[Ads-l] Quote Origin: Life Is Full of Trials With an Occasional Conviction

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

The statement in the subject line has been attributed to Lord Dewar
(Thomas Robert Dewar), and I was asked to trace the expression.

An anecdote published in the January 22, 1887 issue of the New York
humor magazine “Judge” employed the same wordplay:

[Begin excerpt]
NOT USED TO SYMPATHY.
"Come in, my poor man," said a benevolent lady to a ragged tramp, "and
I will get you something to eat."
"Thanky, mum; don't care if I do."
"I suppose," continued the lady, setting a square meal before him,
"your life has been full of trials?"
"Yis, mum; an' the wust of it wuz I allus got convicted."
[End excerpt]

The final line used eye dialect to render the following phrase "Yes,
mam; and the worst of it was I always got convicted".

This joke evolved over time and was streamlined. In 1915 "Puck"
magazine printed an instance without attribution which precisely
matched the expression under examination. In 1926 Thomas Robert Dewar
used the line while delivering a speech, but the quip was already in
circulation.

Here is a link to the Quote Investigator article:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2026/02/19/trial-conviction/

Feedback welcome
Garson O'Toole

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org