The Foreign Policy of Company 99
John Byrnes, a passionate fireman at Engine Company No. 99, is obsessed with the Russo-Japanese War, tracking the conflict through a detailed war map. His enthusiasm for the Japanese side is infectious, leading to a humorous camaraderie among his fellow firefighters. However, his fervor is interrupted when an immigrant, Demetre Svangvsk, inadvertently causes a serious accident by stepping into the path of Byrnes's hose-cart, resulting in Byrnes sustaining a broken shoulder and the beloved horse, Erebus, suffering a fatal injury. The firemen, distraught over the loss of Erebus, express their anger towards Svangvsk, whom they view as a nuisance. Despite their disdain, Svangvsk continues to return to the firehouse, attempting to apologize and ingratiate himself with the crew, albeit with little success. Byrnes eventually recovers and resumes his war updates, maintaining his support for the Japanese. As time passes, Svangvsk's presence becomes more tolerated, especially after he befriends Byrnes's son, Chris. One day, during a visit from the Deputy Fire Commissioner, chaos ensues when Chris accidentally drives away in the Deputy's automobile. In a moment of unexpected heroism, Svangvsk leaps onto the back of the remaining horse, Joe, and successfully rescues Chris, showcasing his riding skills. The firemen, initially skeptical of Svangvsk, begin to see him in a new light after his brave act. Byrnes, recognizing Svangvsk's courage, acknowledges him as a valuable ally. The story concludes with a light-hearted exchange about the ongoing war, reflecting the camaraderie and evolving relationships within the firehouse, as well as the immigrant's integration into their community.
By O. Henry · First published 1904 · Genre: Humor, Satire, Short Story · 2,644 words
First lines
John Byrnes, hose-cart driver of Engine Company No. 99, was afflicted with what his comrades called Japanitis.
Byrnes had a war map spread permanently upon a table in the second story of the engine-house, and he could explain to you at any hour of the day or night the exact positions, conditions and intentions of both the Russian and Japanese armies. He had little clusters of pins stuck in the map which represented the opposing forces, and these he moved about from day to day in conformity with the war news in the daily papers.
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The Foreign Policy of Company 99 is listed on Textopian as a novel by O. Henry, dated 1904 CE.
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- Work type: Novel
- Author: O. Henry
- Date: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Satire, Short Story, Drama, Slice of Life
- Length: 2,644 words
- Structure: 1 section, 48 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Foreign Policy of Company 99 by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Foreign Policy of Company 99?
- How does this novel by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Humor — The story employs comedic elements through the exaggerated characters and their interactions, particularly the immigrant's antics and the firemen's reactions.
- Satire — It critiques societal attitudes towards immigrants and the absurdity of nationalism, particularly through the lens of the firemen's perspectives.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and structured as a short story, focusing on a single incident and its aftermath.
- Drama — The story contains dramatic elements, particularly in the accident and the emotional responses of the characters.
Tags
Satire · Social Commentary · Fiction · Short Story Collection · American Literature · 20th Century Literature · Humor · Irony · Critique of Capitalism · Corporate Culture · Globalization · Economic Inequality