by O. Henry
453.28 Laura Jean Libbey] Popular New York–based writer (1862–1924) known as the “working-girl” novelist for her many stories with such characters.
455.2 Kipling] From the dedication of English author Rudyard Kipling’s poetry collection The Seven Seas (1896).
455.8 roof-garden] Hammerstein’s Roof Garden, which opened in 1899, began a trend of summertime outdoor rooftop cafés and vaudeville theaters in New York.
456.6 Doctor Wiley] Harvey Wiley (1844–1930), American chemist and a leader in the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.
456.31 Flatiron Building] See note 425.19.
457.34 Langley flying machine] Langley Aerodrome, unsuccessful flying machine designed in the 1890s by Samuel Langley (1834–1906).
458.20 Depew and Ford] For Depew, see note 450.18. Simeon Ford (1855–1933), owner of the Grand Union Hotel and well-known raconteur.
459.16 Sousa’s band] John Philip Sousa (1854–1932), American composer and bandleader.
459.16 the repeating candidate] William Jennings Bryan (1860–1925), Democratic candidate for president in 1896, 1900, and 1908.
460.4 war map] The Russo-Japanese War was fought from 1904 to 1905.
460.16 Yalu] The Battle of the Yalu River (1904) was a victory for Japan.
460.35 Jeffries’s] James “Jim” Jeffries (1875–1953), world heavyweight champion, 1899–1905.
461.18–19 denarii—scudi—kopecks—pfennigs—pilasters] The first four are the currencies, respectively, of ancient Rome, various Italian states up to the nineteenth century, Russia, and Germany. A pilaster is a column that protrudes from a wall.
462.24 seidlitz powder] See note 224.32.
465.34 Kuropatkin] Alexsey Kuropatkin (1848–1925), Russian minister of war from 1898 to 1904.
466.7–8 lares et penates] See note 437.20.
468.16 The Huguenot Lovers] “A Huguenot” (1852), painting by John Everett Millais (1829–1896).
468.17 The First Quarrel] “Their First Quarrel,” drawing by Charles Dana Gibson (1867–1944).
468.17 The Wedding Breakfast] Painting (1862) by George Elgar Hicks (1824–1914).
468.17–18 Psyche at the Fountain] “Psyche at a Fountain” (1900), painting by Guillaume Seignac (1870–1924).
473.3–4 where the distance between the two streets is the shortest] That would place the store on Houston Street in lower Manhattan.
476.26 Lochinvar] Knight who is the hero of the ballad “Marmion” (1808) by Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832).
478.8 “broiler,”] Chorus girl.
478.23 dub] Oaf.
478.30 John Drew or Jim Corbett] Drew, American stage actor (1853–1927). James “Gentleman Jim” Corbett (1866–1933), American heavyweight who worked as an actor after his retirement from boxing in 1903.
479.5 Thespis] Greek poet of the sixth century B.C.E. said to be the first person to speak, rather than chant or sing, as an actor in a drama.
483.18 ticket-chopper] Employee who shredded New York subway customers’ tickets.
484.1–2 “The Rise and Fall of Silas Latham”] Novel (1885) by William Dean Howells (1837–1920).
484.3 “The Boss”] The Boss, and How He Came to Rule New York, novel (1903) by Alfred Henry Lewis (1857–1914).
484.3–4 “In the Bishop’s Carriage”] Novel (1904) by Miriam Michelson (1870–1942).
484.5 “The Deliverance”] Novel (1904) by Ellen Glasgow (1873–1945).
484.7–8 “The Queen’s Quair”] Historical novel (1904) by Maurice Hewlett (1861–1923).
486.12–13 Big Church in the Middle of the Block] See note 453.13.
487.12 Mazuma] See note 412.19.
489.23 Cop] Look at, notice.
489.24 push] Crowd, set.
489.38 Beau Brummel] George Bryan “Beau” Brummell (1778–1840), English dandy.
490.13 Pipe] Look at.
490.13 floor-walker] Employee who supervises a section of a store or shop.
491.3 “Big Mike” O’Sullivan] See note 405.27–28.
491.19 perfectos] Cigars.
493.4 Lizzie-boy] Effeminate man, homosexual.
495.20 the Island] Blackwell’s Island (now called Roosevelt Island), a narrow island in New York’s East River, site of a municipal prison from the early nineteenth century until 1935.
495.22 Boreas] Greek god of the north wind.
499.9 Hartford College] Comedic mangling of Harvard College, Yale’s traditional football foe.
502.27 Palisades] Steep cliffs along the west side of the Hudson River opposite Manhattan, once frequently used as a site for duels.
502.30 tierce] Fencing maneuver.
502.31 crow to pick] Disagreement, bone to pick.
503.10 Sidereal System] A system of astrology that uses different dates than the more commonly used tropical system to divide the year among the twelve zodiac signs.
503.19 Rudolf Steiner] Also the name of an Austrian-born spiritualist (1861–1925).
503.39 “Junie’s Love Test,”] Novel (1886) by Laura Jean Libbey, for whom see note 453.28.
506.20 “Himmel!”] Good heavens!
506.30 election bets] Contemporary fad of betting on elections with odd stakes, such as rolling a peanut for a specified number of blocks.
507.12 “fines”] Wage deductions for minor offenses.
509.10 Gentle Riders] See note 442.26–27.
509.24 up-hill charge] The Battle of San Juan Hill, Cuba, a decisive U.S. victory in the Spanish-American War.
509.25 Democrats] In the 1904 campaign, Democrats unsuccessfully used Roosevelt’s Rough Riders experience as evidence that Roosevelt was too “impulsive” and “sensational” to be president.
510.2 bobbies] Police officers.
514.30 Mrs. Partington] Comical character known for her malapropisms created by American author Benjamin Penhallow Shillaber (1814–1890).
515.2–3 Dockstader’s minstrels] Vaudeville troupe led by Lew Dockstader, stage name of George Alfred Clapp (1856–1924).
521.14 D. P. W.] Department of Public Works.
521.21–22 the nation that keeps us . . . fugues and fruit] Italy.
522.31 Hoosac Tunnel] A 4.75-mile-long railroad tunnel in western Massachusetts.
523.37 Beloochistan] Belochistan, a province in Pakistan.
524.35 sidereal system] See note 503.10.
524.35 Epictetus] Greek stoic philosopher (c. 55–c. 135 C.E.).
525.25 “Arcturus——”] The brightest star in the northern constellation Boötes.
527.32 ‘rounder’] Wealthy, fashionable man; playboy.
527.33 Mrs. Fish’s receptions] Marion “Mamie” Fish (1853–1915), New York socialite.
527.34 Lotos Club] Gentlemen’s club in New York.
528.3–4 hydrogen derivatives] Probably a reference to women who dye their hair blonde with hydrogen peroxide.
528.9 heimgangers] Stay-at-homes.
528.38 fly] Fashionable.
528.39 push] See note 489.24.
528.39–529.1 bump to the rail] A horse-racing maneuver in which a jockey crowds his opponent to the outside.
529.1 between the Flatirons] A part of Broadway, known for its theaters and nightclubs, stretching from the Flatiron Building at 23rd Street to the New York Times headquarters at 42nd Street.
529.30 roof garden] See note 455.8.
530.3–4 ‘Let’s All Go Up to Maud’s’] Popular song (1904) by Joseph C. Farrell and Kerry Mills.
530.19�
�Rubber] See note 450.6.
531.2 Santos-Dumont] Alberto Santos-Dumont (1873–1932), Brazilian aviation pioneer.
532.15 Hackett matinee] James K. Hackett (1869–1926), American actor.
532.17–18 gentleman who announced . . . open] Pistol, in Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, II.ii.2–3, who says, “the world’s mine oyster, Which I with sword will open.”
532.35 throw the five . . . coloured gentleman’s head] African Dodger, carnival game in which an African American man would stick his head through a curtain and attempt to dodge objects, such as eggs or baseballs, thrown at him.
533.26 “In the Good Old Summertime”] “In the Good Old Summer Time,” popular song (1903) by George Evans and Ren Shields.
535.7–8 diminuendo con amore] Italian: quietly, with love.
536.24 Mukden] City in Manchuria, site of decisive battle (1905) in the Russo-Japanese War in which Russian forces retreated.
536.25–26 “The Cloister and the Hearth,”] Historical novel (1861) by Charles Reade (1814–1884). The main character is Gerard Eliassoen, a young Dutch scribe; Denys is his companion.
538.16–17 Bastien Le Page and Gérôme?] French painters Jules Bastien-Lepage (1848–1884) and Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824–1904).
538.37 Rosa Bonheur] French painter and sculptor (1822–1899).
539.24 Comstockized] Anthony Comstock (1844–1915), moralistic crusader against “obscenity.” The adjective presumably suggests that Medora’s shirtwaist is demure.
540.11 Würzburger] Beer brewed in Würzburg, Germany.
541.12 White Lane] Broadway, also known as the Great White Way.
541.13 pad] Leave, walk away.
541.21 maul-stick] Sometimes mahlstick, used by painters as a rest for the hand while painting.
541.23 Jerome or Gérôme] William Travers Jerome (1859–1934), New York district attorney, 1902–9. For Gérôme, see note 538.16–17.
541.29 Prax Italys!] Praxiteles (fl. 370–330 B.C.E.), Greek sculptor.
541.30 Venus Anno Dominis] Reference to “Venus Annodomini,” short story (1886) by Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936).
542.25–26 Camille, Lola Montez, Royal Mary, Zaza] Camille, tragic heroine of the novel La Dame aux Camélias (1848) by Alexandre Dumas fils, as well as the opera La traviata (1853) by Giuseppe Verdi. Lola Montez (1821–61), Irish singer and actress who became the mistress of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and died of syphilis. Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587), who was executed for treason. Zaza, the title character, a prostitute, of a play (1898) by Pierre Berton and Charles Simon.
542.29 King of Belgium] Leopold II (1835–1909), known for his many mistresses.
543.2 Carter] Mrs. Leslie Carter (c. 1857–1937) played the title role in the American production of Zaza (1899).
544.7 St. George Rathbone’s] St. George Rathborne (1854–1938), American author known for his adventure stories and dime novels.
544.29 Metropolitan] Metropolitan Opera.
544.29 De Reszke] Jean de Reszke (1850–1925), Polish tenor who retired from performing in 1902.
544.32 Caruso] Enrico Caruso (1873–1921), Italian tenor who made his American debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1903 and who was considered to be de Reszke’s successor.
546.14 Tony Pastor] American vaudeville impresario (1837–1908).
546.16 ‘Parsifal’] Opera (1882) by Richard Wagner (1813–1883).
546.19 B. Cory Kilvert] Benjamin Sayre Cory Kilvert, Canadian-born illustrator (1879–1946), known for his depictions of children.
547.17 the unities] The theory, derived from Aristotle, that a play should have a single action occurring in a single place and within the course of a single day.
547.23 S. P. C. C.] Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, founded in New York in 1874.
548.21–22 Château de Beychsvelle] Château Beychevelle, wine from the Bordeaux region of France.
549.21 “The Banks of the Wabash”] “On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away,” song (1897) by Paul Dresser (1857–1906).
549.34 Chaldean] Chaldea, country located in southeastern Mesopotamia, which existed roughly from the tenth century until the sixth century B.C.E.
550.18–19 the kangaroo walk] Fad that involved walking with a “hoppy, springy stride and a swinging relaxation of the arms.”
550.22 pneumatic] Relating to a woman with a well-rounded figure.
551.18 frangipangi] Probably frangipane, a sweet, almond-flavored filling used in baking.
551.22 ‘Elsie’s School Days’] Martha Finley (1828–1909) wrote Elsie Dinsmore, a series of children’s novels with a moralistic, Christian slant, published from 1867 to 1905. Elsie’s School Days was not one of them.
551.36 Carnegie] Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919), Scottish-American industrialist known for his philanthropy, especially funding public libraries.
552.2 Red Leary] John “Red” Leary (died 1888), bank robber.
555.2 RUBBERNECK] See note 450.6.
556.1 Golden Way] Presumably Fifth Avenue.
556.8 Vanderbilts] Descendants of Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794–1877), American business magnate.
556.8–9 Grand Central depot] Vanderbilt built the Grand Central Depot in 1869–71 to unite three separate railroads that ran to 42nd Street into a single station.
556.15 Chuck Connors] See note 450.19.
556.16 Parkhurst] Charles Henry Parkhurst (1842–1933), Presbyterian clergyman and anti-Tammany crusader.
556.17 “Bishop” Potter] Henry C. Potter (1834–1908), Episcopal bishop of New York, 1888–1908.
