One of the most famous humorists in world literature, O. Henry created a unique panorama of American life at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries, in grotesque situations, he conveyed the contrasts and paradoxes of his era, which opened up space for people with business acumen, whom the game of chance raises to the top of success, then throws to the very bottom of life. "A few days ago, my old friend from the tropics, J. N. Bridger, the consul of the United States on Raton Island, found himself in our town. We have celebrated the anniversary of . For a few days we were idle, generally fly-baiting .. When we calmed down, we somehow passed during the low tide along the street parallel to Broadway and parodying it. A beautiful, secular-looking lady passed by us, holding a singing, vicious, translucent creature in the form of a yellow dog on the fold. The dog, entangled between Bridger's legs, got caught in his ankles by growling, irritated, vicious bites. Bridger with a joyful smile knocked out the beast spirit . The woman rolled us with a small shower of well-fitted adjectives (so that we would have no doubts about the place we occupy in her opinion) and we went further. Ten steps further, the old woman, with her grey hair disheveled and her checkbook well hidden under her torn shawl, asked for alms. Bridger stopped and shoved a quarter of the contents from his holiday vest into her hands.