The San Francisco call., 1907-03-03
Dry Philosophy of ''Mr. Devery"
Who Is Not big Bill''


For some Tina ~Afr. Devery" has been
saying things in detached newspaper
columns on such subjects as "Woman's
Rights and Wrongs" Real True Bo-
hemians." 'aGamblin an Crusades,"
Servant Girls Side of the Case" The
Art OF Gathering Wives" and all sorts
Of subjects OF live interest
The author OF these witty deliv
erances IS Percy Lindon- Howard. and
he has gathered the best of them into
a book, - Says Mr.. Devery." II il
had come after Dooley IL would be
much more generally appreciated III
are some Deveryisms:
"A man don't marry what a wonn.--.
is, but what he figures she is, an some
times he's skate at mathematics
Some parents has trouble with their
boys lyin'. but most OF 'em has it hard
est when they tell the truth"
"As soon as a fellow reaches mans
estate he starts in TO reach the other
mans estate"
There is limits TO all things-al-
ways barrin' legislative insanity
"Bohemians is experts on three
classes OF demis-Tass. John and Mond.'
Everything in England is done by
rule-even the Americans"
IF a man has a son that's stuck on
eoin on the stage he ought to be given
his choice OF bein' beat to death with
club. joinin' the Populist party or mar
ryin' a Lady Maccabee an settlin'
down"
Half the trouble with women is they
don't get enough money. If woman's
single an has to work she don't make
no wages worth while: an IL she don't
work all her coin is A question os
charity She's handed out dollar or
two by her father or her mother. II
she has a brother he borrows IT away
from her. II she's married she don't
get nothin'. The old man gives her
ten week to keep the house on lie
borrows five back, tells her 10 run no
bills. an allows her to spend what she
has left at the end OF the week for
her own personal enjoyment Then he
swoops out of the room, goes 10 his
den. sits in the Morris chair and burns
up fifty cents"
..The cops has to know the crooks.
but most OF all they've got 10 know
what line Of crooks comes within their
jurisdiction"
There's classical music an popular
music Classical music is music that
ain't popular"
Everybody ought to get married
some as reward and some because
they deserve it,"
Were workin' so we won't have TO
work. What's the matter with startin'
i've always held that work is doin'
somethin' you don't like TO do, such as
iistenin' TO an English joke When
you're stuck on what you have 10 do
then il amt work. An that's where
the Bohemians is strong. II they can't
do what they want to do they Don 90
nOthin'. They're here and somebody's
got 10 look after thems An they don't
worry none. They don't work That's
a cinch. They're on a perpetual strike
agin labor. An I don't blame them as
long as they can get away with it.
I've heard people say they was fond OF
work. But when a man tells you that
he's like the guy tnat tells you his
wife encourages him to stay out even
fngs-you can bank a hundred to one
he's a plain out-an'-out liar. II he gets
tired OF loafn' he may want little ex-
ercise. But he don't like work AS
soon as he gets tired OF exercisin' he
wants 10 quit. An II amt no work
until he don't like it."
Some critics in speaking OF this new
creation of Mr.. Lindon- -Howard's have
confused the purely hctional creation
with Big Bill Devery of the New
York police. He was a prominent char
acter on the force for many years,
and while many Of his witty sayings
were quotable. he is quite incapable Of
the dry philosophy TO be found in the
pages OF this book. The author writes
thus TO the New York Times:
when ] think OF the bewildering
amount and the awful kind OF stun a
literary editor must have in his head.
I hesitate even to make this mild
little request-that you correct an
impression conveyed In your notice OF
my new book. Says Mr.. Devery.' I
read what. you had TO say as soon as
II appeared. February 2. Between our
selves. had been watching for it for