Robert Dowling - career
So what was Robert, if we are to be so narrow minded as to define him by the trade or trades he practised. We know the following.
He worked as a printer in the Freeman's Journal for a short time, possibly before his marriage and emigration to America. The offices of the Freeman's Journal were at 4-8 Princes Street North and were some thirty years later the setting for the Aeolus episode in Ulysses.
On his return to Ireland he worked for five years (1878-1883) as a Town Traveller and Collector for M. Carton of 2 Eustace St., Dublin.
Probably at this stage, he found the need to have a sheet of testamonials printed up. In these days of photocopying and word-processed CVs, it is hard to imagine what expense a (presumeably) out-of-work job-seeker might have incurred for such a thing, except of course that he may have had printer friends from his Freeman's Journal days.
His search for employment was ended by his father's friend (R.?) Ennis, solicitor, who took him on as a Clerk. It looks likely that this was something he had experience in, working for John Vogan, perhaps before he left for America, judging by the testimonial given by Mr Vogan above.
Testimonials of Mr Robert Dowling
The Medal of the Royal Humane Society
Profile of Robert
Robert and Maggie
|
 |
Dad wrote "James" on this but Kathleen is not so sure. She says "Of course, it could be the James who was the father of Robert (my Grandfather). It does look very like Robert himself as I remember him. Still, they all looked v. alike." She also thinks it might be Robert's brother William.
|
|
