Poetry · Chapter
C. S. Peterson explained
A brief, humorous verse about C.
What happens
A brief, humorous verse about C. S. Peterson, president of the Peterson Linotyping Company in Chicago, who, when lacking material to print, turns his critical eye to valuable subjects like oil, landscapes, or a girl, and then bids farewell to the October print.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because the speaker confronts the painful realization that his child’s lov…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Humor and Satire
The chapter is a lighthearted, satirical poem mocking C. S. Peterson's printing habits.
- Work and Profession
Focuses on C. S. Peterson's role as president of a linotyping company and his professional quirks.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator presents a satirical verse about C. S. Peterson.
Key passages
“When there’s nothing in sight he can print, He taketh a critical squint At some valuable oil, A landscape or goil, And farewell to the October rint!”
When there is no material to print, he critically examines something valuable like oil, a landscape, or a girl, and then the October print is gone.
The verse humorously describes Peterson's tendency to replace print content with other subjects.
