"Kong at the Seaside." Arnold Zweig.

One-minute review: A boy playing joyfully with his dog on the beach. A petulant little girl is upset that Kong, the dog, has collapsed her sand canals as he runs on the beach. The little girl begs her father to buy the dog so she can shoot him. The father keeps upping the ante to the boy who remains steadfast that he will not sell his dog in order to have it killed. At the moment that the price is quite high—a hundred pounds, from a starting price of ten—the little girl breaks into laughter and says that it is just a joke. The boy’s father thinks back to several years ago when he was impoverished. At that time would he have sold the dog?

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"The Three Veterans." Leane Zugsmith.

One-minute review: Doctor’s waiting room. Three older women who look very much alike, including gaps in their front teeth. The doctor dominates and patronizes them, using sarcasm to put them and other patients down. Socialized medicine. “Just because it’s free don’t mean we aren’t human beings.”

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"How Grandpa Came into Money." Else Zantnev.

One-minute review: Grandpa has no money. But he is scrupulously honest. When he is involved in a train wreck, all the other passengers writhe on the floor waiting for the doctors to come and for the money they would receive because of their “injuries.” But not Grandpa. He walks home—three miles. It was all Grandma could do to cram him into bed to await the train’s inspectors and doctor to arrive and give Grandpa the money for his injury.

When the inspectors and doctor arrive, Grandpa is out of bed and has to be stuffed back in it, clothes and all. He greets everyone cheerily, says nothing is wrong that 5,000 gulden would cure. “Mother promptly fainted. Grandma shrieked and ran from the room.” The inspectors and doctor doubled over in laughter and awarded Grandpa 5,000 gulden, making him the richest man in the village. And Grandpa never understood why they had given him the money. It pays to be honest.

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"The Hour of Letdown." EB White.

One-minute review: A man comes into the bar with a machine and puts it on the bar and asks for two rye and waters, one for the man and the other for the machine. The machine is a mechanical brain. It has just won a chess match and earned five thousand dollars. The machine is tired and wants a drink. The bartender doesn’t want to serve no drinks to no machine. The machine demonstrates its powers by multiplying large sums that take many minutes for people to verify and by correcting everybody’s English in the bar and the bartender becomes even more surly. Finally, a man who sides with the man and his machine says, “Let’s get out of here and go to a nice place.” They leave. The car they are driving is a Cadillac. Guess who’s driving?

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"Slipping Beauty." Jerome Weidman.

One-minute review: Mr. Yavner delivers his seltzer bottles at all times of day or night, and when he delivers them at midnight to the narrator, and the narrator says he needs “to learn” to deliver at a decent hour, Mr. Yavner is off on a Jewish rant concerning his two daughters and learning in America. The older girl works hard, is good, and is not married. The younger does not do a damn thing, lies around in bed reading magazines and smoking “tcigarettes,” sets the apartment on fire and she has just been married to a fireman who rescued her and put out the fire. That’s what you learn in America: work hard and you get no husband; do nothing and you get a good husband. And Mr. Yavner slams the door as he leaves.

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"The Phoenix." Silvia Townsend Warner.

One-minute review: Lord Strawberry had the largest and most comfortable aviary in the world. He collected living birds of every kind. He sought out a phoenix—“Unique. The world’s old bachelor. Has no mate and doesn’t want one. When old, sets fire to itself and emerges miraculously reborn.” Lord Strawberry went to Arabia and found the phoenix. It was a most affable bird. Got along with all the other birds.

After Lord strawberry died, his aviary was sold to a Mr. Poldero who had an establishment that attracted thousands of visitors.

However, the Phoenix didn’t do anything. He decided, by various means, to make the phoenix grow old so that it would create a pyre, go up in flames and be reborn. He invited visitors and the movie people to come to view the grand event. The phoenix gathered his pyre, then exploded into flames killing all the spectators, the movie people and Mr. Poldero.

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"The Beggar Woman of Locarno." Heinrich Von Kleist.

