# Ross J. Beatty explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

A brief poetic tribute to Ross J. Beatty, a steel manufacturer from Chicago, highlighting his skill in both speech and steel tempering, and suggesting that onlookers have no real reason to fear him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Work and Profession

The chapter celebrates Ross J. Beatty's professional identity as a steel manufacturer and his skill in his craft.

## Character check-ins

### Ross J. Beatty

Steel manufacturer from Chicago, praised for his mastery of tempering both speech and steel.

## Key lines

> The onlookers haven’t a real Excuse for the terror they feel, For this guy’s a peach At tempering speech As well as at tempering steel.

Observers have no reason to be afraid, because this man is equally skilled at controlling his words as he is at working with steel.

_The poem reassures that Beatty's dual talents make him harmless and admirable._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/ross-j-beatty
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters