10.07.2015 Views

1n6xZiV

1n6xZiV

1n6xZiV

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

[ Aetat. 27 ] J O Y C E 289memory and art. Joyce calls him in Ulysses Myles Crawford, and thename suggests that of the editor of the Evening Telegraph in 1904, MorrisCosgrave. The personality of Crawford is not that of Cosgrave, however,but of Mead, in 1904 only sub-editor, but now editor. Pat Mead,like most of the staff in 1909, was about fiftyyears old. A big, stout man,with red hair and a red face, he dressed like a dandy, and was invariablyclean shaven with a flowerin his buttonhole, although he had usuallyspent most of the previous night drinking.* He was a widower with adaughter and two sons. Mead had a terrible temper, but was basicallykind and probably an 'easy touch'; in Ulysses, however, the barristerO'Molloy fails to 'raise the wind' with him. While the description inUlysses of Mead as Crawford is mostly literal, Joyce has inflated himsomewhat as god of the winds of news. Mead was never guilty of eitherprofanity or obscenity, but Joyce heightens his irascible temper in Ulysseswith frequent oaths, and makes him say, 'Kiss my royal Irish arse.' Meadnever said this, but Joyce did not invent it either. It was said by JohnWyse Power, who was famous at the Evening Telegraph offices for theexpression.Joyce paid close attention to what he saw in the Evening Telegraphoffices.! The cashier of the newspaper was a man named Ruttledge, whohad a high, squeaky voice. On payday Ruttledge carried a money boxaround with him, paying out from office to office of the old building;and his coming was announced by the phrase, 'The ghost walks,' spokenin Ulysses by Professor MacHugh. MacHugh himself was, as his namesuggests, Hugh MacNeill, a scholar of the classical modern languages,clever and lazy. Ordinarily careless in dress, he had for a time a positionas teacher of romance languages at Maynooth, and so was obliged to wearhat and tailcoat; he usually left them unbrushed. Gogarty, speculatingupon this garb, evidently made the remark, in mourning for Sallust,'which passes through Stephen's mind. MacNeill used to arrive early inthe morning at the Evening Telegraph offices, read the paper, and remainall day. As the members of the staff arrived, he reprimanded them forbeing late. The title of professor was accorded him out of slightly ironicpoliteness, for in fact he never attained that eminence.In spending time with the journalists Joyce was probably not consciouslygathering material. He thought it pleasant, as well as politic, tohave good relations with them. As a result of his associations, the EveningTelegraph ran an article about his Piccolo review of Shaw's play onSeptember 8. Joyce was anxious to make the most of this. He sent copies* Following the pattern of life set by their editor, the other staff members were generallyalso good drinkers; drinking capacity was reputed to be a primary consideration in hiringthem.t Joyce was friendly with Piaras Beaslai, a reporter for the paper and later a well-knownIrish writer.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!