This rather detached attitude toward life's encumbrances has seemed to be the dominant trait in Mercer's personality ever since. It is, however, a disarming disguise, or perhaps a shield, for not only has Mercer proved himself to be one of the few great lyricists over the years, but also one who can function remarkably under pressure. He has also enjoyed a successful career as an entertainer (his records have sold in the millions) and is a sharp businessman.

He has also an extraordinary conscience. In 1927 his father's business collapsed, and, rather than go bankrupt, Mercer senior turned his firm over to a bank for liquidation. He died before he could completely pay off his debts. Some years later the bank handling the Mercer liquidation received a check for $300000, enough to clear up the debt. The check had been mailed from Chicago, the envelope bore no return address, and the check was not signed.

``That's Johnny,'' sighed the bank president, ``the best hearted boy in the world, but absent-minded.'' But Mercer's explanation was simple: ``I made out the check and carried it around a few days unsigned -- in case I lost it.'' When he remembered that he might have not signed the check, Mercer made out another for the same amount, instructing the bank to destroy the other -- especially if he had happened to have absent-mindedly signed both of them.

When the family business failed, Mercer left school and on his mother's urging -- for she hoped that he would become an actor -- he joined a local little theater group. When the troupe traveled to New York to participate in a one act play competition -- and won -- Mercer, instead of returning with the rest of the company in triumph, remained in New York. He had talked one other member of the group to stay with him, but that friend had tired of not eating regularly and returned to Savannah. But Mercer hung on, living, after a fashion, in a Greenwich Village fourth flight walk-up. ``The place had no sink or washbasin, only a bathtub,'' his mother discovered when she visited him. ``Johnny insisted on cooking a chicken dinner in my honor -- he's always been a good cook -- and I'll never forget him cleaning the chicken in the tub.''