# Fred E. Sterling explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

The chapter introduces Fred E. Sterling, the State Treasurer, and captures the audience's impatience for a show to begin, which is resolved when Sterling's arrival prompts the start of the performance.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The narrator observes the audience's impatience and the manager's announcement of Fred Sterling's arrival.

### Fred C. Schwab

Referenced as the manager who peeks through the curtain and announces Fred Sterling's arrival.

## Key lines

> The audience was saying, “How slow They are about starting this show!” When the manager peeked Through the curtain and squeaked: “Fred Sterling’s arrived. Let ’er go!”

The crowd grew restless, complaining about the delay, until the manager looked out and announced that Fred Sterling had arrived, signaling the show to begin.

_This captures the moment of anticipation and relief as the arrival of a key figure allows the event to proceed._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/fred-e-sterling
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters