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. “Look,” I said, “this is a truly royal gift: more than fifty million dollars have been donated to educational institutions. I was looking through the evening newspaper chronicles, and Jeff Peters was stuffing his thorn tube. “On this occasion,” he said, “it is not a sin to print out a new deck and arrange an evening of choral recitation by philanthropy students.” “Is that a hint?” I asked.