3/3/2016

ArtemisLiterarySourcesDocumentO.Henry'sSouthernTies

O.Henry'sSouthernTies
ShortStoryCriticism

O.Henry'sSouthernTies
EugeneCurrentGarcia
O.Henry:AStudyoftheShortFiction.NewYork:TwaynePublishers,1993.p321.Rpt.in
ShortStoryCriticism.Ed.JelenaO.Krstovic.Vol.117.Detroit:Gale.FromLiteratureResourceCenter.
FullText:COPYRIGHT2009Gale,CengageLearning
FullText:
[(essaydate1993)Inthefollowingexcerpt,CurrentGarciainvestigatesO.Henry'slocalcolorromancesandtall
talesagainstthebackdropofhismiddleclass,Southernupbringing.]
Inarecentlypublishedstudyofantebellumsouthernliterature,LouisD.Rubinmakesastrongcaseforthe
middleclassmotivesandambitionsofsociallyprominentwhitecitizensoftheOldSouth.Whetherplantation
slaveownersornot,hewrites,thesecitizensaspiredtothesamematerialisticgoalasdidtheirnorthern
neighbors:"ahighlycharacteristicgoalofsuccess,fulfillment,andthegoodlifethattooktheformofthe
plantationidealthedreamoftheplantation...asagoalpowerfullycovetedandimagined,[it]isamiddleclass
affair,representinganormallyacquisitivesociety'shopes."1AsthesonofDr.AlgernonSidneyandMaryJane
Porter,O.Henrysprangdirectlyfromjustsuchamiddleclasssouthernbackgroundandtheculturaltraditionhe
inheritedfromearlychildhoodandadolescenceinhisnativeGreensboro,NorthCarolina,exertedaprofound
influenceuponhisliterarycareer.ButhisbirthandupbringinginadefeatedSouth,sufferingimpoverishment
andahumiliatingadjustmenttotheharshrealitiesofpostwarReconstruction,alsomadealastingimpressionon
O.Henry'sconsciousness,coloringtotheendhisattitudetowardtheworldofhisyouth.
Thefactthatlateinlifeheseriouslyproposedwritingaseriesofstoriesintendedtodrawsharpcontrasts
betweentheOldandNewSouth,andevenworkedoutasufficientlydetailedoutlinefortheseriestosecurea
contractfromCollier'smagazine,clearlyilluminatesalifelongattachmenttohisnativeregion.Hisplan,
basically,was"toshowuptheprofessionalSouthernerwhowasstilltryingtoblameallhistroublesontheCivil
War,"asopposedtothenewsouthernerwhowastoobusymakingmoneytoworryaboutlostcauses.2
Althoughhintsofthisplanhadappearedinseveralearlierstories,suchas"TheEmancipationofBilly"and
"AMunicipalReport,"theseriesitselfwasneverwritten.ButhadO.Henrylivedtofulfillthatplan,hemight
wellhaveenhancedsignificantlyboththeannalsofsouthernliteratureandhisownliterarycareer,forfew
writersofhisgenerationwereaswellqualifiedashetocaptureinfictionalformtheessenceofsouthernlifeand
character.
Between1896,whenhewaswritingsketchesandanecdotesfortheHoustonPost,andhisdeathin1910,O.
HenrypublishedaboutthirtyshortstorieseitherlaidinanOldSouthsetting(asidefromTexasandthe
Southwest)orthatdealwiththeactivitiesandattitudesofantebellumsoutherncharacters.Numerically,these
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sort=RELEVANCE&docType=Critical+essay%2C+Excerpt&tabID=T001&prodId=GLS&searchId=R1&resultListType=

1/11

3/3/2016

ArtemisLiterarySourcesDocumentO.Henry'sSouthernTies

makeupbarely10percentofhistotaloutputbutevenacursorysurveyoftheirvariedcontentsandnarrative
methodsquicklydiscloseshowintimatelyO.Henry'sartistrywastiedtoasouthernculturalbackground.
Someofthem,forinstance,werewrittenintheveinoftheimmenselypopularantebellumtalltalefrontier
humoristssuchasA.B.Longstreet,J.J.Hooper,andJ.G.Baldwinotherswerefashionedintheequally
popularcontemporarymodeoflocalcolorregionalromancethatremainedstronglyinvoguebothNorthand
SouththroughoutO.Henry'slifetime.Inboththesetypesofhisshortfictiononefindsunmistakable
characteristicsofsouthernattitudes,manners,andspeech,forO.Henrywasinfluencedbymainstreamliterary
trendsinAmericanfictionthatwerealsomotivatingandwouldreappearin,forexample,theworksofMark
Twain,StephenCrane,andWilliamFaulknerontheonehand,andthoseofG.W.Cable,KateChopin,and
EudoraWeltyontheother.ClosestudyofO.Henry'ssouthernstories,accordingly,willshowthathisnarrative
methodsoftenachievedinthemasubtleblendofthetwobasicstrainsablendthatbecame,indeed,a
dominantfeatureinnearlyallhisotherstories,particularlythosedealingwithTexasoutlaws,andwithswindlers,
embezzlers,andfugitivesfromjustice.Thoughfewinnumber,hissouthernstoriesofferanimportantkeytothe
understandingofhisworkasawhole.
AttheheartoftheantebellumfrontiertalltaleyarnssuchasHooper'sAdventuresofCaptainSimonSuggslay
theproblemofthenarrator'sauthenticity.Sincemostoftheearlierfrontiertalesdealtwiththeludicrousanticsof
rawhide,uninhibitedroguesandadventurers,thecomicappealoftheiroutrageousfeatsofdaring,physical
prowess,andrascalityrestedonthenarrator'sabilitytomakethemconvincingandfunnyatthesametime.If,
likeColeridge'sAncientMariner,hecouldholdhisaudiencespellboundwithglitteringeyeandconjuring
speech,eventhemostincredulousreadermightbemovedtolaughterbyanunbelievablestoryinvolving
bizarreactionofthewildestsort.
AsayoungjournalistinTexas,O.Henryshowedhehadalreadycaughtthetrickofsuccessfullyjuxtaposinga
fantasticmedleyofinharmoniouselementsandaseeminglysobersided,straightforwardnarratortoproducein
"VeretonVilla"oneofthemosthilariousspoofsofhisentirecareer.Andashistechniquedevelopedhe
workedthesametrickrepeatedlywithgreaterfinesse,preservingaspiritofrollickinggaiety,yettoningdownits
vulgarexplosiveness,asin"HostagestoMomus"and"TheRoseofDixie,"twoofhismorematurelight
satiresofoldfashionedsouthernpretentiousness.
In"VeretonVilla"O.Henryproducedattheoutsetofhisprofessionalcareerwhatmightbecalledanactual
casestudyoftheartistinembryobecauseitrevealswithinacompactframeworkoffewerthanninepages
ampleevidenceofthedeftironistandresourcefulnarrativecraftsmanhewouldsoonbecome.Withhissubtitle,
"ATaleoftheSouth,"hesetsthedisingenuoustoneofhisapproachandproceedstoexplainandverifyina
briefopeningpassagebothitsoriginandmerit.
ThefollowingstoryofSouthernlifeandmannerswonaprizeofferedbyaBostonnewspaper,and
waswrittenbyayoungladyinBoston,ateacherinoneoftheadvancedschoolsofthatcity.She
hasnevervisitedtheSouth,butthefaithfullocalcolorandcharacterdrawingshowsanintimate
acquaintancewiththeworksofMrs.H.B.Stowe,AlbionW.Tourgeeandotherwellknown
chroniclersofSouthernlife.EveryonelivingintheSouthwillrecognizetheaccurateportraitsof
SoutherntypesofcharacterandrealisticdescriptionoflifeamongtheSouthernplanters.
TheslyoxymoronembeddedinO.Henry'stongueincheekanalogybetweenhisnarratorandtwoofthemost
heartilydespisedYankeewritersamongsoutherners,bothbeforeandaftertheCivilWar,warnsthealertreader
asatirictalltaleisabouttounfold.Andsoitdoes,echoingthroughabarrageofludicrouslyviolentscenesthe
ridiculeandresentmentofsouthernerstowardboththeauthorofUncleTom'sCabinandthenotorious
carpetbaggersoftheReconstructionera,TourgeeinparticularforhavingdramatizedinthenovelAFool's
ErrandhisharrowingsojournasoneoftheminGreensboroduringO.Henry'sboyhood.
Attheheartofthehumoroustalltale,whetherwrittenbytheoldsouthernyarnspinnersorlaterbyO.Henry,
thereisafunnynarratorplusincongruitythejuxtapositionofunexpected,inharmoniouselementsbuiltintothe
structureofthestory.Thus,"VeretonVilla,"purportedlywrittenbyaBostonianschoolmarmwhohasnever
seentheSouth,retellsimaginativelyinherownwordstheshockingexperiencesofPenelopeCook,wholived
andtaughtforashortwhileonasouthernplantation.Assheapproachedthemansioninaricketyambulance
drivenbyasobbingoldblackman,amuleburstoutofthefrontdoorjustastepaheadofthearistocratic,
broomwieldingMrs.DeVere,whograciouslywelcomedandsimultaneouslyofferedherachawoftobacco.
WithinthemagnificentlyfurnishedparlorPenelopequicklynotedseveralexamplesofsouthernsloth:a
wheelbarrowofdriedmortarinonecorner,apairoftrousershangingfromthechandelier,andseveralchickens
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sort=RELEVANCE&docType=Critical+essay%2C+Excerpt&tabID=T001&prodId=GLS&searchId=R1&resultListType=

