Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1895 — Queer New York Character. [ARTICLE]

Queer New York Character.

Hugh Dinnln died in the basement of the building, No. 53 New street, from Bright’s disease. He was born at No. 12 Trinity place 5S years ago, and lived In the first ward all of his life. At one time he was worth SIOO,OOO. He lost all this, and for years has been considered poor, although at no time in peed of a dollar. Dinnin began business life as an apprentice to bis father, who was a plumber. What little education he gained he picked up in the great university of life, and he took degrees in many branches He went Into Wall street and made much money. Then he bought the saloon at Dey and Greenwich streets under peculiar circumstances. He entered the drinking place one day and called for a glass of whisky. He was shabbily dressed, but was a good judge of liquor. Dinnin protested that he never had tasted worse stuff. The owner replied that perhaps Dinnin did not know, good whisky when he tasted it “Perhaps not,” was the reply, “but I do know how a barroom onght to be run. How many dollars in cash do you want for the old place, anyway?” The proprietor said SIO,OOO, and was perhaps the most surprised man In New York when his shabby looking customer drew a greasy wad of bills from his pocket and bought him out on the spot Dinnin had a keen appreciation of a smart saying, especially if it was tinged with a vein of cynicism. He had these sayings painted on signs and hang outside the door of his place. The last two which he put up were: “The world is a shadow, sham and a game of wits,” and “High positions are like the summits of steep rocks—eagles and reptilea alone can reach them.”—New York, Preav mR., ■ —.