This story, first published in theAmerican Magazine, was reprinted in a volume calledThe Gold Brick, published in 1910. The quotation "chip at crusts like Hindus" is from Robert Browning's poem "Youth and Art." The reference to "Old Walt" at the end of the story is to Walt Whitman, one of the great poets of democracy.
1. To make a story interesting, there must be a conflict. In this the conflict is double: the outer conflict, between the two political factions, and the inner conflict, in the soul of the artist. Note how skilfully this inner struggle is introduced: at the moment when Kittrell is first rejoicing over his new position, he feels a pang at leaving thePost, and what it stood for. This feeling is deepened by his wife's tacit disapproval; it grows stronger as the campaign progresses, until the climax is reached in the scene where he resigns his position.2. If you knew nothing about the author, what could you infer from this story about his political ideals? Did he believe in democracy? Did he have faith in the good sense of the common people? Did he think it was worth while to make sacrifices for them? What is your evidence for this?3. How far is this story true to life, as you know it? Do any newspapers in your city correspond to thePost? To theTelegraph? Can you recall a campaign in which the contest was between two such groups as are described here?4. Does Whitlock have the art of making his characters real? Is this true of the minor characters? The girl in the flower shop, for instance, who appears but for a moment,—is she individualized? How?5. Is there a lesson in this story? State it in your own words.6. What experiences in Whitlock's life gave him the background for this story?7. What new words did you gain from this? Define meritricious; prognathic; banal; vulpine; camaraderie; vilification; ennui; quixotic; naïve; pharisaism. What can you say of Whitlock's vocabulary?8. Other good stories dealing with politics are found inStratagems and Spoils, by William Allen White.
1. To make a story interesting, there must be a conflict. In this the conflict is double: the outer conflict, between the two political factions, and the inner conflict, in the soul of the artist. Note how skilfully this inner struggle is introduced: at the moment when Kittrell is first rejoicing over his new position, he feels a pang at leaving thePost, and what it stood for. This feeling is deepened by his wife's tacit disapproval; it grows stronger as the campaign progresses, until the climax is reached in the scene where he resigns his position.
2. If you knew nothing about the author, what could you infer from this story about his political ideals? Did he believe in democracy? Did he have faith in the good sense of the common people? Did he think it was worth while to make sacrifices for them? What is your evidence for this?
3. How far is this story true to life, as you know it? Do any newspapers in your city correspond to thePost? To theTelegraph? Can you recall a campaign in which the contest was between two such groups as are described here?
4. Does Whitlock have the art of making his characters real? Is this true of the minor characters? The girl in the flower shop, for instance, who appears but for a moment,—is she individualized? How?
5. Is there a lesson in this story? State it in your own words.
6. What experiences in Whitlock's life gave him the background for this story?
7. What new words did you gain from this? Define meritricious; prognathic; banal; vulpine; camaraderie; vilification; ennui; quixotic; naïve; pharisaism. What can you say of Whitlock's vocabulary?
8. Other good stories dealing with politics are found inStratagems and Spoils, by William Allen White.
1. Note the quick beginning of the story; no introduction, action from the start. Why is this suitable to this story?2. Why is slang used so frequently?3. Point out examples of humor in the story.4. In your writing, do you ever have trouble in finding just the right word? Note on page 123 how Edna Ferber tries one expression after another, and how on page 122 she finally coins a word—"unadjectivable." What does the word mean?5. Do you have a clear picture of Emma McChesney? Of Ed Meyers? Note that the description of Meyers in the office is not given all at once, but a touch here and then. Point out all these bits of description of this person, and note how complete the portrait is.6. What have you learned in this story about the life of a traveling salesman?7. What qualities must a good salesman possess?8. Was Emma McChesney a lady? Was Ed Meyers a gentleman? Why do you think so?9. This story is taken from the book calledRoast Beef, Medium. Other good books of short stories by this author arePersonality Plus, andCheerful—by Request.
1. Note the quick beginning of the story; no introduction, action from the start. Why is this suitable to this story?
2. Why is slang used so frequently?
3. Point out examples of humor in the story.
4. In your writing, do you ever have trouble in finding just the right word? Note on page 123 how Edna Ferber tries one expression after another, and how on page 122 she finally coins a word—"unadjectivable." What does the word mean?
5. Do you have a clear picture of Emma McChesney? Of Ed Meyers? Note that the description of Meyers in the office is not given all at once, but a touch here and then. Point out all these bits of description of this person, and note how complete the portrait is.
6. What have you learned in this story about the life of a traveling salesman?
7. What qualities must a good salesman possess?
8. Was Emma McChesney a lady? Was Ed Meyers a gentleman? Why do you think so?
9. This story is taken from the book calledRoast Beef, Medium. Other good books of short stories by this author arePersonality Plus, andCheerful—by Request.
1. Note the introduction, a characteristic of all of Fannie Hurst's stories. What purpose does it serve here? What trait of Gertie's is brought out? Is this important to the story?2. From the paragraph on page 139 beginning "It was into the trickle of the last——" select examples that show the author's skill in the use of words. What other instances of this do you note in the story?3. Read the sketch of the author. What episode in her life gave her material for parts of this story?4. Notice how skillfully the conversation is handled. The opening situation developes itself entirely through dialogue, yet in a perfectly natural way. It is almost like a play rather than a story. If it were dramatized, how many scenes would it make?5. What does the title mean? Does the author give us the key to its meaning?6. What do you think of Gertie as you read the first part of the conversation in the restaurant? Does your opinion of her change at the end of the story? Has her character changed?7. Is the ending of the story artistic? Why mention the time-clock? What had Gertie said about it?8. State in three or four words the central idea of the story. Is it true to life?9. What is the meaning of these words: atavism; penumbra; semaphore; astigmatic; insouciance; mise-en-scene; kinetic?10. Other books of stories dealing with life in New York City areThe Four Million, andThe Voice of the City, by O. Henry;Van Bibber and Others, by Richard Harding Davis;Every Soul Hath Its Song, by Fannie Hurst;Doctor Rast, by James Oppenheim.
1. Note the introduction, a characteristic of all of Fannie Hurst's stories. What purpose does it serve here? What trait of Gertie's is brought out? Is this important to the story?
2. From the paragraph on page 139 beginning "It was into the trickle of the last——" select examples that show the author's skill in the use of words. What other instances of this do you note in the story?
3. Read the sketch of the author. What episode in her life gave her material for parts of this story?
4. Notice how skillfully the conversation is handled. The opening situation developes itself entirely through dialogue, yet in a perfectly natural way. It is almost like a play rather than a story. If it were dramatized, how many scenes would it make?
5. What does the title mean? Does the author give us the key to its meaning?
6. What do you think of Gertie as you read the first part of the conversation in the restaurant? Does your opinion of her change at the end of the story? Has her character changed?
7. Is the ending of the story artistic? Why mention the time-clock? What had Gertie said about it?
8. State in three or four words the central idea of the story. Is it true to life?
9. What is the meaning of these words: atavism; penumbra; semaphore; astigmatic; insouciance; mise-en-scene; kinetic?
10. Other books of stories dealing with life in New York City areThe Four Million, andThe Voice of the City, by O. Henry;Van Bibber and Others, by Richard Harding Davis;Every Soul Hath Its Song, by Fannie Hurst;Doctor Rast, by James Oppenheim.
1. In how many scenes is this story told? What is the connection between them?2. Is there anything in the first description of Dicky Darrell that gives you a slight prejudice against him?3. Why was the sympathy of the crowd with Jimmy Powers in the birling match?4. Comment on Jimmy's remark at the end of the story. Did he mean it, or is he just trying to turn away the praise?5. What are the characteristics of a lumberman, as seen in Jimmy Powers?6. Read the sketch of Stewart Edward White, and decide which one of his books you would like to read.
