The Hungry Man was Fed
A young man, accustomed to the comforts of high society, ventures downtown for a brief errand, feeling out of place amidst the bustling city life. During his walk, he encounters a disheveled beggar who claims to have gone without food for a day. Initially repulsed, the young man gives the beggar a quarter but feels compelled to offer more after reflecting on the man's plight. He finds the beggar again and, after some persuasion, invites him to a nearby diner, insisting that the establishment will serve him despite his appearance. The beggar is hesitant but eventually enters. The young man orders an extravagant meal for the beggar, who struggles to eat the food, cursing the situation. The diner patrons watch with amusement as the beggar's discomfort grows. After the meal, the beggar refuses to pay, claiming he was invited to eat for free. The young man confronts him, asserting that he had given the beggar money to buy food and that he must settle the bill. The situation escalates, and the young man threatens to call the police if the beggar does not pay. Cornered, the beggar reluctantly counts out the money he received from other patrons and pays the bill, leaving him with only a dime. The young man insists the beggar tip the waiter, which he begrudgingly does before making a hasty exit. The young man reflects on the encounter with a fellow club member later, suggesting that the beggar likely attempted to reclaim the tip after he left, hinting at the beggar's cunning nature. The story highlights themes of class disparity, the complexities of charity, and the unexpected dynamics between social classes.
By Richard Harding Davis · First published 1904 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Humor · 1,877 words
First lines
Young Van Bibber broke one of his rules of life one day and came down-town. This unusual journey into the marts of trade and finance was in response to a call from his lawyer, who wanted his signature to some papers. It was five years since Van Bibber had been south of the north side of Washington Square, except as a transient traveller to the ferries on the elevated road. And as he walked through the City Hall Square he looked about him at the new buildings in the air, and the bustle and confusion of the streets, with as much interest as a lately arrived immigrant.
What this Textopian page supports
The Hungry Man was Fed is listed on Textopian as a short story by Richard Harding Davis, dated 1904 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Richard Harding Davis
- Date: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Humor, Short Story, Realism
- Length: 1,877 words
- Structure: 1 section, 37 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Hungry Man was Fed by Richard Harding Davis
- 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 Hungry Man was Fed?
- How does this short story by Richard Harding Davis fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores social themes, class distinctions, and human interactions, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques societal attitudes towards poverty and charity, highlighting the disparity between social classes.
- Humor — The dialogue and situations contain elements of humor, particularly in the interactions between Van Bibber and the beggar.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story within a limited word count.
Tags
Short Story · Literary Fiction · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Satire · Food and Drink · Hunger · Poverty · Social Inequality