# Cornell Shreiber explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

A brief poetic tribute to Cornell Shreiber, the Mayor of Toledo, praising his kindness and friendship to struggling writers, and noting his refusal to bet on Jess Willard.

## Themes in this chapter

### Community and Companionship

The mayor is described as a friend to poor scribes in distress, highlighting a supportive community bond.

## Character check-ins

### Jess Willard

Referenced in the poem as the subject of a declined bet.

## Key lines

> Cornell Shreiber Mayor of Toledo The Mayor of Toledo, and, yes, A friend of poor scribes in distress, So good and so kind That he even declined My offer to bet him on Jess.

Cornell Shreiber, the Mayor of Toledo, is a kind friend to struggling writers, so much so that he politely refused the narrator's offer to bet on Jess Willard.

_The poem extols the mayor's generosity and moral restraint._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/cornell-shreiber
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters