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Apr 23, 2004

"We're all familiar with a blessing in disguise. What is less commonly appreciated is the disguise in many a blessing." --Mardy Grothe

Subway Philosopher

When one person is kind to many strangers, he's a do-gooder. But what happens when many strangers are kind to one person -- a homeless one who lugs his life in two bulging plastic bags on the subway? Lack of a Bodhi tree anywhere near the Broadway-Lafayette station in New York didn't stop passengers from reaching out to the "subway philosopher" named Tony Butler. Somehow, he always brought around him a random clan who gave him food, money and friendship. He did not beg or badger. Some said he chose to be homeless, others said homelessness chose him. Whatever the case, their lives came together and stayed that way until he died last month, at 53.