2/11

3/3/2016

ArtemisLiterarySourcesDocumentO.Henry'sSouthernTies

roostingonthegrandpiano.AubreyDeVere,thetallgodlikeyoungson,clothedin"adresssuitofthelatest
cut,"greetedherwithpatriciancourtesy"inadeepmusicalbaritone"butshesawtoothathewasshirtlessand
barefooted,hismouthstreakedwithtobaccojuice.UponaskingheropinionofJeffersonDavis,whomPenelope
denouncedasatraitor,heflewintoapassion,seizedoneofthechickens,wrungitsneck,andflungitscarcass
ontheBrusselscarpet,itsheadintoherface.Then,humblybeggingherpardonononeknee,heremorsefully
explainedthat"twentyeightyearsagotodaymyfatherwaskilledatthebattleofShiloh."
Andsothefantasticcontretemps,steadilyrevealedinadry,matteroffacttone,brisklymovethestoryforward.
Atatypicallysouthernfeastconsistingofeverythingimaginablefromopossumandsweetpotatoestocatfish
andsquash,AubreyburieshiscarvingknifetothehiltintheoldNegroforspillinggravyonthetablecloth.Later
hedisplaystheaccuracyofbothhismusicaltechniqueandhisaimbyshowingPenelope,seatedatthepiano,
thattheAnaturalnoteshehadstruckinarunofdiminishedseventhsshouldhavebeenAsharpthe
neighboringblackkeyhedesignatesforherwithastreamoftobaccojuicefromacrosstheroom.Laterstillhe
provesthedepthofhisjealousdesireandimmediateshamewhen,hisardentlovemakingrepulsed,hepitches
Penelopethroughthewindowandsetsherafire,butthenpromptlyrescuesherandgoesallthewaytoBoston
tofetchherbelovedCyrusPotts.Finally,astheaffiancedpairbidgoodbyetotheSouthfromtheirrailroadcar,
Aubrey,seatednearbyonakegofdynamite,blowshimselfup,leavingPenelopeamementoforhermarried
lifehisgreattoe,whichshekeepsinabottleofalcoholonherwritingdesk.Shevowsnevertoreturntothe
South,however,becauseSouthernersaretooimpulsive.3
Ifonemaygrantacertainyouthfulexuberancethatledtosomecruditiesoroffensiveexpressionsin"Vereton
Villa,"O.Henry'sboisterousspoofinginthisearlystorywasneverthelesssquarelywithintheantebellum
Southwestfrontiertalltaletradition.Atleasthalfofhislatersouthernstoriesbearrecognizabletraitsofthe
sametradition,althoughashiscareermovedforwardinthedirectionoflocalcolorregionalismthesestories
acquiredavarietyofnewercharacteristicsskillfullyadaptedfromthepopularfictionofothersouthernwriters,
whowerealsoexploitingthepicturesquenessofthepostCivilWarSouth.
Asanationwideliteraryphenomenon,thelocalcolormovementwasideallysuitedtothebasicaimsofthe
ReconstructionerawhileO.Henrymaturedduringthe1880sand1890s,itservedasameansofrestoringthe
Southtorespectableliterarycompanyonthenationalscene.Growingapacetilltheendofthecentury,it
producedanavalancheofstoriesfromsuchwritersasGeorgeW.Cable,JoelChandlerHarris,MaryN.
Murfree,ConstanceFenimoreWoolson,ThomasNelsonPage,SherwoodBonner,KateChopin,GraceKing,
andmanyothers.TheparallelsbetweentheirstoriesandmanyofO.Henry'saretoonumerousandobviousto
leavetherelationshipbetweenthemindoubt.
Localcoloristseverywhere,particularlythoseintheSouth,weredevelopingintheirfictionatypeofmodified
realismaimedtoidentifyandalsotodrawfavorableattentiontodistinctivecharacteristicsinagivenregionof
thenation.Whateveritssubjectmatter,theirstorieswereintendedprimarilytodramatizehumanattitudesand
behaviorrecognizableaselementsbelongingtoapeculiarculturalmystique:inshort,asenseof"place,"as
EudoraWeltysuccinctlydescribedamajortenetinherownfictionmanyyearslater.Butinrepresentingthelife
peculiartotheirrespectiveregions,thelocalcoloristsofthe1880swerealsoboundbytheprevailingtasteand
taboosoftheperiodhencetheirfidelitytotheactualsceneisoftenmoreevidentintheirtreatmentofexternal
datathesightandsoundeffectsofsettinganddialoguethanintheireffortstodrawlogicalcauseandeffect
relationshipsbetweenthebackgroundandbehavioroftheircharacters.Sincegenteelcriticsoftencondemned
eventhemildvulgaritiesofspeechandthejarringimpuritiesofgrammarandidiomascribedtothese
characters,mostlocalcoloristsdarednotventurebeyondthemoresevererestraintssetbyVictorianstandards,
andO.Henry,alongwiththerest,willinglyadheredtotheserestrictions.Henotonlyresentedbeingcompared
todeMaupassant,forexample,butoftenboastedhisstoriescontainednothingunclean.
Manylocalcoloristsalsotendedtofocusonthepastratherthanonthepresentinordertoidealizehuman
behaviorbycastingoveritafilmy,nostalgicglow,asThomasNelsonPagedidinglorifyingtheageofslaveryin
theSouth.Mostofthemlikewisestudiouslyavoideddealingwithsordidmanifestationsofordinaryhumanlife,
butpreferredtosatisfythepopulardemandforstories"thatendwell,"evenwhenanoteoftragedywas
involvedapracticeprominentlydisplayedinthemajorityofO.Henry'sstories.Andpracticallyallofthem
ignoredtheproblemofsexualityineitheritspsychologicalorphysiologicaleffects,regardlessofthesocial
levelsandrelationshipspresentedintheirstories.Accordingly,fromtheviewpointofpresentdayliterarycritics
andscholars,thelocalcoloristsstrove"tomakeodditiesseempicturesque,tomaketheprimitiveseem
romantic...theyspecializedinculturalislandswherepeculiaritieshadsurvived,ortheydepictedapastage
duringwhichlocalindividualityhadflourished....Significantly,alargeproportionoflocalcolorfictionconcerns
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sort=RELEVANCE&docType=Critical+essay%2C+Excerpt&tabID=T001&prodId=GLS&searchId=R1&resultListType=

3/11

3/3/2016

ArtemisLiterarySourcesDocumentO.Henry'sSouthernTies

itselfwiththepoor,yetitmustquicklybesaidthatpovertyisgenerallyacceptedasafactoflife,sometimeswith
arecognitionofitshardshipsthenoteofprotestisexceptional."4
HowwellO.Henry'ssouthernstoriesconformtothesecriteriamaybedeterminedbyexamininginsomedetail
theirdominantcharacteristicsandtheresultingsubclassessuggestedbythem.Tosimplifymatters,thestories
maybearbitrarilyclassifiedunderfourheadingsasfollows:(a)talltales(b)localcolorromances(c)romantic
adventuretaleswithincidentallocalcolortouches(d)blendedlocalcolortalltales.Therelevanceofthis
classificationtoO.Henry'ssouthernstoriesmaybeexplainedasfollows:eightofthemingroup(a)arelabeled
talltalesbecause,thoughlaidintheSouth,theirmajorsignificanceliesintheinterplayofnarratorandplot,a
seriesofwildlyimprobableadventuresthatmighthaveoccurredanywhereontheotherhand,thesixstoriesin
group(b)aredistinctivelylocalcolorromancesbecausethecloserelationshipbetweensettingandcharacter
motivationinthemisclearlydesignedtogovernthedevelopmentandoutcomeoftheplot.Finally,groups(c)
and(d)aredistinguishedbythepresenceofdefinitetalltalecharacteristicsintheirstories,asallfourteenof
themrevealatleastsometracesoflocalcolorinfluence.
TheTallTales
Sixoftheeightstoriesclassifiedhereastalltalesappearinasinglevolume,TheGentleGrafter,acollectionof
fourteenthatdealwiththeactivitiesofswindlersandconmen,allegedlypickedupbyO.Henryfromhiscronies
intheOhioPenitentiary.TheGentleGrafterisofparticularinterestforseveralreasons:first,itistheonly
volumeintheO.Henrycanonthatcontainsamajorityofstoriesnotpreviouslypublishedorlaterreprintedin
magazinestheywerewrittenspecificallyforthiscollectionduringO.Henry'sfinalspurtofproductivityin1908.
Second,itistheonlyvolumeinwhichacentralcharacterdominatesallbutthreeofthestoriesinthecollection.
Allfourteenstoriesaretalltalesofthepicaresquevariety,butonlysixofthemarelaidintheSouth,andfiveof
thesesixdealwiththeexploitsofthenarrator,JeffPeters,whoisO.Henry'smostfullyroundedcharacter.5The
threeremainingtitlesoftheeightsoutherntalltalesreferredtoare"HostagestoMomus,"(alsointheThe
GentleGrafter),"Phoebe"(inRoadsofDestiny),and"TheRansomofRedChief,"oneofthemostpopular
ofallO.Henryfavorites(inWhirligigs).
JeffPeters,theGentleGrafter,isanamusingroguewhosedoctrine"akindamulct'eminparvo"(3)carries
himbackthroughthetraditionofpicaresquefictiontoRobinHoodandLazarillodeTormes.Butinamanner
closertothatofG.W.Harris'sSutLovingood,Jeffcarriesthenarrativeforwardchieflyindialogueform.Muchof
thehumorbubblinginanyofhisyarnsemergesfromhislaidbackcolloquialspeech,acascadeofoutrageous
punsandmalapropisms,usuallycouchedinapseudoeruditestyle.Correspondingly,therestofthehumoris
lodgedinthesubjectmatteritselftheabsurdpredicamentsandpettygraftingschemesJefftellsofhaving
sharedwithhispartner,AndyTucker.Allofthesestoriescouldhavecomestraightoffthepagesofthe
antebellumsportingjournal,TheSpiritoftheTimes,yetmostofthemalsobeartheunmistakabletrademarkof
O.Henry'ssurpriseending.
Inthefirsttale,"JeffPetersasaPersonalMagnet,"Jefftellsofhis"earlierdays"whenhesold"linamentsand
coughcuresonstreetcorners"andgotpickedup(despitehisfivedollarbribe)bytheconstableofFisherville,
Arkansas,forselling"ResurrectionBitters"atfiftycentsabottlewithoutacitylicense.Summonedtothe
mayor'sofficethenextday,hetheremethisfuturepartner,Andy,whowasalsobrokeandseekingsomeeasy
graft.Theythenmanaged,throughacomplicatedseriesofmovesundiscloseduntiltheend,tooutwitthe
authoritiesandskiptownwith$250,thecapitalwithwhichtheysustainedtheirbusinesspartnership.Later,in
"AMidsummerMasquerade,"whilerestingfromtheirswindlinglaborsatamountainresortinTennessee
(probablyGatlinburg),theyposedasvisitingdignitariesattherequestoftheproprietoroftheWoodchuckInn
alsoaswindlerwhodidn'twanttodisappointahousefulofnormalschoolteachersluredtherewiththepromise
ofmeetingtheDukeofMarlboroughandAdmiralPerry,thepolarexplorer.Andypreparesthereaderforthis
elaboratehoaxattheoutsetwithanappropriatemisquotation:"'Iwanttoloafandindictmysoul,'asWalt
Whittiersays"(89).
QuiteoftenthewittiestpartofanO.Henrystorycomesinthefirstpageorso,ashewarmsuptohisplotby
droppinganironicwisecrackwithatopicalallusionrelatedtohismaintheme.In"ShearingtheWolf,"for
example,Jeffstartsoffbyphilosophizingabouttheethicsofswindlingandthedifferencebetweenhisstandards
andhispartner's:"Ididn'tapproveofallofAndy'sschemesforlevyingcontributionsfromthepublic,andhe
thoughtIallowedmyconsciencetointerferetoooftenforthegoodofthefirm.Wehadhigharguments
sometimes.OnceonewordledtoanothertillhesaidIremindedhimofRockefeller."Jeffacceptedthetauntbut,
turningtheothercheek,remindedAndythathehadyet"toshakehandswithasubpoenaserver"(99).This
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sort=RELEVANCE&docType=Critical+essay%2C+Excerpt&tabID=T001&prodId=GLS&searchId=R1&resultListType=

4/11

3/3/2016

ArtemisLiterarySourcesDocumentO.Henry'sSouthernTies

launchesJeffintoanotheryarnaboutthetimewhenheandAndyfleecedahypocriticalsmalltownKentucky
merchantwhowasplanningtoexpose,forhisownprofit,amailordercounterfeitingscheme.In"TheMan
HigherUp"O.Henryvariedthisopeningtechniquebysettinghimselfupashisownnarratorinthefirstpage
hetellsthereaderhowmuchheenjoyedJeff'svisitstoNewYorkduringthewinter,hisoffseason,whenhis
swindlingactivitiesrangedfromSpokanetoTampa.ThenheletsJefftakeoverbyclassifyingthreekindsof
graft,hisownandtwoillegitimatesorts:
"Therearetwokindsofgrafts,"saidJeff,"thatoughttobewipedoutbylaw.ImeanWallStreet
speculationandburglary.""Nearlyeverybodywillagreewithyouastooneofthem,"saidIwitha
laugh."Well,burglaryoughttobewipedout,too,"saidJeff,andIwonderedwhetherthelaughhad
beenredundant.(138)
Again,in"TheEthicsofPig,"Jeffrelates"hislatestAutolycanadventure"(22),whichoccurredayearearlier
duringhistemporaryassociationwithahogstealer,RufeTatum,whomheemployedtoactasdecoyinashell
gamehewasoperatingatacountyfairinKentuckyinsteadtheemployeemulctedhimtothetuneofeight
hundreddollars,therebyprovinghisoriginalpointaboutthedifficultyofsecuringareliablepartneringraft.
EachoftheJeffPetersstoriesismildlyamusing,butnoneofthemachievesashighaleveloftalltale
effectivenessasseveralothersinthecollectionO.Henryearlierpublishedelsewhere.In"Hostagesfor
Momus,"forinstance,hecreatedanutterlyfantastictalltalebasedonanideaallegedlydrawnfromMark
Twain'sAdventuresofTomSawyer.6ParleyvousPickens,thenarrator,isanotherbumblingswindlerwhotells
howheandhispartner,CaligulaPolk,"ofMuscogeeintheCreekNation"(198),failedintheirattempttosecure
atenthousanddollarransomaftertheyhadkidnappedColonelJacksonT.Rockingham,thetownbankerof
MountainValley,Georgia,presidentofthedefunctSunriseandEdenvilleTapRailroad.Theirventureisatotal
fiasco,yettheabsurditiesstrungoutinitssituationandmodeofexpressionmakeitatypicalexampleofthe
antebellumtalltale.Itspurefantasy,exaggerations,andwisecrackingsatire,itscontrastbetweenpoverty
stricken,erodedlandandmiserablediet,ononehand,andthepretensionofsocialstatusandtheappreciation
ofagourmet'sdelicaciesontheotherallevokeatissueofincongruitiesstraightoutofthefrontierhumor
tradition.
Perhapsthebestexampleofall,however,isBoothTarkington'sfavorite,"TheRansomofRedChief,"another
kidnappingtalecutonapatternsimilartoO.Henry'smanyotherconmanyarns,butwithnowasteofwordsor
cuteposturings.7Sam,thenarrator,beginsitconversationallythisway:"Itlookedlikeagoodthing:butwaittillI
tellyou.Weweredownsouth,inAlabamaBillDriscollandmyselfwhenthiskidnappingideastruckus.Itwas,
asBillafterwardexpressedit,duringamomentoftemporarymentalApparitionbutwedidn'tfindthatouttill
later"(Whirligigs,100).
Thenearlyhomonymous"apparition"neatlysetsthecomictone,whichisupheldthroughoutthisdelightfultale
bysimilarrhetoricalblunderswheneverBillisquotedbyhismoreeruditepartner,whoseownpretentious
vocabularyincludessuchpreciositiesas"undeleterious"and"philoprogenetiveness."AndO.Henry'stechnique
ofbalancingmalapropismswithamusinglinguisticcontrastsisinturnsupportedbyavarietyofotherrisibly
contrastingelementswovenintotheplotstructure.Thereistheabsurdsituationoftwogrownmenreducedto
exhaustionanddesperationbytheirjuvenilevictimtheboy'saudacityandexuberanthighspiritsincontrastto
theirwearydiscomfiturethedrynessofhisfather's"counterproposition,"anoffertotakeJohnnyoffthe
kidnappers'handsfor$250incashandparticularlythenarrator'sserious,deadpantoneofvoicefrom
beginningtoend.Allthese,togetherwithitssparklingwordplay,aresoharmoniouslycombinedinthestorythat
ithasdeservedlyenduredasapopularfavoriteamonghighschoolanthologistsfornearlyacentury.
Butwhereas"TheRansomofRedChief"displaysO.Henry'stalltaleartistryatitsbest,"Phoebe,"another
doneinthesamemoldandpublishedthesameyear(1907),revealshisskillonlyindisarray.Foreventhough
thisstorycallstomindwhatmayhavebeenactualexperiencessharedduringhisbriefsojourninNewOrleans,
itstissueofmisadventurestiedtoafilibusteringexpeditioninCentralAmericafailstoarousethesympathetic
laughterO.Henryprobablyanticipated.Likeseveralothershewaspainfullygrindingouttowardtheendofhis
life,itsstructurebetraysthestrainofhiseffortstokeepupwiththedemandforhiswork.
TheLocalColorStories
Muchthesameunevennessisalsoapparentinthelocalcolorstoriesthatimpartastrongsouthernflavorin
bothsettingandcharacterizationaswellasactionandtheme.Yetamongthehalfdozencitedhereasmodels
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sort=RELEVANCE&docType=Critical+essay%2C+Excerpt&tabID=T001&prodId=GLS&searchId=R1&resultListType=

5/11

3/3/2016

ArtemisLiterarySourcesDocumentO.Henry'sSouthernTies

ofO.Henry'smasteryofthisgenre,eachclearlyshowsbyonemeansoranotherhowskillfullyhecould
combineandsetforthinseeminglyrealisticdialoguetherememberedactivitiesfromhisGreensboro
background,hisownpersonalhistory,andhisfirsthandobservationsofthevariousindividualsandclassesof
peoplehehadknown.Severalofthesestories,moreover,aregenerallyupheldashisfinestachievements.The
sixstoriesare"ABlackjackBargainer,""TheDuplicityofHargraves,""TheGuardianoftheAccolade,"
"TheEmancipationofBilly,""BlindMan'sHoliday,"and"AMunicipalReport."Allbutthelastofthese
wereamongO.Henry'searliestpublications,mostofthemhavingbeenwrittenduringhisprisondaysand
publishedshortlythereafterinvariousmagazinesbetween1901and1905.8
Alongwithafinetuneduseofdialect,thesestoriesallprojectasensitivefeelingforplacerightnessofsetting,
ofthecharacterswhoinhabitit,andoftherelationshipsamongthem.O.Henryquicklyestablishesthese
linkagesamongthem,sothathoweverimplausibletheplot,theskepticalreaderisdisarmedandtakeninbythe
illusion,atleasttemporarily."ABlackjackBargainer"offersupaspeciousplotbasedonhackneyed"Old
South"characterizationandthemessuchasfamilyfeudsandcodesofhonor,nobleselfsacrifice,andsoon.
Thus,theproblemofdisreputablelawyerYanceyGoree,whodrinksandgamblesawayhisfamilyestateand
thensellseventherightstoalongstandingfeudbetweentheGoreesandtheColtranes,ispatentlyabsurd.Yet
O.Henrymanagestomodulatethereader'sdisbeliefandarousesomeinterestinitbyinjectingintothestoryan
equallydubiousbutamusingclassconflictbetweenaristocraticGoreesandsomeignorantbutnouveauriche
hillfolk,thePikeGarveys.Althoughthesentimentaldenouementofthestoryisprettyhardtoswallow,theironic
motivationofitsthreeleadingcharactersispalpablyshapedbytheirrespectivebackgrounds.
Again,in"TheDuplicityofHargraves,"thecloserelationshipbetweencharacterandbackgroundproducesa
satisfyingexampleoflocalcolorromance,butheretheimmediatesettingislesssignificantthanthereflected
one.ThestoryislaidinWashington,whereimpoverished"MajorPendletonTalbot,ofMobile,sir,andhis
daughter,MissLydia,"havecometostayinamodestboardinghousewhilehefinisheswritinghisbook,
"AnecdotesandReminiscencesoftheAlabamaArmy,Bench,andBar,"9theanticipatedsalesofwhicharetheir
onlyhopeforsurvival.Publishedoriginallyin1902,thisstoryisthefirstofseveralinwhichO.Henrycleverly
developedafavoritethemebyironicallyjuxtaposingtheoutwornvaluesoftheOldSouth'sromanticpastand
themoresubstantialvaluesofarealisticpresent.Thus,whilethecourtly,oldfashionedMajorcandwell
endlesslyon"thesplendid,almostroyaldaysoftheoldplanters"withtheirthousandsofslavesandbalesof
cotton,theonlyoneinterestedinhisgarrulousreminiscencesisLydia'syoungsuitor,Hargraves,acharacter
actorwholistenstothembythehourashestudiestheMajorcloselyinordertoreproduceinastageplayallthe
lostgloryunaffectedlysymbolizedinhishost'sbehavior.
Eventually,theMajorisoutragedtofindhimselfcaricatured,eventotheslightestdetailsofhismintjulepritual,
buttheplay,agreathit,enrichesHargravesandtherebyenableshimtoendboththeMajor'sireandhispoverty
byduplicitouslyassuminganotherrole:playingthepartofafaithfulexslave,Cindy'sMose,hereappearsin
Washingtontosettleanolddebt.Withaconsummatelighttouch,especiallyinhishandlingofmixedblackand
whitedialogue,O.Henryweavestogetherpastandpresent,backgroundandcharactermotivation,maintaining
throughoutthestoryatoneofmingledironyandpathos.
O.Henry'sgentleironyisamongthemostdistinctiveelementsinhisportrayalof"OldSouth"values.Suffused
throughoutthetextureofhisbeststories,itnotonlyrevealsacombinedadmirationforandacriticalreappraisal
ofavanishedera,butalsooffsetsmuchofthebatheticsentimentalityfoundinearlierlocalcolortalesofthe
South.Asanundercuttingforce,forexample,itsharpensindifferentwaystheeffectofboth"TheGuardianof
theAccolade"and"TheEmancipationofBilly,"twostoriesobviouslydrawnfromO.Henry'sboyhood
recollectionsofGreensboroandofhisbibulousfatherandotheroldtimerswhofrequentedhisUncleClark's
drugstore.Despitetheirfarfetchedplots,bothstoriesrecapturenostalgicglimpsesofalessthanidyllicpast.
Inthefirstthereistheamusingcounterpointbetweenafaithfulblackservant'slaboriousbutmisguidedeffortsto
preservetheunsulliedreputationofhisoldwhitebossandthelatter'schagrinoverthelossofasuitcase
containing,"twoquartsofthefinestoldsilkvelvetBourbon...youeverwetyourlipswith"(RoadsofDestiny,
39).Butin"TheEmancipationofBilly"adifferentskeinoftheOldSouthNewSouththemeunfolds.Here,
throughthedodderingdailyprogressoftheagingCivilWarhero,"Governor"Pemberton,alongLeeAvenue
fromhismustymansiontothedrugstorewhereMr.ApplebysetsupdrinksfortheOldGuard,O.Henry
representsthepathetic,decadentOldSouththeenergeticNewSouthisembodiedinPemberton'sson,a
successfulyounglawyerwhoseappearancesbeforetheUnitedStatesSupremeCourthavebroughthim
nationalacclaim.Yet,ironically,amongtheeldercitizensofElmvilleheisstillpatronizedanddowngraded
beneaththeovershadowinglocalgrandeurofhispompousfatheruntilaflamboyanteventintheendsetshim
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sort=RELEVANCE&docType=Critical+essay%2C+Excerpt&tabID=T001&prodId=GLS&searchId=R1&resultListType=

6/11

3/3/2016

ArtemisLiterarySourcesDocumentO.Henry'sSouthernTies

free.Typically,O.Henry'ssurprisetwistonceagainproducesanabsurdlyfarfetchedclimaxanddenouementin
thisstory,buthiscontrolofdialogueanddescriptionneverthelesssupportitspretenseoflocalcolorrealism.
Despitesimilaraestheticlimitations,O.Henrywasequallysuccessfulwhenheshiftedhisfocusfromthevillage
andsmalltowntowardthesoutherncityin"BlindMan'sHoliday"and"AMunicipalReport."Intheearlier
storyhisuseofaNewOrleanssettinggivesusapreviewoftheNewYorkscene.TheNashvilleheportraysin
thelateroneremindsusofthe150ormoreBagdadtalesO.Henryhadpublishedwhenhewroteit.Between
thesetwostoriesthereisanoticeablecontrastintoneandtechnique,althoughasexamplesofhislocalcolor
writing,theyarealikeinonerespect.Inboththeinterestcenterslessontheproblemofenvironmentaleffecton
characterthanonpsychologicaltensionthatis,onconflictsofloyalty,honor,duty,andthelike,whichthe
leadingcharactersmustresolveforthemselvesregardlessofbackgroundinfluences.O.Henrydidnotattempt
toprobeveryfarbeneaththesurfaceineitherofthesestorieshesimplyresortedtotrickeryofonesortor
anothertoresolvehiscrisestoanoffstagemurderin"AMunicipalReport,"andadeusexmachinainthe
personofakindlypriestin"BlindMan'sHoliday."Nevertheless,hesuccessfullyevokedthelocalscenein
bothstories.
"BlindMan'sHoliday"isahopelesslyidealizedmlangebasedonthehackneyedthemeofnobleselfsacrifice
andstrungoutwoodenlytoamoralisticharanguequiteuntypicalofO.Henry'slaterwork.Forseriousstudents
ofhiscareeritsmaininterestmayresideinhistreatmentofguiltfeelingssufferedoverashadowedpastan
obviousparallelwithhisownpainfulhistory.Buttoday'saveragereadercanonlyviewthestoryquizzicallyasa
periodpiece,astudyinoutmodedtasteaswellasinitsauthor'sgropingexperimentationwithfictional
autobiography.
In"AMunicipalReport,"however,authorialselfassuranceisbrashlyevidentfrombeginningtoend.Thismay
bewhythestoryisstillregardedasoneofO.Henry'sfinest,althoughitscarcelydeservestheextravagant
criticalacclaimitreceivedinthe1920s.Severalglaringexcrescencesmaritsunityandthusweakenitsimpact.
Economyissacrificed,forexample,inO.Henry'soveruseofposturingtrickstobuilduphisnarrator'scharacter
asanironicfoilforthethreeotherparticipantsintheaction:oldCaesar,thefaithfulblackcoachmanandhero
MajorCaswell,thevillainouswhiteleechandthestarving,genteelauthor,AzaleaAdair.Afteropeningwith
quotedpassagesfromKiplingandNorris,thenarratorinterposestwowisecrackingparagraphsaboutcitiesasa
basisforhisthematicideathatitisrashtodenythepossibilityofromanceinanygivenone,largeorsmall.He
followsthesewithaRandMcNallythumbnailsketchofNashvilleandmorewisecracksaboutitslimitationsas
hechecksinatahotel,dines,stepsouttolookoverthesomnolentlittlecitywherenothingeverhappensafter
sundown,andfinallyencountersCaswell,thesouthernbore.Inthisleisurelywaythestorydriftsonafewmore
pagesonethirditsfulllengthwithmorechamberofcommercetidbitsdroppedinnowandagainbeforethe
narratorrevealshisprimarymissioninNashvilleastheagentofanorthernliterarymagazinewithacontractfor
MissAdair.FromthispointonitdoesfulfillO.Henry'sstatedpurpose,movingswiftlytowardhisclimaxand
muteddenouementtorefuteNorris'srecklesssupposition.ButhereaselsewhereO.Henry'smasteryof
picturesquedialectandsharpdescriptivedetailisclearlysuperiortohisanalysisofcomplexcharacterinaction.
RomanticAdventureswithIncidentalLocalColor
Structurally,thestoriesintheforegoinggroupdifferonlyslightlyfromeightothershereinwhicharegionalor
localbackgroundplaysalesssignificantroleasamolderofcharacterandaction.Theyareallalikeinrequiring
happenstanceand/orsleightofhandcontrivances,ratherthanalogicalsequenceofcauseandeffectevents,
tounraveltheirplotsandspringtheirpreordainedsurpriseendings.Allofthemlikewisefeatureavarietyof
romanticadventuresamongacastofidealized,twodimensionalcharacterswhomighteasilybeshuffledinto
anyoftheotherstorieswithnogreatlossofidentity.Accordingly,inreadingthesestoriesone'scuriosityis
arousedprimarilybytheirplotmanipulation,whichdoesrevealO.Henry'sfamedinventiveness,evenasearly
asthe1890s.Intheorderoftheiroriginalpublicationdates,theseeightstoriesare"WhistlingDick's
ChristmasStocking"(1899),thefirststorypublishedinanationalmagazineunderhispenname"Bulger's
Friend"(1901)"TheRenaissanceatCharleroi"(1902)"ARetrievedReformation"(1903)"Octoberand
June"(1903)"TheChurchwiththeOvershotWheel"(1904)"TheDoorofUnrest"(1904)and"Thimble,
Thimble"(1908).10Thereisaslightuseoflocalizedbackgroundtoinitiateandconcludetheactionin
"WhistlingDick'sChristmasStocking,"whichopensinthemidtown,riverfrontdistrictofNewOrleansand
movesforwardalongtheleveepasttheFrenchMarkettowardthesugarplantationsofChalmette.Butwiththe
heroestablishedatoneparticularspot,wherehecansaveaplanter'sfamilyfromarmedrobbery,settinghas
becomemuchlessimportantthanhismusicalaccomplishment.
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sort=RELEVANCE&docType=Critical+essay%2C+Excerpt&tabID=T001&prodId=GLS&searchId=R1&resultListType=

