The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-27
OLD BIJAH JOY.
Death of the Man Made Famous by tile Detroit
"Eree Press" Humorist.

Death of the Man Made Famous by tile Detroit
"Eree Press" Humorist.
Detroit Special.
"Bijah" Joy, who died on the 22d, was known
to fame through the genial introduction of G.. B.
Lewis IN. QUAD, of the Free Press. He was
not the humorists creation, although it was in
the light of his pleasing fancy that he bloomed
into prominence and familiarity. There was the
foundation upon which Mr.. Lewis built. and
"Bijah' was a local character before IN. QUAD
of Mr.. Lewiss extensively copied writings
'Bijah' stands the central figure, kindly
authoritative, ungrammaticaI and bump
tious, and none of these traits were
broad sympathy with misfortune and misery
were proverbial as his tenderness and unos-
tentatious charities; and whether he figured in
jes ting or serious parts, no injustice was ever
done him by misrepresentation But :Bijah"
and the Free Press man" are SO indissolubly
joined in the minds of the people that one can
scarcely separate them. Upon the quantness
of Bijah. as attendant upon his Honor Mr..
Lewis built high reputation humorist and
gave an impetus to the Free Press which has
carried it to the first rank as journal in this
country. saw Mr.. Lewis to-day. He had just
come from visit to his old friends body, and,
naturally enough. was feeling keenly his loss.
wonder if Nasty will ever mourn over the
body of any resident of the Confederit x
Roads. or if Thackeray ever had occasion to
weep over the mortal remains of Jeemes Vel
lowplush." Probably not as IN Quad" Goes
over Bijah, for BIZ ah was. after all, lovable
character Mr. Lewis spoke of him with deep
affection. He had known him in the past. long
before he was city officer aud became IL janitor,
and can scarcely do better than to quote from
the hastily written obituary which was called
for by the types within an hour after Bijah had
gone beyond the jurisdiction of his Honor:
"Bijah was character long before the Free
Press emphasized and sent into the far corners
of the earth his fame. He was first known to
the writer as special officer at the Detroit q
Milwaukee railway station Then he achieved
the kind of glory that was dear to his heart that
of being at once an official with authority and
friend to the friendless with charity. The court
illness with which he would escort an old woman.
to the neglect of the able-bodied and the hand
some, was testimony of his chivarous nature
and his kindly heart In the course of lfe's
changes Biiah became policeman. Magnifi-
Gently arrayed in parade uniform and all the
panoply thereof, he realized at last his rosiest
dreams Of empire. Discipline was too narrow a
thing for his expansive soul With laugh like
Boythorn he never permitted any State occa-
sion to lessen its natural volume, and it was as
likely to be heard at the annual review as within
the wards Of the Central station, with which his
name is so ndissouby linked when, practically
disabled by weight of years from pursuing the
festive burglar or participating in those inspir-
ing 'raids upon the Potomac" (the evil quarter
of Detroit), he was given an Inside billet They
called him janitor of the station house. He was
more. iIS was ROou duScit tuo SOurcc
of endless supplies of red candy
for lost children who found their way
into his keeping and sobbed themselves
to sleep upon his broad breast, day after day,
never the same waif twice. Nothing that has
been written Of him in jest or serious parts con-
corning his love for children was ever exag-
gerated. His was ono of those natures that
linked itself to the unfortunate with ready SYM
pathy, and when that ther unfort'net hap
pened to be a child all the tenderness of his
great, brave. sweet soul was called into activity
to minister relief. His years were many, but
the youth Of his heart was imperishahle, and
even so is the memory Of his simple nature and
countless deeds of good will to men"
Bijah was often asked to become part of a lect-
ure with an Quad" He resolutely declined and
made but one public appearance. and that. char
acteristically enough. for the benefit OF some
children's charity. few scenes from his Hon
ors court were enacted with tremendous sdccess
and approval, but further than that he would
not 60 His positive position in this matter is
what saved M. Lewis from tho rostrum.