Paraules Emmetzinades

The Diamond as Big as the Ritz
Fitzgerald, Francis Scott

Published: 1922
Categorie(s): Fiction, Short Stories
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org

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About Fitzgerald:
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940)
was an American Jazz Age author of novels and short stories. He is regarded as one of the greatest twentieth century writers. Fitzgerald was of
theself-styled "Lost Generation," Americans born in the 1890s who came
of age during World War I. He finished four novels, left a fifth unfinished, and wrote dozens of short stories that treat themes of youth, despair, and age.
Also available on Feedbooks for Fitzgerald:
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (1922)
• The Great Gatsby (1925)
• The Great Gatsby (1925)
• Tender is the Night (1933)• This Side of Paradise (1920)
• The Beautiful and the Damned (1922)
• "I Didn't Get Over" (1936)
• The Rich Boy (1926)
• "The Sensible Thing" (1924)
• Jacob's Ladder (1927)
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1.
John T. Unger came from a family that had been well known in
Hades—a small town on the Mississippi River—for several generations.
John's father had held the amateur golf championship through many a
heated contest; Mrs. Unger was known "from hot-box to hot-bed," as the
local phrase went, for her political addresses; and young John T. Unger,
who had just turnedsixteen, had danced all the latest dances from New
York before he put on long trousers. And now, for a certain time, he was
to be away from home. That respect for a New England education which
is the bane of all provincial places, which drains them yearly of their
most promising young men, had seized upon his parents. Nothing
would suit them but that he should go to St. Midas's School nearBoston—Hades was too small to hold their darling and gifted son.
Now in Hades—as you know if you ever have been there—the names
of the more fashionable preparatory schools and colleges mean very
little. The inhabitants have been so long out of the world that, though
they make a show of keeping up-to-date in dress and manners and literature, they depend to a great extent on hearsay, and a functionthat in
Hades would be considered elaborate would doubtless be hailed by a
Chicago beef-princess as "perhaps a little tacky."
John T. Unger was on the eve of departure. Mrs. Unger, with maternal
fatuity, packed his trunks full of linen suits and electric fans, and Mr.
Unger presented his son with an asbestos pocket-book stuffed with
money.
"Remember, you are always welcome here," he said."You can be sure,
boy, that we'll keep the home fires burning."
"I know," answered John huskily.
"Don't forget who you are and where you come from," continued his
father proudly, "and you can do nothing to harm you. You are an
Unger—from Hades."
So the old man and the young shook hands, and John walked away
with tears streaming from his eyes. Ten minutes later he had passed outside the citylimits and he stopped to glance back for the last time. Over
the gates the old-fashioned Victorian motto seemed strangely attractive
to him. His father had tried time and time again to have it changed to
something with a little more push and verve about it, such as
"Hades—Your Opportunity," or else a plain "Welcome" sign set over a
hearty handshake pricked out in electric lights. The oldmotto was a little
depressing, Mr. Unger had thought—but now … .

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So John took his look and then set his face resolutely toward his destination. And, as he turned away, the lights of Hades against the sky
seemed full of a warm and passionate beauty.
St. Midas's School is half an hour from Boston in a Rolls-Pierce motorcar. The actual distance will never be known, for no one, except John...