Sinclair Lewis

Name: Main Street — Chapter XXXVI
Author: Sinclair Lewis

Main Street — Chapter XXXVI (1920)

Summary

“Main Street — Chapter XXXVI”, published in 1920, is a work by Sinclair Lewis. It explores elements such as pro-German, Kennicott and organizer.

Quotes from Main Street — Chapter XXXVI (Sinclair Lewis)

Sinclair Lewis, Main Street — Chapter XXXVI (1920)

“ You don't oppose this organizer because you think he's seditious but because you're afraid that the farmers he is organizing will deprive you townsmen of the money you make out of mortgages and wheat and shops. Of course, since we're at war with Germany, anything that any one of us doesn't like is 'pro-German,' whether it's business competition or bad music. If we were fighting England, you'd call the radicals 'pro-English.' When this war is over, I suppose you'll be calling them 'red anarchists.' What an eternal art it is--such a glittery delightful art--finding hard names for our opponents! ”

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Source: Wikisource

Sinclair Lewis, Main Street — Chapter XXXVI (1920)

“ Stowbody a 'capitalist.' But you business men are going to beat all the rest of us at it, with your simple-hearted, energetic, pompous----"
She got so far only because Kennicott was slow in shaking off respect for her. Now he bayed:
"That'll be about all from you! I've stood for your sneering at this town, and saying how ugly and dull it is. I've stood for your refusing to appreciate good fellows like Sam. I've even stood for your ridiculing our Watch Gopher Prairie Grow campaign. But one thing I'm not going to stand: I'm not going to stand my own wife being seditious. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Sinclair Lewis, Main Street — Chapter XXXVI (1920)

“ These business men, from their crushing labors of sitting in an office seven hours a day, would calmly recommend that I have a dozen children. As it happens, I've done that sort of thing. There've been a good many times when we hadn't a maid, and I did all the housework, and cared for Hugh, and went to Red Cross, and did it all very efficiently. I'm a good cook and a good sweeper, and you don't dare say I'm not! ”

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Source: Wikisource

Sinclair Lewis, Main Street — Chapter XXXVI (1920)

“ And--Lord knows I never thought I'd have to say this to my own wife--but if you go defending these fellows, then the same thing applies to you! Next thing, I suppose you'll be yapping about free speech. Free speech! There's too much free speech and free gas and free beer and free love and all the rest of your damned mouthy freedom, and if I had my way I'd make you folks live up to the established rules of decency even if I had to take you----"
"Will!" She was not timorous now. "Am I pro-German if I fail to throb to Honest Jim Blausser, too? Let's have my whole duty as a wife!" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Sinclair Lewis, Main Street — Chapter XXXVI (1920)

“ "Darling, do you know what mother and you are going to find beyond the blue horizon rim?"
"What?" flatly.
"We're going to find elephants with golden howdahs from which peep young maharanees with necklaces of rubies, and a dawn sea colored like the breast of a dove, and a white and green house filled with books and silver tea-sets."
"And cookies?"
"Cookies? Oh, most decidedly cookies. We've had enough of bread and porridge. We'd get sick on too many cookies, but ever so much sicker on no cookies at all." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Sinclair Lewis, Main Street — Chapter XXXVI (1920)

“ You can camouflage all you want to, but you know darn well that these radicals, as you call 'em, are opposed to the war, and let me tell you right here and now, and you and all these long-haired men and short-haired women can beef all you want to, but we're going to take these fellows, and if they ain't patriotic, we're going to make them be patriotic. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Sinclair Lewis, Main Street — Chapter XXXVI (1920)

“ Will Kennicott and son Hugh left on No. 24 on Saturday last for a stay of some months in Minneapolis, Chicago, New York and Washington. Mrs. Kennicott confided to _Ye Scribe_ that she will be connected with one of the multifarious war activities now centering in the Nation's Capital for a brief period before returning. Her countless friends who appreciate her splendid labors with the local Red Cross realize how valuable she will be to any war board with which she chooses to become connected. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Sinclair Lewis, Main Street — Chapter XXXVI (1920)

“ That's the whole trouble with you! You haven't got enough work to do. If you had five kids and no hired girl, and had to help with the chores and separate the cream, like these farmers' wives, then you wouldn't be so discontented. ”

Sinclair Lewis

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Quotes from Main Street — Chapter XXXVI (Sinclair Lewis)

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