1. In how many scenes is this story told? What is the connection between them?
2. Is there anything in the first description of Dicky Darrell that gives you a slight prejudice against him?
3. Why was the sympathy of the crowd with Jimmy Powers in the birling match?
4. Comment on Jimmy's remark at the end of the story. Did he mean it, or is he just trying to turn away the praise?
5. What are the characteristics of a lumberman, as seen in Jimmy Powers?
6. Read the sketch of Stewart Edward White, and decide which one of his books you would like to read.
1. What does the title mean?2. How does the author strike the keynote of the story in the opening paragraph?3. Where is the first hint of the real theme of the story?4. Point out some of the dialect expressions. Why is dialect used?5. What turn of surprise comes at the end of the story? Is it probable?6. What characteristics of New England country people are brought out in this story? How does the author contrast them with "city people"?7. Does this story read as if the author knew the scenes she describes? Read the description of Niram plowing (page 191), and point out touches in it that could not have been written by one who had always lived in the city.8. Read the account of how this story was written, (page 210). What first suggested the idea? What work remained after the story was first written? How did the author feel while writing it? Compare what William Allen White says about his work, (page 75).9. Other stories of New England life that you will enjoy reading are found in the following books:New England Nun, Mary E. Wilkins;Cape Cod Folks, S. P. McLean Greene;Pratt Portraits, Anna Fuller;The Country Road, Alice Brown;Tales of New England, Sarah Orne Jewett.
1. What does the title mean?
2. How does the author strike the keynote of the story in the opening paragraph?
3. Where is the first hint of the real theme of the story?
4. Point out some of the dialect expressions. Why is dialect used?
5. What turn of surprise comes at the end of the story? Is it probable?
6. What characteristics of New England country people are brought out in this story? How does the author contrast them with "city people"?
7. Does this story read as if the author knew the scenes she describes? Read the description of Niram plowing (page 191), and point out touches in it that could not have been written by one who had always lived in the city.
8. Read the account of how this story was written, (page 210). What first suggested the idea? What work remained after the story was first written? How did the author feel while writing it? Compare what William Allen White says about his work, (page 75).
9. Other stories of New England life that you will enjoy reading are found in the following books:New England Nun, Mary E. Wilkins;Cape Cod Folks, S. P. McLean Greene;Pratt Portraits, Anna Fuller;The Country Road, Alice Brown;Tales of New England, Sarah Orne Jewett.
1. This story contains three characters who are typical of many colored people, and as such are worth study. Howard Dokesbury is the educated colored man of the North. What are the chief traits of this character?2. Aunt Caroline is the old-fashioned darky who suggests slavery days. What are her chief characteristics?3. 'Lias is the new generation of the Southern negro of the towns. What are his characteristics?4. Is the colored American given the same rights as others? Read carefully the opening paragraph of the story.5. What were the weaknesses of the colored people of Mt. Hope? How far are they true of the race? How were they overcome in this case?6. There are two theories about the proper solution of what is called "The Negro Problem." One is, that the hope of the race lies in industrial training; the other theory, that they should have higher intellectual training, so as to develope great leaders. Which theory do you think Dunbar held? Why do you think so?7. Other stories dealing with the life of the colored people are:Free Joe, andTales of the Home Folks, by Joel Chandler Harris;Polished Ebony, by Octavius R. Cohen;Aunt Amity's Silver Wedding, by Ruth McEnery Stuart;In Ole Virginia, by Thomas Nelson Page.
1. This story contains three characters who are typical of many colored people, and as such are worth study. Howard Dokesbury is the educated colored man of the North. What are the chief traits of this character?
2. Aunt Caroline is the old-fashioned darky who suggests slavery days. What are her chief characteristics?
3. 'Lias is the new generation of the Southern negro of the towns. What are his characteristics?
4. Is the colored American given the same rights as others? Read carefully the opening paragraph of the story.
5. What were the weaknesses of the colored people of Mt. Hope? How far are they true of the race? How were they overcome in this case?
6. There are two theories about the proper solution of what is called "The Negro Problem." One is, that the hope of the race lies in industrial training; the other theory, that they should have higher intellectual training, so as to develope great leaders. Which theory do you think Dunbar held? Why do you think so?
7. Other stories dealing with the life of the colored people are:Free Joe, andTales of the Home Folks, by Joel Chandler Harris;Polished Ebony, by Octavius R. Cohen;Aunt Amity's Silver Wedding, by Ruth McEnery Stuart;In Ole Virginia, by Thomas Nelson Page.
The Pennsylvania State Police have made a wonderful record for maintaining law and order in the rural sections of the state. The history of this organization was told by Katherine Mayo in a book calledJustice to All. In a later book,The Standard Bearers, she tells various incidents which show how these men do their work. The book is not fiction—the story here told happened just as it is set down, even the names of the troopers are their real names.
1. Do you get a clear picture of Drake from the description? Why are several pages given to telling his past career?2. Where does the real story begin?3. Who was the tramp at the Carlisle Station? When did you guess it?4. What are the principles of the State Police, as you see them in this story?5. Why was such an organization necessary? Is there one in your state?6. What new words did you find in this story? Define aura, primeval, grisly.
1. Do you get a clear picture of Drake from the description? Why are several pages given to telling his past career?
2. Where does the real story begin?
3. Who was the tramp at the Carlisle Station? When did you guess it?
4. What are the principles of the State Police, as you see them in this story?
5. Why was such an organization necessary? Is there one in your state?
6. What new words did you find in this story? Define aura, primeval, grisly.
In this story the author introduces a number of unfamiliar words, chiefly of Spanish origin, which are current in the Philippines. The meanings are given below.
baguio, hurricane.barrio, ward; district.carabao, a kind of buffalo, used as a work animal.cabo, head officer.cibay, a boys' game.daledale, hurry up!de los Reyes, of the King.de la Cruz, of the cross.hacienda, a large plantation.ladrones, robbers.maestro, teacher.nipa, a palm tree or the thatch made from it.palay, rice.pronto, quickly.pueblo, town.que barbaridad!—what an atrocious thing!volador, kite.
baguio, hurricane.barrio, ward; district.carabao, a kind of buffalo, used as a work animal.cabo, head officer.cibay, a boys' game.daledale, hurry up!de los Reyes, of the King.de la Cruz, of the cross.hacienda, a large plantation.ladrones, robbers.maestro, teacher.nipa, a palm tree or the thatch made from it.palay, rice.pronto, quickly.pueblo, town.que barbaridad!—what an atrocious thing!volador, kite.
1. Why does the story end with Isidro's crying? What did this signify? What is the relation of this to the beginning of the story?2. Has this story a central idea? What is it?3. This might be called a story of local color, in that it gives in some detail the atmosphere of an unfamiliar locality. What are the best descriptive passages in the story?4. Judging from this story, what are some of the difficulties a school teacher meets with in the Philippines? What must he be besides a teacher?5. What other school stories are there in this book? The pupils in Emmy Lou's school, (in Louisville, Ky.) are those with several generations of American ancestry behind them; in Myra Kelly's story, they are the children of foreign parents; in this story they are still in a foreign land—that is, a land where they are not surrounded by American influences. The public school is the one experience that is common to them all, and therefore the greatest single force in bringing them all to share in a common ideal, to reverence the great men of our country's history, and to comprehend the meaning of democracy. How does it do these things?
1. Why does the story end with Isidro's crying? What did this signify? What is the relation of this to the beginning of the story?
2. Has this story a central idea? What is it?
3. This might be called a story of local color, in that it gives in some detail the atmosphere of an unfamiliar locality. What are the best descriptive passages in the story?
4. Judging from this story, what are some of the difficulties a school teacher meets with in the Philippines? What must he be besides a teacher?
5. What other school stories are there in this book? The pupils in Emmy Lou's school, (in Louisville, Ky.) are those with several generations of American ancestry behind them; in Myra Kelly's story, they are the children of foreign parents; in this story they are still in a foreign land—that is, a land where they are not surrounded by American influences. The public school is the one experience that is common to them all, and therefore the greatest single force in bringing them all to share in a common ideal, to reverence the great men of our country's history, and to comprehend the meaning of democracy. How does it do these things?