One-minute review: A castle burned to the ground. Why?

An old, sickly beggar woman had sought refuge and been allowed to sleep on a pile of straw in the corner of a room. When the Marquis returned from hunting to store his gun in the room, he spied the old woman on the straw and ordered her to move behind the stove. She slipped on the slippery floor, fell, broke her back and died.

Years later, the Marquis wanted to sell the castle. A possible buyer stayed in the room in which the old beggar-woman had died. At midnight, he heard the rustle of straw and movements toward the stove. Terrified, he left. After several similar incidents, the Marquis decided to stay in the room. He, too, experienced the sounds of the straw and the steps toward the stove. He and his wife and a guard dog next stayed in the room. At midnight the sounds were heard again and the dog left the room in terror.

The Marquis, tired of life, set the paneling on fire with a candle and the castle burnt to the ground.

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"The Doctor's Heroism." Villiers De L'Isle-Adam.

One-minute review: Famous doctor, for a fee, treats all cases of poor humanity in poor health. One morning he is seen by a wasted, emaciated carcass and is about to dismiss him when he thinks to ask if this skeletal human being is wealthy and is assured he is. The doctor tells the skin and bones to eat watercress for six months, a diet he has heard about and wants someone to try.

Six months later, a giant, healthy man charges into the doctor’s office. The emaciated man has been turned into a healthy giant by his diet of watercress. Amazed, the doctor shoots him dead, does an autopsy on him to see how his diet of watercress has produced this miracle of health.

Now the doctor is on trial for murder, but will be vindicated because he did it for the future of man. “…the exclusive love of the humanity of the future without any regard for the individual of the present is, in our own time, the only sole motive that ought to justify the acquittal under any circumstances, of the magnanimous extremists of science.”

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"The Three Hermits." Leo Tolstoy.

One-minute review: The Bishop is on a ship with a group of pilgrims bound for a famous monastery. On the way, he sees some men talking and pointing toward the sea. A fisherman is telling the others that out there is an island with hermits living on it. The Bishop listens in wonder to the tale of the hermits, sees the island and asks the Captain to let him visit the island and meet the hermits.

On the island, the Bishop meets three elderly hermits and learns that their method of prayer is as follows: “Three are ye [referring to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost], three are we, have mercy on us.” The Bishop teaches them to pray correctly with the “Our Father.” The Bishop returns to the ship and it is in full sail and out of sight of the island when the steersman gasps—the three hermits are walking, gliding on the water trying to reach the ship. They have forgotten the “Our Father,” and want the Bishop to teach them again. The Bishop says, “Your own prayer will reach the Lord, men of God. It is not for me to teach you.”

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"An Attempt at Reform." August Strindberg.

One-minute review: In Paris, a couple decides to marry, each with independent means, and to live as husband and wife, but not to have a family, and each to be independent of the other. He has his bedroom. She has hers. In between is a studio where they work. She makes artificial flowers, he’s an artist. Theirs is a perfect marriage. No babies. No servants. She is not a mere housekeeper for her husband, he does not have the responsibility of keeping her. But they do live as lovers and, after two years, this happiest of married couples, is disrupted by the inevitable and they live ever after as a typical married couple whose purpose is the rearing and protection of their child.

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"Over the Hill." John Steinbeck.

One-minute review: Two G.I.’s in Algeria during WWII. Long for home. They want to see their women and go to the World Series. But they’re in the army and there’s no way to get to America. Sligo bets his friend he can do it for a bet of twenty bucks. They go to the dock. A group of Italian prisoners of war is being shipped to America. Sligo makes himself look as sloppy as the prisoners, joins them, protests he’s an American G.I., fights with the guards, is clubbed, and sails to America with the fleet. His friend says that that gag was worth the twenty bucks.

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"Tom Varnish." Richard Steele.

One-minute review; Tom Varnish tries to seduce the wife of a merchant, Mr. Balance. She tells her husband about Varnish’s letter of seduction. They arrange to have Varnish jump out the second-story window in fear of the husband’s approach. Next, she locks him in a trunk in fear of her husband’s coming, who, on waking the next day, accompanies the trunk with Varnish still in it to a ship, with strict instructions that if any danger occurs to the ship, the trunk should be thrown overboard because of certain letters in it that might be useful to the enemy.

Comment: Sounds like a Chaucerian story. RayS.

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"The Foreigner." Francis Steegmuller

One-minute review: Rain. In Paris. The narrator, an Englishman or an American, a foreigner, has left the cinema and called a taxi to take him to his apartment. The driver is in a snit. He does not follow the narrator’s directions to his apartment. After the third mistake, the driver stops the car and tells the narrator to get out. “Three times you have insulted me, you foreigner,” the driver says. “Get out of my car or I will take you to the police station. The narrator agrees to go to the police station.

It soon becomes clear to the officer in charge that the driver is at fault. He directs the driver to take the narrator to his door free of charge. But one thing. The narrator needs to provide his identification which is required to be carried at all times by law when a foreigner is in France. The narrator has left it at home and this is a violation of the law. The officer changes his tone and now changes his judgment in the case of the rude taxi driver. He now requires that the narrator pay the driver for the entire trip and for time spent in the police station.

Finally, at his door, the narrator counts out the exact amount due the driver. The surly driver, now all sweetness and light, asks, “Where is the tip?”

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"The Shepherd's Daughter." William Saroyan.

One-minute review: His grandmother tells him he must be able to create artifacts, i.e., be able to make something useful. She tells a story to illustrate why.

The king’s son falls in love with s shepherd’s daughter. A messenger tells the girl that the king’s son wants her to be his wife. But he is the son of a king and king’s sons don’t do anything. The shepherd’s daughter says he must be able to do something productive before she will marry him.

He learns to weave beautiful rugs, so she marries the king’s son. One day the king’s son is abducted by thieves. He tells his abductors that he can weave beautiful rugs. He weaves three beautiful rugs and promises that if the thieves take them to the palace, they will receive a substantial sum of money for each of them. The king recognizes the rugs as the work of his son, shows them to the shepherd’s daughter, who reads the messages skillfully woven into the rugs, tells the king where the thieves can be found and the king’s men capture the thieves and free the king’s son.

That is why you must learn to make something useful, said his grandmother. “Just as soon as I have the money, I’ll buy the wood and a saw and hammer and make a chair,” I tell my grandmother.

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"The Kiss." William Sansom.

Ten-second review: He is about to kiss a girl whom he had considered well beyond his reach. He notes every detail as he prepares to kiss her. This is his latest success of many in his career. They are about to kiss, their eyes closing. They kiss. His eyes open slightly—and she is staring at him with her eyes wide open. The mood is shattered.

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"Reginald's Choir Treat." Saki.

Ten-second review: Reginald is unconventional. He takes the choir consisting of young cherubs to the swimming hole, hides their clothes, and entices them into a Bacchanalian parade through town, led by a goat.

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.

"A Dangerous Man." Damon Runyon.

One-minute review: Morgan Johnson, a new man in my home town, tells nobody about where he has come from and because of a scar across his nose he looks dangerous. Nobody wants to mess with him because stories get around that he has killed ten men.

That is until Wheezer Gamble, a little sheep man, comes into town, gets drunk and decides to take Morgan on. Wheezer pulls out a large sheep knife and Morgan disappears out of town. Seems that Morgan Johnson was not dangerous, earned his scar by trying to rip off a lady’s pocketbook, which she used to scar him. Should you take on someone who looks dangerous as Wheezer did? Grandpa says, be careful. He just might turn out to be dangerous.

75 Short Masterpieces: Stories from the World’s Literature. Ed. Roger B. Goodman. New York: Bantam Books. 1961. These summaries do not do justice to the vividness of the stories. RayS.