The San Francisco call., 1909-11-19
AGED BOOKSELLER
TURNS LAST PAGE
John N. PhiIan, Known for Years
in Literary Circles, Passes
Away
Death of Popular Character
Sewers Another Link With
the City That Was

John y PhiIan. book seller is dead.
TIE life Of the man ebbed yesterday
morning at St Josephs hospital and
with his death a reminder Of the past
has gone. Another link between the
san Francisco Of today and The city Of
Yesterday has been severed and a per-
sonsIitv permeated with the spirit Of
- older generation has vanished.
The world at large did not know
John Philan. the quiet, unassuming old
bachelor who for many years had
made his home in San Francisco, keep
ing himself apart from the strife and
turmoil OF the changing affairs and
finding his pathway OF life through
fields of bis own choosing, but TO some
his memory viii be q cherished recol-
lection.
LIVED LIFE IN BOOKS
John Philan was beloved by that
circle who know the JOYS 10 be found
among books. For nearly 40 years his
kindly face has been familiar to all
whose inclinations have led them to
browse among the shelves of the city's
book shops. and 10 many old time san
Franciscans he was a warm personal
friend. His life was lived among
books. and il was only to those who
sought the haunts of book lovers that
ne was known.
John Philan was native OF Ireland,
born some 60 years ago, and his only
living relatives are still residents of
Dublin. As a lad he found his first
employment among book stalls. and to
the trade Of book seller he devoted his
entire life. He came TO San Francisco
about 1870. finding work with A Ro-
man. whose name is inseparably linked
with the period illumined by the early
publication Of Bret Harte's stories. of
many Of which he was the first pub
Usher. The Overland Monthly was
then in its prime and Philan became
Romans assistant in its publication.
Before coming TO San Francisco from
New York Philan had been identified
for some time with Appleton's and Wild
dieton's publishing houses, and after
Romans retirement from business in
this city in 1877 he opened bookstore
OF his own. 1t was a quaint little shop
- IN Sutter street above Kearny. with A
charm that drew about ii a coterie of
fts own There Philan presided as
oracle and friend Of his customers. for
he IS a recognized authority on old and
rare books.
MET FINANCIAL REVERSES
After several years of business by
himself Philan met with financial re-
verses. failed to keep apace with the
times and finally was forced to give up
his bookstore. For more than dozen
wears, up TO the time of his death. he
was connected with the book depart
ment Of A VI. Robertsons store. living
out the last years OF his life in the at
mosphere he loved. Two weeks ago he
fell before the first serious illness he
had ever known. and yesterday morning
he died al ST Joseph's hospital from
paralysis OF the brain
Phiian was self-educated man.
slrewd. energetic and honest but lack
ing in the commercial instinct so neces-
sary 10 the business life of modern
times. Few Of the present generation
knew him. but there were many old
timers whose purchases Of books were
never made through any but the old
veteran lie was student of books.
endowed with an extensive knowledge
Of bookish matters. especially poetry.
but cared little for new works of fiction
or the more substantial work of later
writers He was himself the author
OF some verse of a worthy character
, and several Of his poems were pub
hshed at one time or another in west
ern papers and magazines.