Finley Peter Dunne - Great American Humorist or Greatest American Humorist?

[ellisonz]

Finley Peter Dunne (July 10, 1867 — April 24, 1936) was an American humorist and writer from Chicago. He published Mr. Dooley in Peace and War, a collection of his nationally syndicated Mr. Dooley sketches, in 1898.[1] The fictional Mr. Dooley expounded upon political and social issues of the day from his South Side Chicago Irish pub and he spoke with the thick verbiage and accent of an Irish immigrant from County Roscommon.[2] Dunne's sly humor and political acumen won the support of President Theodore Roosevelt, a frequent target of Mr. Dooley's barbs.[3] Indeed Dunne's sketches became so popular and such a litmus test of public opinion that they were read each week at White House cabinet meetings.[4]

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The first Dooley articles appeared when he was chief editorial writer for the Chicago Post and for a number of years he wrote the pieces without a byline or initials. They were paid for at the rate of $10 each above his newspaper pay. A contemporary wrote of his Mr. Dooley sketches that "there was no reaching for brilliancy, no attempt at polish. The purpose was simply to amuse. But it was this very ease and informality of the articles that caught the popular fancy. The spontaneity was so genuine; the timeliness was so obvious."[7] In 1898, he wrote a Dooley piece that celebrated the victory of Commodore George Dewey over the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay--and this piece attracted national attention. Within a short time, weekly Dooley essays were syndicated across the country.[8]

In 1899, under the title Mr Dooley in Peace and War, a collection of the pieces was brought out in book form, received rave reviews from the critics, and was on the best seller list for a year. Dunne, then 32, became a national literary figure.

Selections from Dooley were read at meetings of the presidential cabinet. Theodore Roosevelt was a fan, despite the fact that he was one of Dunne's favorite targets. When Roosevelt published his book, The Rough Riders, Dunne wrote a tongue-in-cheek review mocking the war hero with the punchline "if I was him I'd call th' book 'Alone in Cubia'" and the nation roared.[9] Roosevelt wrote to Dunne: "I regret to state that my family and intimate friends are delighted with your review of my book. Now I think you owe me one; and I shall expect that when you next come east you pay me a visit. I have long wanted the chance of making your acquaintance."

The two finally met at the Republican Convention in 1900, where Roosevelt gave him a news scoop--he would accept the nomination as vice presidential candidate. In later years, Dunne was a frequent guest for dinner and weekends at the White House.

Dunne wrote more than 700 Dooley pieces. About 1/3 of them were printed in eight books, with their era of influence ending with the start of World War I. He left Chicago after Dooley became popular and lived in New York where he wrote books and articles and edited The American Magazine, Metropolitan Magazine and Collier's Weekly, and was a beloved figure in club and literary circles. He died in New York on April 24, 1936.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finley_Peter_Dunne

“We’ve got the Ph’lippeens, Hinnissy; we’ve got thim the way Casey got the bulldog—be th’ teeth…As Hogan an’ McKinley both says: ‘Th’ natio’s in th’ hands iv the Lord, an’ll give Him what assistance it can spare fr’m its other jooties’…We’re a gr-reat civilizein’ agent, Hinnissy an’ as Father Kelley says, ‘so’s th’ steam roller.’ An’ bein’ a quiet man, I’d rather be behind thin in fr-ront when thshtreet has to be improved.”

You can read a number of his written works here: http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/d#a1559

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

1. Mrs Dunne

His wife, Margaret, was the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal.

I have always liked Dunne's comment, "No matther whether th’ constitution follows th’ flag or not, th’ Supreme Coort follows th’ election returns”

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. Excellent quote

Welcome to DU!

[ellisonz]

3. Welcome to DU!