Merely Mary Ann

A while back I read a novella called Merely Mary Ann, by Isreal Zangwill. Apparently Zangwill was an important Zionist. He was also the person who popularized the use of the phrase “melting pot” to describe New York. He also had a pretty weird sense of humor.

Tracy Park, 11/11

I don’t know why Jerrie and Harold think everyone will be surprised that they’re engaged. They’re the only two characters in the book that didn’t realize they were in love with each other, and when they announce that they’re going to be married, everyone tells them so.

Tracy Park, 10/11

It’s been a while since I updated, I know. Sadly, sometimes schoolwork has to take precedence. When we last saw the characters of Tracy Park, Jerrie was convalescing, Maude was still pretty sick, and Harold had gone to Tacoma, WA on business for Billy Peterkin. Arthur was off on the west coast, hoping to meet with highwaymen or something. Jerrie had just learned that Harold was suspected of stealing Mrs. Tracy’s diamond’s ten years previously — and hey, that’s what comes of not clearing him of suspicion properly in the first place — and in spite of the fact that she’s not quite well yet, she immediately got up and set out for the park house.

Tracy Park, 9/11

Just after Jerrie discovers the bag and the diamonds, Harold comes along on the way to the train station. She shows him the diamonds.

Harold: Mrs. Tracy’s diamonds!

Jerrie: Yes, Mrs. Tracy’s diamonds.

Tracy Park, 8/11

The next day, Jerrie gets a note from Anne Eliza, telling her about Tom and the sprained ankle and asking her to come around to lunch. After she’s been there a while, Tom shows up, mostly because Maude told him it would be polite. He means to stop by and ask after her, but when the maid tells her that he’s there, Ann Eliza asks him to come in, in spite of the fact that this is very inappropriate, especially considering that one of Ann Eliza’s feet is bare. Tom cheers up a lot when he sees that Jerrie is there, so he’s nice instead of bratty, and all three of them have a good time.

Tracy Park, 7/11

After the boys leave, Jerrie goes to Tracy Park to see Maude, who has been coughing up blood or something. When she gets there she runs into Frank, who is looking very prematurely aged these days. He takes her to Arthur’s room before Maude’s because he promised Arthur that he would visit Gretchen’s picture every day and tell her that Arthur will be coming back. I guess it’s true when people say that Frank is getting to be as crazy as his brother.

Tracy Park, 6/11

Nine years pass. Jerry spells her name “Jerrie” now, which I think is kind of stupid, so I’m going to continue spelling it with a ‘y’. The spelling of her name in the book isn’t all that consistent anyway. She’s grown tall and graceful, and she’s very beautiful, but not spoiled. She’s nineteen and she’s about to graduate from Vassar. Harold is a graduate of Harvard, where he worked to support himself so he wouldn’t have to borrow any more than was necessary from Arthur. He was valedictorian of his class, and Jerry and Maude went to see him graduate.

Maude’s health isn’t so good. She went to Vassar when Jerry, Nina St. Claire, and Ann Eliza Peterkin did, but Maude’s not that bright, so pretty soon she left. She and her mother went abroad for a couple of years, but now they’re back home, and Maude is a bit of an invalid.

Jerry’s in love with Harold, which isn’t terribly surprising. Maude is also in love with Harold, and is really obvious about it, i.e. everyone knows but Harold. Harold is in love with Jerry, of course, but neither of them has said anything to the other about it, and Jerry thinks Harold loves Maude.

Tracy Park, 5/11

On the way home from the park house, Jerry says that she knows where the diamonds are, but she isn’t going to tell. Harold doesn’t really notice because he’s kind of preoccupied. Something must stick though, because he suddenly remembers it nine years later.

Before she goes to bed that night, Jerry asks Harold what will happen to the person who stole the diamonds. Harold says that they’ll go to prison. This is his description of what they do to people in prison: “Cut their hair off; make them eat bread and water and mush, and sleep on a board, and work awful hard.”