7/11

3/3/2016

ArtemisLiterarySourcesDocumentO.Henry'sSouthernTies

Andthesameistrueof"TheRenaissanceofCharleroi,"abizarreromanceinvolvingfierceCreolepassions
reminiscentofG.W.Cable'sTheGrandissimes,butwovenintothehackneyedplotofavanishedbrother's
miraculousreturnjustintimetoreunitetwolovinghearts.Thestoryisamplysuppliedwithspecificdetailsof
placenames,furnishings,dress,mannerisms,andspeechallhelpfullyevokingatypicalsouthLouisiana
ambience,butitsbasicthemecouldbejustaseffectivelydramatizedwithanyotherArabianNightsdecor.
Asopposedtothesetwostories,however,theothersinthegroupachievetheireffectswithevenslighterfocus
onlocalizeddetails.Thepersonaein"Bulger'sFriend"and"ARetrievedReformation,"forexample,could
haveplayedouttheirequallyromanticizedrolesvirtuallyanywhereelseintheUnitedStatesbesidesthe
imaginarysoutherntownswhereO.Henryplacedthem.Andyet,althoughtheformerlanguishesforgotten,
justifiablyenough,amonghispooreststories,theotherpossessestwosurefiredramaticqualitiesthathave
virtuallyimmortalizedit:namely,O.Henry'svividlyrealisticrepresentationofaprofessionalburglar'sequipment,
methods,attitudes,andmilieu,andabreathlessclimacticscenethatbringsallofthesetogether.
WhenthereformedJimmyValentine'ssensitivefingerscrackopenthebankvaultintimetorescuethetrapped
childwithin,henotonlysecuresanimmediatereprievefromtheFedtailinghim,butahero'suniversalacclaim
aswell.Tothemillionsofreaders,theaterbuffs,andvideofanswhohavetakenJimmyandhiscreatorintotheir
hearts,itmattersnotthatnodetectiveinhisrightmindwouldbehaveasBenPricedoesinthisstory.Andagain,
in"TheChurchwiththeOvershotWheel,"everythingimportantrestssolelyuponthemiraculousreunionofa
kindlyoldmillerandhislonglostAglaia.ThelocationofthechurchitselfaconvertedmillintheCumberland
MountainsandthefactthatAglaiagrewupinavillagenearAtlantahaveonlyatenuousbearingonthe
outcomeofherstory.
Settingisstilllessrelevanttothedevelopmentofthethreeremainingstoriesinthisgroup,althougheachrests
onrecognizablesouthernliterarytraditionswhilepursuingadifferentpathtowardthegoalofitsintendedeffect.
"TheDoorofUnrest,"forexample,isalmostuniqueamongO.Henry'smanytalesasavariationofthe
ancientWanderingJewtheme,itstensiondevelopsthroughasuccessionofstrangeencountersbetweena
smalltownsouthernnewspapereditorandadisheveledoldvagabondknownasMichobAder,whosewildly
garbledmemories,narratedinarichIrishbrogue,leadtothedisclosurethatheisonlythetown'stipsy
shoemaker,MikeO'Bader.Thus,interesthasbeenarousedandfurtheredbythecombineddevicesofdialectal
wordplayandmistakenidentity.Similarly,butslighterinsubstance,"OctoberandJune"isanotherexpanded
anecdotalvariationonthefoolproofbuthackneyedthemeofmarriagebetweenyouthandage.Itfunctions
solelytoproduceasurprisingsexualmismatchinthelastsentenceinsteadoftheladyexpected,theyouthful
brideturnsouttobeanineteenyearoldcaptainoftheChattanoogacadets.
TrickeryofthissortinwordplayandthemanipulationofpartiallyconcealeddetailsquicklybecameO.Henry's
majorstockintrade,andhiscleveruseofsuchdevicesinthesetwoearlystoriesledthewaytowardthemore
elaboratelegerdemainheperformedinlateroneslike"Thimble,Thimble,"afranklyacknowledgedborrowing
fromFrankStockton'ssensationalplotin"TheLadyortheTiger?"Thoughclearlyovershadowedbyitsmore
famousmodel,O.Henry'simitationcreatedaminorsensationofitsownwhenthepublishersofHampton's
magazinestagedacontestandawardedprizesforthebestsolutionstothecentralmysteryraisedbutleft
undisclosedinthestory.Moreover,"Thimble,Thimble,"likethestoriesofJimmyValentineandHargraves,
wasreadilyadaptableforthestageandthusreappearedwithnineofhisotherstoriesinacollectionofoneact
playspublishedin1934.11Butthestorymeritsattentionformorereasonsthanthat.Initsironicaltreatmentof"a
Southerner'sideaofaNortherner'sideaoftheSouth,"itisanalogoustoandnearlyaseffectiveas"TheRose
ofDixie,"thefunniestofallO.Henry'sliterarysatires.
AsastrikingexampleofO.Henry'sversatility,althoughhissettingfor"Thimble,Thimble"isabusinessoffice
inNewYork,thesubstanceandflavorofthestoryprimarilyconveyadelicatelybalanceddichotomyof
contrastingattitudestowardhisnativeregion.Bothwerederivedfromhis"NewSouth"philosophy,which
respectedtheestablishedidealsandtraditionsoftheSouthbutalsosoughttomergethemwiththebroader,
morecomprehensiveidealsandtraditionsofthenationasawhole.Todramatizetheimpliedambiguityinthis
effort,hisstorychallengesthereader'scuriositywithanotherwellwornoldpuzzle:giventwoyoungAmericans
ofcommonancestry,equalabilities,opportunities,andpersonalqualities,butrearedinVirginiaontheone
hand,inMassachusettsontheother,howcanonedistinguishbetweenthem?Everthehoaxer,O.Henry
standschucklinginthewingswhilepreparingtobafflehisreaderaspoorblackUncleJakecannottellthe
differencebetweenhis"youngMarster,"BlandfordCarteret,andBlandford'sYankeecousin,JohnCarteret.The
underlyingideasupportingthecomicsceneplayedoutonhislittlestage,however,isaseriousone.Withoutthe
intimatefeelingfortheSouthO.Henrysubtlyrevealsinthisstory,muchofitseffectivenesswouldbelost
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sort=RELEVANCE&docType=Critical+essay%2C+Excerpt&tabID=T001&prodId=GLS&searchId=R1&resultListType=

8/11

3/3/2016

ArtemisLiterarySourcesDocumentO.Henry'sSouthernTies

(Clarkson,99).
LocalColorTallTales
ThelastsixstoriesthatreflectO.Henry'scloseobservationofpicturesquesoutherncustomsandmanners
differslightlyfromthosediscussedabove,chieflyintwotechnicalrespects:theypresentaheavier
concentrationoflocalcolorfeatures,yetinpursuingtheirintendedeffect,eachreliesprimarilyupontalltale
elements,eitherfarcicalorsatiric.Actually,theyareneithertalltalespersenorlocalcolorstoriesexclusively
butrather,attheirbest,aniceblendofthetwotypes.AndtheyareattheirbestintheirlatestformwhenO.
Henry,seasonedthroughtheproductionofmorethantwohundredstories,couldmixhisingredientsfarmore
adroitlythanhecouldattheoutsetofhiscareer.
Yetthreeofthesesixwereamongtheearliesthewrote,possiblywhilestillinprisonorshortlythereafter,forall
threewerefirstpublishedin1903.Theirtitlesare"CherchezLaFemme,""TheWhirligigofLife,"and"Out
ofNazareth."Thelatergroup,writtenandpublishedduringO.Henry'slasttwoyears,are"TheRoseofDixie"
(1908),"BestSeller"(1909),and"LetMeFeelYourPulse"(1910).Geographically,thesouthernsettingsfor
thesixrangefromLouisianatoVirginiaandarefunctionallysignificantineach.
"CherchezLaFemme"isanothergoodexampleofO.Henry'schameleonlikeadaptability.Writteninthelocal
colorveinofOldCreoleDays,itrecapturesmuchthesameGallicflavoroftheantebellumVieuxCarre'ssetting,
characterization,dialogue,andtonethatonefindsinGeorgeWashingtonCable'sexoticdepictionofNew
Orleanslife.Thestoryopenswithtwonewspaperreporters(RobinsofthePicayuneandDumasofL'Abeille)
drinkingabsinthetogether"inthelittleCreolehauntedcafeofMadameTibault,inDumaineStreet"(Roadsof
Destiny,144).Catchingnoteofaforthcomingauctioninthemorning'snewspaper,theyrecallthemysterious
disappearancetwoyearsagooftheMadame'stwentythousanddollarfortune,entrustedforsafekeepingtoa
certainM'sieurMorin,nowdeceased.Fromhereontheactiondevelopsintoawildgoosechaseasthetwomen
strivetorecoverthehiddentreasurebecauseDumasinsiststheoldadagecherchezlafemmewouldexplain
bothitsoriginallossandpresentwhereabouts.
EventuallytheydiscoveritintheformofsomeglitteringUnitedStatesgoldbondsthatMadameTibault,
ignorantlyassumingthemtobeprettycommercialcalendarsgivenherbyMorin,usedtopaperoveracrackin
herownbackparlor.ButasidefromtheMadame'scolorfulFrancoEnglish("M'sieurMorin,heleavethoseli'l
peezespapierinthostable,ansayver'much'boutmoneythasshardformetoond'stan.MaisIneverseethose
moneyagain"),thestoryisprettyfarfetchedandunimpressive(RoadsofDestiny,153).Theothertwostories
arenobetter.
ExceptforO.Henry'ssensitivecontrolofthepicturesquecountryspeechinGeorgiaandTennessee,both"The
WhirligigofLife"and"OutofNazareth"lackspontaneityandinventiveness.Inthelatterespecially,boththe
charactersandactionsascribedtothemaresomanifestlycontrivedandimplausiblyconventionalizedthatthe
storyfailsinitsattempttofusethetalltalefantasyofanelaboraterealestateswindlewiththesentimental
appealofagedinnocencerequited.Accordingly,onemaycheerfullyturnforreliefto"TheRoseofDixie"and
itsuproarioussatireof"OldSouth"stuffinessunforgettablybroughttolifeinthepersonofColonelAcquila
TelfairofToombsCity,Georgia.
Determinedtoeditahighmindedsouthernliteraryjournal,theColonelgatherstogetherastaffofimpeccably
Confederateassistants"awholecrateofGeorgiapeaches"andadamantlyrefusestosullyhisjournalwithany
materialproducedabovetheMasonDixonline,becauseeverythingpublishedinitmustconformtohisbasic
policy:"Of,For,andBytheSouth."12HewaversabitwhenafasttalkingNewYorksalesmantriestopersuade
himtoomitsomeofthesoutherndeadwoodscheduledforthenextissueandreplaceitwithmorepopular
literaryfarefromelsewheresothatcirculationcanbeboosted.ButintheendtheColonelfillsthespace
tentativelyagreeduponwithanessayentitled"SecondMessagetoCongress/Writtenfor/THEROSEOF
DIXIE/BY/AMemberoftheWellknown/BULLOCHFAMILYOFGEORGIA/T.Roosevelt."
Although"TheRoseofDixie"lacksO.Henry'scustomaryromanticappealofvirtuerewarded,loverequited,or
innocencepreserved,itclearlycompensatesfortheomissioninseveralways.Besidestheexpectedsurprise
ending,thereisalsothedelightfulspoofingthatleadsuptoitthroughouttheinterviewbetweenColonelTelfair
andthesalesman,T.T.Thacker,bothofwhomarebrilliantlycharacterized,theonewithhisstiff,selfrighteous
Southernintransigence,theotherwithhisbrashYankeepracticality.Thus,thestoryisnotonlyaclevertakeoff
ofantebellumsouthernperiodicals,butisallthefunnierforbeingpartiallytruthfulandyetkindlyatthesame
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sort=RELEVANCE&docType=Critical+essay%2C+Excerpt&tabID=T001&prodId=GLS&searchId=R1&resultListType=

