Flappers and Philosophers by F. Scott (Francis Scott) Fitzgerald
page 80 of 302 (26%)
page 80 of 302 (26%)
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"Without smiles or tears?"
"Exactly. That's my theory. You see there are thousands of Swedes up here. They come, I imagine, because the climate is very much like their own, and there's been a gradual mingling. There're probably not half a dozen here to-night, but--we've had four Swedish governors. Am I boring you?" "I'm mighty interested." "Your future sister-in-law is half Swedish. Personally I like her, but my theory is that Swedes react rather badly on us as a whole. Scandinavians, you know, have the largest suicide rate in the world." "Why do you live here if it's so depressing?" "Oh, it doesn't get me. I'm pretty well cloistered, and I suppose books mean more than people to me anyway." "But writers all speak about the South being tragic. You know--Spanish senoritas, black hair and daggers an' haunting music." He shook his head. "No, the Northern races are the tragic races--they don't indulge in the cheering luxury of tears." Sally Carrol thought of her graveyard. She supposed that that was |
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