557.28 cardiaphone] Cardiophone, electrical stethoscope for listening to the heart.
557.34 Bluebeard’s chamber] “Bluebeard,” French folktale in which a wealthy man murders his wives and deposits their corpses in an underground chamber that his new wife is not allowed to enter.
561.19 Hendrik Hudson] Henry (in Dutch, Hendrik) Hudson (c. 1565–1611), English navigator who explored the area around present-day New York in 1609.
561.21 Napoleon III.] Also called Louis-Napoléon (1808–1873), the last emperor of France, 1852–70.
561.34 Palisades] See note 502.27.
562.35–36 Carnegie medal] In 1904, the industrialist Andrew Carnegie (see also note 551.36) established a fund that annually awarded medals and cash grants to people who risked their lives helping others.
562.36 Morgan] John Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), American financier known for his art collection.
563.37 North River] Hudson River.
563.38 Chilcoot] Chilkoot Pass, high mountain pass in Alaska and British Columbia.
564.10–11 Mount Saint Elias] Mountain on the border of Alaska and the Yukon Territory of Canada.
565.21 “Boadicea,”] See note 55.5–6.
566.12 roof gardens] See note 455.8.
566.21 ray from the calcium] Sunshine.
567.21 Beaverkill] River in upstate New York.
567.29 Father Knickerbocker’s] Mythical symbol of New York, based on early Dutch settlers.
569.27–28 Miss Clay] Bertha M. Clay, American pen name of Charlotte M. Brame (1836–1884), English author of romantic short stories and novels. After her death, works by other writers continued to be issued under the “Bertha Clay” name.
571.11 Morpheus] In Greek mythology, a god associated with sleep and dreams.
571.16–17 higher criticism] School that examines the historical context in which a text, especially the Bible, was written.
571.19 Gabriel] Angel traditionally said to play a trumpet blast to herald Jesus’s return
to earth.
571.33–34 Hamburg edging] A kind of embroidered work used for trimming.
572.15 Hoffman House] Restaurant and hotel at Broadway and 25th Street in Manhattan.
573.19–20 General Kitchener] Herbert Kitchener (1850–1916), British army officer.
573.20 William Muldoon] Wrestling champion (1852–1933) and proponent of the physical culture movement.
573.20 Duchess of Marlborough] Sarah Churchill (1660–1744), influential English courtier.
573.21 Benvenuto Cellini] Italian sculptor (1500–1571).
575.39 “Sammy.”] Song (1902) by Edward Hutchison and James O’Dea.
577.5 peekaboo waists] Shirtwaists made with embroidery or sheer fabric such that the flesh behind them could be seen.
577.18 Kishineff massacre] Anti-Jewish pogroms that took place in Kishinev, Russia, in 1903 and 1905.
577.32 the City Club] Nongovernmental organization advocating for civic improvement in New York.
578.1 Oyama’s] Ōyama Iwao (1842–1916), Japanese field marshal and leader in several victorious land battles in the Russo-Japanese War (1904–5).
578.8 Jerome] See note 541.23.
578.28 Mister Depew’s] For Chauncey Depew, see note 450.18. In 1905, he was chairman of the board of the New York Central Railroad.
578.37 ukase] Edict of the Russian government.
580.5 Hetty Green] Henrietta Green (1834–1916), businesswoman and financier.
580.8 North Beach] Popular beach at the Bowery and Flushing Bays in Queens.
580.16–17 the Tavern and the Casino] Restaurants located in Central Park: Black Horse Tavern, located near Fifth Avenue and 102nd Street, and the Casino, near Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street.
583.6 Tuskegeenial] I.e., the Tuskegee Institute, African American educational institution in Alabama founded by Booker T. Washington (1856–1915).
583.19–20 I’m not Hetty if I do look green] For Hetty Green, see note 580.5.
583.33 Anna Held’ll] Broadway performer (c. 1872–1918) known for her appearances in Florenz Ziegfeld productions.
584.33 Momus] The god of mockery in Greek mythology.
588.21 Amaryllis] Nymph in the bucolic idylls of Theocritus, Greek poet of the third century B.C.E.