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Literary
December 27, 1947
The Union Times
New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
In this satirical dialogue, young Luther reads about the NAM convention advocating a return to Horatio Alger ideals of rags-to-riches individualism, teasing his father about abandoning modern luxuries like cars and washing machines for horse-and-buggy days. His father initially resists but then agrees.
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OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
LITTLE LUTHER
"I wonder what he'll say," Little Luther contemplated as he read the evening paper's account of the NAM convention. "I bet he'll break his record and oppose those big business badboys for the first time in his life. Well, here goes.
"Pop," he said aloud, "it looks like you'll have to get rid of your nice, new, shiny Packard, there's just no way out."
"Get rid of my car, after I waited for it all these years and after I gave the dealer a $1,000 bonus!" Mr. Dilworth gasped. "I mean, Luther, don't be ridiculous or if that's asking too much, at least explain what you're driving at."
"And what's more, Pop, Mom's not going to like it, either, because she'll have to get her trusty washboard out of the attic and, poor me, I suppose I'll have to give up my electric trains. But I'm brave, I'll sacrifice anything for the cause."
"Are you ill, Luther? Where did you get such a preposterous idea?
Giving up autos, washing machines, electric trains! Why, that would be turning back the clock, reversing the glorious trend of the well-oiled free enterprise system."
"But, Pop..
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"Quiet, by boy, I'm just beginning. Don't you know that the greatness of our country lies in our productive genius, our adaptation of the old to the new, our constant search for new techniques, new ideas, new methods, new.
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"Naw, Pop, you're humming an old-fashioned tune. The policy from now on is to bring us back to the good old horse-and-buggy days. And I've got it right out of the horse's mouth .
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"Luther," Mr. Dilworth screamed, reaching for the nearest shoe, "if you don't tell me where you got this ridiculous idea I'll . . .
"O.K.. Pop. here's the dope. It was at the NAM convention, remember that, and it says here that we've got to revive the Horatio Alger story.
You know what that means, rags to riches, individual initiative, the office boy marries the boss' daughter .
"Did they really say that at the NAM convention? Well, my boy, uh, why didn't you tell me that at first? Certainly if the NAM says so it must be right. It might not be such a bad idea to go back to the days when-
Mrs. Dilworth, do you know where your washboard is? And, Luther, from now on you walk to school."
"Ah, me," said Luther sadly, I guess I was wrong again."
"I wonder what he'll say," Little Luther contemplated as he read the evening paper's account of the NAM convention. "I bet he'll break his record and oppose those big business badboys for the first time in his life. Well, here goes.
"Pop," he said aloud, "it looks like you'll have to get rid of your nice, new, shiny Packard, there's just no way out."
"Get rid of my car, after I waited for it all these years and after I gave the dealer a $1,000 bonus!" Mr. Dilworth gasped. "I mean, Luther, don't be ridiculous or if that's asking too much, at least explain what you're driving at."
"And what's more, Pop, Mom's not going to like it, either, because she'll have to get her trusty washboard out of the attic and, poor me, I suppose I'll have to give up my electric trains. But I'm brave, I'll sacrifice anything for the cause."
"Are you ill, Luther? Where did you get such a preposterous idea?
Giving up autos, washing machines, electric trains! Why, that would be turning back the clock, reversing the glorious trend of the well-oiled free enterprise system."
"But, Pop..
99
"Quiet, by boy, I'm just beginning. Don't you know that the greatness of our country lies in our productive genius, our adaptation of the old to the new, our constant search for new techniques, new ideas, new methods, new.
99
"Naw, Pop, you're humming an old-fashioned tune. The policy from now on is to bring us back to the good old horse-and-buggy days. And I've got it right out of the horse's mouth .
99
"Luther," Mr. Dilworth screamed, reaching for the nearest shoe, "if you don't tell me where you got this ridiculous idea I'll . . .
"O.K.. Pop. here's the dope. It was at the NAM convention, remember that, and it says here that we've got to revive the Horatio Alger story.
You know what that means, rags to riches, individual initiative, the office boy marries the boss' daughter .
"Did they really say that at the NAM convention? Well, my boy, uh, why didn't you tell me that at first? Certainly if the NAM says so it must be right. It might not be such a bad idea to go back to the days when-
Mrs. Dilworth, do you know where your washboard is? And, Luther, from now on you walk to school."
"Ah, me," said Luther sadly, I guess I was wrong again."
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Dialogue
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Political
Commerce Trade
What keywords are associated?
Nam Convention
Horatio Alger
Free Enterprise
Satirical Dialogue
Rags To Riches
Horse And Buggy
Literary Details
Title
Little Luther
Subject
Nam Convention And Reviving Horatio Alger Story
Form / Style
Satirical Family Dialogue
Key Lines
"Get Rid Of My Car, After I Waited For It All These Years And After I Gave The Dealer A $1,000 Bonus!"
"The Policy From Now On Is To Bring Us Back To The Good Old Horse And Buggy Days. And I've Got It Right Out Of The Horse's Mouth ."
"O.K.. Pop. Here's The Dope. It Was At The Nam Convention, Remember That, And It Says Here That We've Got To Revive The Horatio Alger Story."
"Did They Really Say That At The Nam Convention? Well, My Boy, Uh, Why Didn't You Tell Me That At First? Certainly If The Nam Says So It Must Be Right."