New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-12
ISAAC II. BROMLEY.

The death OF Isaac II. BROMLEY ai'ei d ""e
and painful illness, from which even IN us
earlier stages he had no confident expectation
Of recovery, but which he bore with cheerlul
composure will deeply afflict large circle OF
faithful friends and bring to multitude OF
admirers who never saw him sense or per-
sonal grief We do not need TO say. ana yet
there Is mournful satisfaction IN saying mat
10 his comrades on the staff Of this paper the
loss seems rreparable. He came to The Tribune
moro than quarter Of a century ago, and as
nm editorial writer at once confirmed beyond
dispute the reputation for humor OF unique
quality which he kept unimpaired until MS
death. After q service OF rearly fifteen years
he was attracted to a different field and kind or
activity, but after four years absence ne re-
turned to lis in 1891. and no one who has been
familiar with his work during this later perlod
can doubt that in variety and force and fehcity
it has eQualled. II 1t has not surpassed the pro-
auctions which established his repute. He came
back to find that most Of his former companions
were gone but il Is significant Of the sweetness
Of his nature and the hospitality OF his nina
that he was eager to develop intimacies OUT OF
the mere acOuaintanceships Of bygone years, 10
be the comrade OF all his colleagues, to encour'
age aptness for every department OF newspaper
work. including that which was peculiarly his
own. and to reward the efforts of the novice
with n veterans praise Mr. Bromley was SEN
stive and loved appreciation: indeed. In certain
moods he depended OH it; but unlike many
Others who appreciate the stimulus OF encour-
agement he wanted no monopoly. He was an
excellen. Judge and a generous critic OF what
WIS effective and mertorious in writing.
We have described Mr.. Bromley as humor-
list. but the designation Is vague and somewhat
misleading He had extraordinary resources Tor
rho nrodnct,on Of amusement hut he was rarely
satisfied merely to make his readers laugh. His
purpose was to make them think. The treat
mont was very often fantastic. but the sub
stance was clear common sense. He had re-
markable faculty for detecting the essential In
anty which may he hidden in plausible propo-
sition and the selhshness which often masquer-
AIDES as generosity. as we'll MS the useful purpose
which does not know how to declare itself. But
while he has dissected thousand pretences he
was not unmercifu TO the pretenders Those
who had good reason to know that they were
his victims seldom never cherished the least
resentment against him on that account. There
was no bitterness in his own heart. and there
fore there was no venom in the wounds which
he lnflcte0. his weapon WIS ~ hcon' "A" "S
used It with such dexterity that those who felt
its point could scarcely help enjoying the SEN
sation.
Mr. Bromley was not only unique In the
quality Of his humor, as Is proved by the fact
that, though the great bulk OF his work
was anonymous. 1t nevertheless made his name
familiar In every part Of the country. but he
was exceptional in the manner Of its production.
Fun Is often, perhaps usually, laboriOus. Mr..
Bromley, when he had found topic that at
tracted him. wrote with great facility and with
hearty enjoyment Of the process. Ills copy was
not plain to strangers. but At was singularly
free from evidences of effort. and often ms many
as o thousand words followed each other with
out an eraslre or need Of any subsequent cor
rection. This was one Of many proofs. familiar
to all who knew him. Of the cearness Of his
mind. as we'll as Of the postiveness OF his
opinions And this leads us to say that In his
later life with more extended observation OF
affairs and wider reading Of history. Mr..
Bromley's understanding had been strengthened
and his Judgment refined so that he was fire.
ouently drawn to the strictly serious discussion
of questions which in earlier years would have
been less likely to engage his interest and at
tentlon. This mental and spiritual growth was
obvious to all who knew him, and its mani
festations are now among their grateful and
consoling recOections. He has entered into the
peace for which those who loved him are sure
that he has longed and his memory is dear and
delightful.