Sinclair Lewis: Main Street

10. CHAPTER X (continued)

"Fine! We need a hostess for the seventeenth of March. Wouldn't it be awfully original if you made it a St. Patrick's Day bridge! I'll be tickled to death to help you with it. I'm glad you've learned to play bridge. At first I didn't hardly know if you were going to like Gopher Prairie. Isn't it dandy that you've settled down to being homey with us! Maybe we aren't as highbrow as the Cities, but we do have the daisiest times and--oh, we go swimming in summer, and dances and-- oh, lots of good times. If folks will just take us as we are, I think we're a pretty good bunch!"

"I'm sure of it. Thank you so much for the idea about having a St. Patrick's Day bridge."

"Oh, that's nothing. I always think the Jolly Seventeen are so good at original ideas. If you knew these other towns Wakamin and Joralemon and all, you'd find out and realize that G. P. is the liveliest, smartest town in the state. Did you know that Percy Bresnahan, the famous auto manufacturer, came from here and---- Yes, I think that a St. Patrick's Day party would be awfully cunning and original, and yet not too queer or freaky or anything."