#631 The Trimmed Lamp- O.Henry
It’s been a while since we’ve done an O.Henry story, so here we go. It’s O.Henry Friday! In my collection of 100 of his short stories, I randomly opened to this one, The Trimmed Lamp. Like most of his stories this one seems old fashioned and outdated, but quaint.
Lou and Nancy are two young woman just moved to the big city. They have two different ideals about life and love and go about securing their future. Lou gets a job working at a garment shop ironing clothes. It’s not glamorous but she makes good money and gets to keep some of the nice clothes that are left behind. She is seeing a working class man, but does not take him too seriously; she is having fun.
Nancy on the other hand gets a job working in a high-end boutique. She makes only half of what Lou does, but she believes being around high-end people, she will meet a millionaire husband. She turns down some offers, waiting for perfection. She doesn’t find it, but she does find love. What does Lou find?
Like I said, the sensibilities of 100 years ago are different from today; a story about woman who’s life mission is to work menial jobs so they can find a suitable husband wouldn’t fly today, or shouldn’t at least. But we judge art from the times they were written, and this is vintage O.Henry.
Notable Passage: “She was surrounded by beautiful things that breathed of taste and refinement. If you live in an atmosphere of luxury, luxury is yours whether your money pays for it, or another’s.”
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