Don't Hang Down Your Head, Mr. Dooley

As an old (accent on old) newspaperman and former j-school student (that's "j" as in journalism to you, bud), I have known about "Mr. Dooley" for decades.  He's the witty, clever, fictional Chicago saloon keeper  concocted by humorist Finley Peter Dunne (left) in hundreds of columns, who commented on life and politics, giving us several sayings that persist to this day, such as "Politics ain't beanbag" and the role of the press being to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."  

In current days he is perhaps best immortalized with an every day quote ("Your Morning Dooley") at Charles P. Pierce's "Politics" blog at Esquire.  Note: I once interviewed Dunne's son, screenwriter Philip Dunne, for my book on Upton Sinclair's amazingly influential race for governor of California in 1934 (Dunne was one of his few Hollywood backers).

Coming tomorrow in print at the NYT, and just posted online, is a tribute from longtimer Sam Roberts, marking the century that has passed since Dooley famously commented on New York City: “This throbbing home of joy never slows down."  And more.  Personally, I'll take Will Rogers, straight up, but still, a welcome tribute.