# Some Ancient News Notes explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by O. Henry.

## What happens

A satirical piece presenting fictional 'ancient' newspaper fragments discovered on Mt. Sinai, humorously showing that human nature and sensational journalism have existed for millennia, with biblical figures reimagined as modern news subjects.

## Themes in this chapter

### Humor and Irony

The entire chapter is a humorous anachronism, applying modern newspaper sensationalism to ancient biblical figures and events.

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

The 'ancient news notes' are a fictional invention, playing with the idea of historical authenticity and the reliability of ancient records.

## Key lines

> It will be remembered that a short while ago, some very ancient documents and records were discovered in an old monastery on Mt. Sinai, where they have been kept filed away by the monks among their dusty archives.

Recently, very old documents were found in a monastery on Mt. Sinai, where monks had stored them.

_Sets up the fictional premise of discovering ancient manuscripts._

> The finders claim that among them are the original Scripture traced in Syriac language, and that they differ in many material ways from the translation in use.

The discoverers say these include original Syriac scriptures that differ significantly from current translations.

_Introduces the idea of alternative biblical texts._

> We have procured some advance sheets from the discoverers and in a few fragments given below our readers will perceive that human nature was pretty much the same a thousand years ago.

We obtained previews from the discoverers, and the fragments show that human nature hasn't changed much in a thousand years.

_Thematic statement about the constancy of human behavior._

> Commodore Noah, one of our oldest citizens, predicts a big rain soon. The commodore is building an up-to-date houseboat and expects to spend about six weeks afloat with his family and his private menagerie.

Noah, an elderly local, forecasts heavy rain and is constructing a modern houseboat for a six-week voyage with his family and animals.

_Biblical Noah reimagined as a contemporary news figure._

> Colonel Goliath of Gath, and the new middleweight, Mr. David, are at their old tricks again blowing about the championship. Mr. David has one hand in a sling, but says he will be all right when the affair is pulled off.

Goliath and David are boasting about a championship fight; David has an injured hand but claims he'll be ready.

_David and Goliath as boxers in a sports news item._

> Ladies, get one of those new fig leaves at the Eden Bazaar before the style is dropped.

Women should buy the latest fig leaves from the Eden Bazaar before they go out of fashion.

_A fashion advertisement referencing the Garden of Eden._

> The exposition at Shinar is going to be a grand success. Work on the New Woman’s Building called the Tower of Babel has been stopped on account of a misunderstanding. The lady managers have been holding meetings in the Tower for some time.

The Shinar exposition is promising; construction of the Tower of Babel women's building halted due to a dispute among the female managers.

_Tower of Babel as a women's exposition building, with ironic commentary on female organization._

> See Professor Daniel and his performing lions next Sunday.

Attend Professor Daniel's lion show this Sunday.

_Daniel in the lions' den as a circus act._

> Colonel Job, who has been suffering from quite a siege of boils at his residence on Avenue C, was arrested yesterday for cussing and disturbing the neighborhood. The colonel has generally a very equable temper, but completely lost his balance on finding that Mrs. Job had put a large quantity of starch in his only night robe.

Job, afflicted with boils, was arrested for swearing and disturbing the peace after his wife starched his only nightshirt.

_Job's suffering turned into a domestic comedy._

> About 1,500 extra deputy clerks were put on by the county clerk yesterday to assist in getting out summonses for witnesses in the divorce case recently brought by Judge Solomon against the last batch of his wives.

The county clerk hired 1,500 extra deputies to issue summonses for Solomon's divorce case against his many wives.

_Solomon's many wives as a divorce scandal._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/some-ancient-news-notes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters