One of the most famous humorists in world literature, O. Henry created a unique panorama of American life at the turn of the 19th and 20th 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 elevates to the pinnacle of success, then plunges to the very bottom of life. “A few days ago, my old friend from the tropics, J. N. Bridger, United States Consul on the island of Raton, found himself in our city. We celebrated our anniversary with great success. For several days we were idle, generally slaughtering flies. When we had calmed down, we were once passing at low tide along a street parallel to and parodying Broadway. A beautiful, society-looking lady walked past us, holding on her bundle a snuffling, angry, waddling creature in the form of a yellow dog. The dog, tangled between Bridger's legs, bit into his ankles with snarling, irritated, vicious bites. Bridger, with a joyful smile, knocked the wind out of the beast. The woman showered us with a fine shower of well-fitted adjectives (so that we would not have any doubts about our place in her opinion) and we moved on. Ten steps further, an old woman, with disheveled gray hair and a checkbook well hidden under a torn shawl, asked for alms. Bridger stopped and gutted a quarter of the contents of his holiday vest into her hands..."