# Art Graham — Short Fiction character guide

> Art Graham in Short Fiction by Ring Lardner.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Graham, Art

**First appearance:** 0010-horseshoes

## Snapshot

A gas-office poet and family man whose verse about his wife lands in a New York column, setting off dreams of a dollar a line.

## Who they are

Stephen, called Art Graham in this circle, is a Maysville gas-company clerk who writes poems on the side and suddenly finds one published in George Balch's New York column, captioned as a birthday gift to his wife Stella. His desire is to turn verse into income — a dollar a line, maybe more — but he's torn between ambition and the fear of disappointing Stella, so he hides the news until he has the printed page in hand. His early arc tracks a small-town writer testing whether his style can survive outside Maysville.

## Relationships

### [Smitty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/smitty)

_friendship_

Art Graham and Smitty are close companions, likely sharing adventures or working together as allies.

### [Bull Harper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/bull_harper)

_rivalry_

Art Graham and Bull Harper are enemies or fierce competitors, often in conflict.

### [Celia Sayles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/celia_sayles)

_romantic_

Art Graham and Celia Sayles share a romantic connection, with tension or courtship.

### [Celia Sayles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/celia_sayles)

_romantic_

Art Graham and Celia Sayles share a romantic connection, with tension or courtship.

### [Smitty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/smitty)

_friendship_

Art Graham and Smitty are close companions, likely sharing adventures or working together as allies.

### [Bull Harper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/bull_harper)

_rivalry_

Art Graham and Bull Harper are enemies or fierce competitors, often in conflict.

### [Smitty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/smitty)

_friendship_

Art Graham and Smitty are close companions, likely sharing adventures or working together as allies.

### [Celia Sayles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/celia_sayles)

_romantic_

Art Graham and Celia Sayles share a romantic connection, with tension or courtship.

## In the story

### [Harmony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/harmony)

Veteran outfielder who scouted Waldron and now sits on the bench; also the driving force behind the quartet.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/art_graham
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters