Finley Peter Dunne
The reporter of these monologues would apologize for the frequent reappearances of Mr. Dooley, if he felt the old gentleman would appreciate an apology in his behalf. But Mr. Dooley has none of the modesty that has been described as 'an invention for protection against envy,' because unlike that one of his distinguished predecessors who discovered this theory to excuse his own imperfect but boastful egotism, he recognizes no such human failing as envy. Most of the papers in the present collection of the sayings of this great and learned man have appeared in the press of America and England. This will account for the fact that they deal with subjects that have pressed hard upon the minds of newspaper readers, statesmen, and tax-payers during the year. To these utterances have been added a number of obiter dicta by the philosopher, which, perhaps, will be found to have the reminiscent flavor that appertains to the observations of all learned judges when they are off the bench. In some cases the sketches have been remodeled and care has been taken to correct typographical blunders, except where they seemed to improve the text. In this connection the writer must offer his profound gratitude to the industrious typographer, who often makes two jokes grow where only one grew before, and has added generously to the distress of amateur elocutionists. Finley Peter Dunne, also known as F. P. D. (1867- 1936) was a Chicago-based American author, writer and humorist. He published Mr. Dooley in Peace and War, a collection of his nationally syndicated Mr. Dooley sketches, in 1898. 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. His sly humor and political acumen won the support of President Theodore Roosevelt, a frequent target of Mr. Dooley’s barbs. Indeed his sketches became so popular and such a litmus test of public opinion that they were read each week at White House cabinet meetings. His other works include: Mr. Dooley: In the Hearts of His Countrymen (1898), Mr. Dooley’s Philosophy (1900), Observations by Mr. Dooley (1902), Mr. Dooley on the Pursuit of Riches (1904), Mr. Dooley Says (1910), The World of Mr. Dooley (1962) and Mr. Dooley Remembers (1963).
