TALES OF THE JAZZ AGE

BY
F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
1922

Copyright, 1922, by
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS

Copyright, 1920, by THE VANITY FAIR PUB. CO., INC.
Copyright, 1920, 1921, by THE METROPOLITAN PUBLICATIONS, INC.
Copyright, 1920, by THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Copyright, 1920, by THE CURTIS PUBLISHING CO.
Copyright, 1920, 1921, by THE SMART SET CO.

Printed in the United States of America

Published September, 1922

QUITE INAPPROPRIATELY
TO MY MOTHER

MY LAST FLAPPERS

THE JELLY-BEAN

This is a Southern story, with the scene laid in the small city ofTarleton, Georgia. I have a profound affection for Tarleton, butsomehow whenever I write a story about it I receive letters from allover the South denouncing me in no uncertain terms. “The Jelly-Bean,”published in “The Metropolitan,” drew its full share of theseadmonitory notes.

It was written under strange circumstances shortly after my firstnovel was published, and, moreover, it was the first story in which Ihad a collaborator. For, finding that I was unable to manage thecrap-shooting episode, I turned it over to my wife, who, as a Southerngirl, was presumably an expert on the technique and terminology ofthat great sectional pastime.

THE CAMEL’S BACK

I suppose that of all the stories I have ever written this one cost methe least travail and perhaps gave me the most amusement. As to thelabor involved, it was written during one day in the city of NewOrleans, with the express purpose of buying a platinum and diamondwrist watch which cost six hundred dollars. I began it at seven in themorning and finished it at two o’clock the same night. It waspublished in the “Saturday Evening Post” in 1920, and later includedin the O. Henry Memorial Collection for the same year. I like it leastof all the stories in this volume.

My amusement was derived from the fact that the camel part of thestory is literally true; in fact, I have a standing engagement withthe gentleman involved to attend the next fancy-dress party to whichwe are mutually invited, attired as the latter part of the camel—thisas a sort of atonement for being his historian.

MAY DAY

This somewhat unpleasant tale, published as a novelette in the “SmartSet” in July, 1920, relates a series of events which took place in thespring of the previous year. Each of the three events made a greatimpression upon me. In life they were unrelated, except by the generalhysteria of that spring which inaugurated the Age of Jazz, but in mystory I have tried, unsuccessfully I fear, to weave them into apattern—a pattern which would give the effect of those months in NewYork as they appeared to at least one member of what was then theyounger generation.

PORCELAIN AND PINK

“And do you write for any other magazines?” inquired the young lady.

“Oh, yes,” I assured her. “I’ve had some stories and plays in the‘Smart Set,’ for instance——”

The young lady shivered.

“The ‘Smart Set’!” she exclaimed. “Ho