New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-14
THE GREATEST OF IRISH HUNORISTs.
LAST OF THE SPECIES IN DUBLIN
ON The London Athenaum.

From The London Athen3um.
Dr. Thomas Medley. the greatest Of Irish
humorists and, we say 1t almost with dread.
the last of the species in Dublin. olec a
few days ago Failing health had debarred
him for two or three years from Joining in
the society which he loved, and which had
reciprocated his love; 80 that his death
will not leave that gap which great social
force, suddenly stayed, is wont to make IN
toned TO dinner parties without him, and II
was chiefly their comparative dulness when
made older men recall the days OF Medley
and Healy. Of William Lefanu and or Father
Tom Burke when dinner of men in Dublin
saS often far more brilliant than any attempt
Of the kind in England. even in London. where
Irishmen abound. But like many other deli
cate plants Irish humor of DR.. Nedley's quail
ty will not thrive beyond lis native soil The
very presence Of one strange or one unsyin-
pathetic face at the table would generally stay
the flow Of his spirits and his simple question:
who is that sitting down there" was. TO
those who knew him we'll token that little Or
nothing would be drawn from him I'LL the
stranger treasured him in person or obtained
social passports from others at the table There
were also Dublin men who often met him. but
never heard one word OF his hunor
In direct contrast to his intimate and com
paniOn. Father Healy, Medley was not wit,
but humOrist the quick flashes for which
the former was famous were not frequent with
him. except, in Iced. in the wonderful conflict or
both qualities which often exhibited when
they occupied head and foot at the same table.
At those moments and in this encounter at his
own CT at Healy's table his wit seemed great
as his humor But his distinctive quality.
wherein he stood alone and unapproached. was
the telling Of Irish idylls containing dialogues
among the poorer people; the singing of street
ballads, mostly his own compassionate fact.
the reproduction Of the speech and the ways
Of thinking Of the Irish people He possessed
not only the insight Of great comic poet. but
the face Of consummate comic actor and
tenor voice Of such good quality to render
his songs as well musicaly as dramatically
charming. Hence tired Of his
dramatic sketches. however often repeated No
even desired TO hear from him something
new in preference to the old favortes. In fact.
his stories held the social stage in Dublin like
the approved plays Of our dramatic masters.
and it was the manner Of telling. the subtle
variations on various occasions. the profound
knowledge of and sympathy with Irish national
psychology. which made him the master OF a
very rare and delightful art.
Like all profound humorsts. he was the most
sympathetic and modest Of men. He never
thrust his conversation upon any cold or indif-
fercnt audience. 1t was indeed. with reference
to him that Sir Edgar Vincent made a
valuable remark-valuable that is to say to
Observation-Disclosures Is no use in asking a single
freshman to dine: you must ask another to draw
him OUT
Such was the man in society. genial. modest.
rever using his powers OF satire and mimicry
for any unkind purpose, hospitable to a fault.
generous to the poor passing through the
storms OF Irish politics without ever declaring
strong opinion, and yet respected by extreme
men Of every type. They knew well that he
clearly. with his profound knowledge OF
character not only through the impostures but
through the self-impostures. OF Irish politicians
and probably they felt grateful for his reti-
cence. He might have lived little longer If ne
had entertained his friends less frequently;
out he Of all men. preferred quality to quantity
OF life. though with and Christian patience
he tolerated the enforced seclusion of his clos
ing years. His literary tastes were for the
drama He was well known to all the actors
and operate singers who visited Dublin in his
time. Most Of them cannot forget his hos
pitabe table. There will probably be found
among his books many plays and collec-
tons Of street ballads but Of his own art moth
ing. 1t lives only in the memories and the
hearts Of the men, women and children who
knew him and loved him.