THE JOHN O'HARA SOCIETY

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On March 24, 1934 publication of "The Deke Flag." The New Yorker. Newly married husband's monologue about cleaning out old belongings to move to a new apartment and whether to return an old fraternity flag he stole from a classmate freshman year. Deke is short for Delta Kappa Epsilon. (Julian was a Deke at Lafayette).

On March 24, 1945 publication of Pipe Night. A collection of thirty-one short stories, including two classics - "Bread Alone" (1939) and "Graven Image" (1943).

On March 24, 1962 publication of "Money." The New Yorker. The Cape Cod Lighter. Gibbsville, Pa.

In Gibbsville in the twenties two sisters in late middle-age, Nan and Marietta, inherit from their brother. The story theme is how money (not alcohol or adultery this time) permeates all the relationships.

In the middle to the late nineteen-twenties the country got caught up in the stock market boom. Here's one of those great O'Hara "social history" descriptions.

   "You hear about so many that are making money hand over fist in the stock market. Oughtn't we to go in the stock market, Nan?"
   "I've been thinking about it...Who do you go to for advice on such matters?"
   "A fellow named Ralph Fexler.... He manages the local office for Westmore & Company. That's a New York stockbroker firm. Fexler goes around with the country-club outfit. He's a young fellow in his early thirties, I'd say....He has a big office all full of men smoking cigars and watching the stock market..."
   They made money; their thousand-dollar investment grew to fifteen hundred in a year's time...They also overcame their shyness about sitting in the big room surrounded by men smoking cigars ... One day Marietta was offered a cigarette by a man sitting in the next chair. "I believe I will, she said and grinned at Nan.
   "So will I," said Nan ....
   They were at the office of Westmore & Company nearly every day, all day, and when the market was being particularly active they had sandwiches and coffee sent in, just like the big traders among the men.