9/11

3/3/2016

ArtemisLiterarySourcesDocumentO.Henry'sSouthernTies

time.AndsincethebuildupofThackerisequallybarbed,itsdoubleedgedsatirecutsbothways:against
overprincipledsouthernstatesrightsism,poorbutproud,andagainstunprinciplednortherncommercialism,
indifferenttowardanyidealbutthatofmakinga"fastbuck."
Lightliterarysatireofthissortalsoembellishes"BestSeller,"astorycavalierlydismissedbyonecriticbecause
it"championsthe'PrisonerofZenda'typetalewithacommonplaceparallelofitsseemingimprobabilities."13
Actually,thankstoasubtleironictonemaintainedthroughoutthecolloquybetweenthenarratorandthe
protagonist,O.Henryparodiesboththeoverdonebestselling"romance"oftheperiodwithitscontrived
escapadesinvolvingAmericanbusinessmenandEuropeanprincesses,andhisownbrandofmore
commonplacerealisticromance.Thoughnotwhollysuccessfulindevelopinghisnarrator'sdualroleasauthor's
mouthpieceforridiculingbadlywrittenfictionandasindependentspokesmanfortheidealsofordinarymiddle
classAmericansO.Henryconveysfairlywellthroughhimtheunderlyingideathatbothimaginationandfinesse
arerequiredtogiveavalidfictionalformtohumanactionsonanysociallevelwhatever.
Butofallthestoriesheeverwrote,O.Henryprobablycameclosesttototalsuccessintheartoffusingcomedy,
pathos,andthehumanpredicament,fittinglyenough,inthelastonehecompletedbeforehedied:"LetMeFeel
YourPulse."14"SoIwenttoadoctor,"hisnarratorbegins.AndforthenextfifteenpagesO.Henry'sjocularity
bubblesthroughthenarrator'saccountofordealshesufferedatdoctors'handsashewasbeingbumped,
probed,peeredinto,andprescribedforuntil,finally,intheBlueRidgeMountainsofNorthCarolinahefoundthe
covetedresponsefromoldDoctorTatum:"Somewhereinthesemountains...there'saplantgrowinga
floweringplantthat'llcureyou,andit'sabouttheonlythingthatwill.It'sofakindthat'sasoldastheworldbut
oflateit'spowerfulscarceandhardtofind.YouandIwillhavetohuntitup"(170).AlmostimperceptiblyO.
Henrytakesthereaderintotherealmoffantasytoshowhimthattheonlycureheknewforhumanillsliesinthe
imaginationthemagicplanttheysoughtwasamaryllis,symbolofloveandpoeticreleasesincethedaysof
Theocritus.
EvenifO.HenryhadneverseentheSouth,hemightwellhaveproducedasmanystoriesandbecomeas
famousashedidbecome.Butitisverydoubtfulhisworkswouldhavepossessedthesamequalitiesthathave
distinguishedthemfromallothersofhisperiodandmadehisnameabywordinthefieldofshortfiction.Forthe
mostprominentofthosequalitieshisplayfulnessandfondnessfortheexotic,theexaggerated,thefanciful,
andthepicturesquehisawarenessofdistinctivedifferencesbetweennorthernandsouthernidealsand
especiallyhissympatheticfeelingforagoniesimplicitinthechangingattitudesofdefeatedsouthernersareall
productsofasouthernliteraryheritage.Evenwithouthisfrankavowalofloyaltytosouthernideals,asin"A
MunicipalReport,"thedebtheowedtothisheritagewouldbevisibleinbothhistalltalesandhislocalcolor
romances.

Notes
1.LouisD.Rubin,TheEdgeoftheSwamp(BatonRougeandLondon:LouisianaStateUniversityPress,1989),
47.
2.SeeLangford,AliasO.Henry,22426,23132hereaftercitedasLangford.
3.SeeHarrell,O.HenryEncore,11929hereaftercitedasHarrell.
4.Criticalpuristsandreviewersinthe1880sand1890softenattackedlocalcoloristsbecauseofalleged
vulgarityinthedialectusedintheirstories.SeeClaudeM.Simpson,TheLocalColorists(NewYork,1960),12,
13,n.7.SeealsoLangford,232.
5.Thetitlesofthesefiveare"JeffPetersasaPersonalMagnet,""AMidsummerMasquerade,""Shearingthe
Wolf,""TheManHigherUp,"and"TheEthicsofPig."
6.SeeDavisandMaurice,TheCaliphofBagdad,35558hereaftercitedasCaliph.
7.SeeCaliph,379.ThestorywasfirstpublishedintheSaturdayEveningPost(6July1907)andcollectedin
Whirligigs,100115.SeeClarkson,50.
8.Thesesixwerefirstpublishedandlatercollectedasfollows:"ABlackjackBargainer,"inMunsey's(August
1901)asby"SydneyPorter"andinWhirligigs,16687"TheDuplicityofHargraves,"inJuniorMunsey
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sort=RELEVANCE&docType=Critical+essay%2C+Excerpt&tabID=T001&prodId=GLS&searchId=R1&resultListType

10/11