1. During the war, President Wilson delivered an address at Philadelphia to an audience of men who had just been made citizens. The quoted passages in this story are taken from this speech. Read these passages, and select the one which probably gave the author the idea for this story.2. Starting with the idea, that he would write a story about someone who followed a dream to America, why should the author choose Russia as the country of departure?3. Having chosen Russia, why does he make Ivan a resident of a village far in the interior? Why not at Libau?4. Two incidents are told as occurring on the journey: the charge of the police at Bobrinsk, and the coming on board of the apple woman at Queenstown. Why was each of these introduced? What is the purpose of telling the incident on Fifth Avenue?5. What have you learned about the manner in which this story was written? Compare it with the account given by Dorothy Canfield as to how she wrote her story.6. What is the main idea in this story? Why do you think it was written? Edward Everett Hale wrote a story called "A Man without a Country." Suggest another title for "The Citizen."7. Has this story in any way changed your opinion of immigrants? Is Big Ivan likely to meet any treatment in America that will change his opinion of the country?8. The part of this story that deals with Russia affords a good example of the use of local color. This is given partly through the descriptions, partly through the names of the villagers—Poborino, Yanansk, Dankov; partly through the Russian words, such as verst (about three quarters of a mile), ruble (a coin worth fifty cents), kopeck (a half cent), muzhik (a peasant). How is local color given in the conversations?9. For a treatment of the theme of this story in poetry, read "Scum o' the Earth," by Robert Haven Schauffler, in Rittenhouse'sLittle Book of Modern Verse. This is the closing stanza:"Newcomers all from the eastern seas,Help us incarnate dreams like these.Forget, and forgive, that we did you wrong.Help us to father a nation, strongIn the comradeship of an equal birth,In the wealth of the richest bloods of earth."
1. During the war, President Wilson delivered an address at Philadelphia to an audience of men who had just been made citizens. The quoted passages in this story are taken from this speech. Read these passages, and select the one which probably gave the author the idea for this story.
2. Starting with the idea, that he would write a story about someone who followed a dream to America, why should the author choose Russia as the country of departure?
3. Having chosen Russia, why does he make Ivan a resident of a village far in the interior? Why not at Libau?
4. Two incidents are told as occurring on the journey: the charge of the police at Bobrinsk, and the coming on board of the apple woman at Queenstown. Why was each of these introduced? What is the purpose of telling the incident on Fifth Avenue?
5. What have you learned about the manner in which this story was written? Compare it with the account given by Dorothy Canfield as to how she wrote her story.
6. What is the main idea in this story? Why do you think it was written? Edward Everett Hale wrote a story called "A Man without a Country." Suggest another title for "The Citizen."
7. Has this story in any way changed your opinion of immigrants? Is Big Ivan likely to meet any treatment in America that will change his opinion of the country?
8. The part of this story that deals with Russia affords a good example of the use of local color. This is given partly through the descriptions, partly through the names of the villagers—Poborino, Yanansk, Dankov; partly through the Russian words, such as verst (about three quarters of a mile), ruble (a coin worth fifty cents), kopeck (a half cent), muzhik (a peasant). How is local color given in the conversations?
9. For a treatment of the theme of this story in poetry, read "Scum o' the Earth," by Robert Haven Schauffler, in Rittenhouse'sLittle Book of Modern Verse. This is the closing stanza:
"Newcomers all from the eastern seas,Help us incarnate dreams like these.Forget, and forgive, that we did you wrong.Help us to father a nation, strongIn the comradeship of an equal birth,In the wealth of the richest bloods of earth."
"Newcomers all from the eastern seas,Help us incarnate dreams like these.Forget, and forgive, that we did you wrong.Help us to father a nation, strongIn the comradeship of an equal birth,In the wealth of the richest bloods of earth."
"Newcomers all from the eastern seas,
Help us incarnate dreams like these.
Forget, and forgive, that we did you wrong.
Help us to father a nation, strong
In the comradeship of an equal birth,
In the wealth of the richest bloods of earth."