the books.

1. Compare the beginning of this story with the beginning of
"Bitter-Sweet." What difference do you note?

2. Select a description of a person that shows the author's power
of concise portraiture.

3. What is the turn of surprise in this story? What other stories
in this book have a similar twist at the end?

4. What is the central thought of this story?

5. Other stories of O. Henry's that ought not to be missed are "An
Unfinished Story" and "The Furnished Room" in _The Four Million_;
"A Blackjack Bargainer" in _Whirligigs_; "Best Seller" and "The
Rose of Dixie" in _Options_; "A Municipal Report" in _Strictly
Business_; "A Retrieved Reformation" in _Roads of Destiny_; and
"Hearts and Crosses" in _Hearts of the West_.

THE GOLD BRICK

This story, first published in the _American Magazine_, was reprinted in
a volume called _The 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 the _Post_, 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 the _Post_? To the
_Telegraph_? 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