New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-24
= TROPHY. NIGHT CLERK.
.--r oS0PEER AND A REAL GENTLE
Nan WHO PEEsiAES OVER
BawERY LODGING HOUSE.

- 4r,- rem .ndad Of the error Of judging in
.sls lv the class Among policemen. oh
1 go sb-pkez-srs. BARRIERS. barteuders. street
So -iearuaI1ers and mechanics Of various
one is likely to meet many persons OF
i - mind and admirable conduct. according
7,s;~ lights They may never rise out OF
- humble spheres Of labor, and their su-
- nature scarcely be appreciated by their
-. tie fact of their eminence remains
have an influence. beneficial Il mac
,s+-eE on society It is sometimes a lack
-.-b:tion and a love Of moderate. peaceful
/ - that keep such characters in their mod
81 pisces
certain clerk of a Bowery lodging house
I'D in his person a striking example OF
ms under a husheL He is a middle aged
80 Irishuau. why Of limb, with sharp blue
His complexion is inclined to be saIow
- strongly lined face is commonly quite IN
--.fonaL F. wears an i'll fitting gray sack
J.. pen nal.tuauy reposes on top Of his left
His manners are quiet He has never
= known r. lose his nOuchalauce. even when
.,s 4hroes Cf such a feat as throwing an OBJ
s,ns guest down the front stairs. Not that
= kind Of re-fornlance is frequent or is rel
- bv him but 20 be a lodging house clerk
--st occasia uaIly display muscle as well as
.-.pnetic Both physique and intellect are
soy 10 respect in the Bowery.
rbfIosauher. -nEuist and gentleman are the
.a,ss bestowed by mis- admirers on Mr.. Brophy.
= H. shall be called. He has been night clerk
!. threa-huadred-bed house for sixteen years.
us is practically the manager. The day clerk 5
.--5es arr unin7portant The Italian capitalist
mo OWES the lodging house leaves things al
--st entirely in M. Brophy's hands and him
~ only DROPS IN once q week TO look at the
.,oks i touches one 10 think that an Italian
,Lorld trust an Ilishman SO But the clerk is
entirely worthy. dishonesty IS word not in
his VOCABULARY except for purposes OF appIi-
ration 10 some OF the guests
Thai Nj Br0phv is a philosopher one would
- convinced by having a fifteen minutes chat
Nth him Lei the subject be politics he will
mine like a true thinker that there isn't a
,anrvss difference between Tammany and the
Psnub1iasr machine. Let the subject be the
ss,-a,-f-v of men his observations viii be
soyarfv acute and just. He has no prejudices;
h. Sc interested in most fields Of human en-
szaro-- ne has special Socraric regard for the
behavior OF ais fellow men After sixteen
rsa-s the patrons q The lodging house are TO
si-- s-fr objects Of scientific study. he is de
Frh-a5 Ia discover new traits OF character.
4s 10 his linguistic attainments, Mr.. Brophy
has NOT 5frua5 into the classic tongues. but
,r--f.s5 himself TO modern languages French
,-o German he has obtained some knowledge
- while AZ present his leisure moments are
devoted 10 The acquisition Of Italian. He in
r-Ucrs himself our Of a handbook, only aided
IN the pronunciation by q Neapolitan barber
rzzt- Language study Is his recreation, albeit
me knowledge is Of some current use IN deal
No with foreigners. and some day he hopes TO
1is.r TIE lands where these tongues are spoken.
few summers ago NJ paid visit 10 the mother
cruacry Of Ireland; there he made use Of q
slzft fund OF Gaelic
III Br0phy's title Of gentleman rests on his
natural attitude toward all men The coarsely
ra-5ed I1ngsho-sman or the ragged mechanic
az. Of z job meets the same polite consider
stsl from MS hands as one better attired
nd financed. He Is never profane; his voice is
Dzvz- unluLy raised. II necessary he viii quiet
~ rf5-u a guest: You are bum; We don't
Esvf Won get out But there is no Wanton
-suir conveyed. he never makes q mistake in
s.-h matter Of -ac- deuunciations. As said, oc-
asiouauy De- viI rlt his wiry fingers 10 the
nage n q guests neck and eject + n from
Ire premises this IS done with decOrum and at
minimum expense " the subjects feelings.
Mr Brd-tv's hours Of labor arr from 2. N.
Cztil a. u His office is al the head Of the
stairs which give access To the lodging house
The glass front allows scrutiny of every would
Be patron. Professional beggars. thieves and
ths uoisily intoxicated are turned away on sight.
These classes are not wanted. The clerk knows
many from former acquaintance; he is able to
-L- go