin' down th' sthreet an' th' blast goin' sthrong at th' mills, th' noise is that gr-reat ye can't think."
He is opulent in good advice, as becomes a man of his station; for he has mastered most of the obstacles in a business career, and by leading a prudent and temperate life has established himself so well that he owns his own house and furniture, and is only slightly behind on his license. It would be indelicate to give statistics as to his age. Mr. Hennessy says he was a "grown man whin th' pikes was out in forty-eight, an' I was hedge-high, an' I'm near fifty-five." Mr. Dooley says Mr. Hennessy is eighty. He closes discussion on his own age with the remark, "I'm old enough to know betther." He has served his country with distinction. His conduct of the important office of captain of his precinct (1873-75) was highly commended, and there was some talk of nominating him for alderman. At the expiration of his term he was personally thanked by the Hon. M. McGee, at one time a member of the central committee. But the activity of public life was unsuited to a man of Mr. Dooley's tastes; and, while he continues to view the political situation always with interest and sometimes with alarm, he has resolutely declined to leave the bar for the forum. His early experience gave him wisdom in discussing public affairs. "Politics," he says, "ain't bean bag. 'Tis a man's game; an' women, childher, an' pro-hybitionists'd do well to keep out iv it." Again he remarks, "As Shakespeare says, 'Ol' men f'r th' council, young men f'r th' ward.'"
An attempt has been made in this book to give permanent form to a few of the more characteristic and important of Mr. Dooley's utterances. For permission to reprint the articles the thanks of the editor are due to Mr. George G. Booth, of the Chicago Journal, and to Mr. Dooley's constant friend, Mr. H.H. Kohlsaat, of the Chicago Evening Post.
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CONTENTS.
[MR. DOOLEY IN WAR]
[ON DIPLOMACY.]
[ON WAR PREPARATIONS]
[ON FITZ-HUGH LEE.]
[ON MULES AND OTHERS]
[ON HIS COUSIN GEORGE.]
[ON SOME ARMY APPOINTMENTS.]
[ON STRATEGY.]
[ON GENERAL MILES'S MOONLIGHT EXCURSION.]
[ON ADMIRAL DEWEY'S ACTIVITY.]
[ON THE PHILIPPINES.]
[ON PRAYERS FOR VICTORY.]
[ON THE ANGLO-SAXON.]
[ON A LETTER FROM THE FRONT.]
[ON OUR CUBAN ALLIES.]
[ON THE DESTRUCTION OF CERVERA'S FLEET.]
[ON A LETTER TO MR. DEPEW.]
[ON THE PRESIDENT'S CAT.]
[ON A SPEECH BY PRESIDENT McKINLEY.]
[ON THE HERO IN POLITICS.]
[MR. DOOLEY IN PEACE]
[ON NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS.]
[ON GOLD-SEEKING.]
[ON BOOKS.]
[ON REFORM CANDIDATES.]
[ON PATERNAL DUTY.]
[ON CRIMINALS.]
[ON A PLOT.]
[ON THE NEW WOMAN.]
[ON EXPERT TESTIMONY.]
[ON THE POPULARITY OF FIREMEN.]
[ON THE GAME OF FOOTBALL.]
[ON THE NECESSITY OF MODESTY AMONG THE RICH.]
[ON THE POWER OF LOVE.]
[ON THE VICTORIAN ERA.]
[ON THE CURRENCY QUESTION.]
[ON POLITICAL PARADES.]
[ON CHARITY.]
[ON NANSEN.]
[ON A POPULIST CONVENTION.]
[ON A FAMILY REUNION.]
[ON A FAMOUS WEDDING.]
[ON A QUARREL BETWEEN ENGLAND AND GERMANY.]
[ON ORATORY IN POLITICS.]
[ON CHRISTMAS GIFTS.]
[ON ANARCHISTS.]
[ON THE DREYFUS CASE.]
[ON THE DECADENCE OF GREECE.]
[ON THE INDIAN WAR.]
[ON GOLF.]
[ON THE FRENCH CHARACTER.]