ON TAR FLAT

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 127, 31 May 1919, Page 16

ON TAR FLAT

COMFORTING THE MOURNERS.

Edward Morphy, writing in tho San Francisco Chronicle, gives an amusing sketch of a San Francisco saloon-keeper, one Brocky Jiloehan:—He was no bigot in politics. He ran a saloon on the corner of Howard and Second streets, and his home was on, Howard, a few doors east of the corner/ Ho was a member of every Irish society and of every Irish regiment; butl in other respects ho was all things to all men. He never asked any man for money; but he got it from every man just the same. To the friend and tho stranger, he showed equally cheerful bonhommie: .

'|God bless you, bye!" "God bless yaez, byes!" There was none for whom he had not that friendly greeting. ■• "Step in and have something to drink. Why don't you?—-No money?— God bles3 yez!—Who's asking yez for money. Pay when you come again; pay when you can; or don't pay at all. God forbid any lad would stand nursing a thirst near any house of mine with the door standing open."

Thus,, generally, he won and held the patronage of all Tar Flat, and gathered together a nice bit of money, as well as the respect and affection of the whole neighbourhood.

Then one sorrowful day it was decided to shift the city burial grounds out toward San Mateo; whereupon Brocky—to the grief and sorrow of all his friendsdecided to go out and try his luck near Holy Cross Cemetery. About half a mile this/side of that haven of rest, he opened a. house of call whereof the motto was: "Blessed are the mourners, for they shall be comforted." And,- by a pleasant little percentage arrangement with the hackdrivers, he contrived matters so that but few monmera could return from a funeral without calling at his establishment for a bito of something to eat or a, drop of something sustaining in the hour of sorrow.