Dude #24 - a Phil-a-lu Bird.

“The phil-a-lu-bird is another species of bird that has made its appearance in our city,” said an old citizen within the hearing of the Critic last evening.

“The phil-a-lu-bird is another species of bird that has made its appearance in our city,” said an old citizen within the hearing of the critic last evening.

“Phil-a-lu-bird! Now, what kind of an animal is that?”

“Well, he is a slight improvement on the dude.  He is possessed of all the attributes of the dude, and has an additional qualification.  He wears sharp-toed shoes, Derby hat, tight pants, shad-belly coat, striped cravat, a red handkerchief in his pocket, the corner sticking out, smokes cigarettes, wears bangs and whistles through his nose, so as to be heard for miles around.  Oh! He is a bird.  I tell you, he is a dandy.  I saw one at the theatre last night with a $1 pair of opera-glasses.  He was occupying a twenty-five cent seat.  You can see the phil-a-lu-bird on the street at all hours of the day.  He is more dangerous than the dude in many respects.”

The Evening Critic (Washington DC), April 24, 1883.

[See also, Philalu II]

Is this a Philalu?

‘Philalu!’ cried the beast, ‘and chone! Philalu!

Saint Patrick, my darling, don’t look so blue.

London Society, Volume 24, September, 1873, page 251.

Philalu also appears in another Irish poem:

Ochone an’ ullagone ! we must vainly sigh an’ groan’’

  Philalu! A long adieu to Clifford Lloyd!

Caoine of the Clare Constabulary, from Arthur M. Forrester, An Irish Crazy-Quilt, Boston, 1891, page 77.