# The Chair of Philanthromathematics explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by O. Henry.

## What happens

Jeff Peters recounts his and Andy Tucker's venture into philanthropy after making $25,000 from a silver mine. They establish a free university in Floresville, Arizona, hiring professors and attracting students. The scheme proves profitable, and they ultimately split $31,000 each, revealing that the entire enterprise was a graft. Andy reveals that the mysterious Professor McCorkle was actually the faro dealer they had been working with.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

The university is a front for a con; the philanthropic appearance masks a profit-making scheme.

### Ambition and Failure

The mine owner's failed mansion becomes the site of the university; the scheme ultimately succeeds as a graft, not genuine education.

### Humor and Irony

The irony of 'philanthropy' as a business; the absurdity of the university's curriculum and the professors' qualifications.

## Character check-ins

### Jeff Peters

Narrator and co-founder of the World's University; recounts the philanthropic scheme.

### Andy Donovan

Co-founder of the World's University; lectures on irrigation and modern music; reveals the faro dealer as Professor McCorkle.

### Unknown Narrator

The listener to whom Jeff tells the story; interjects with questions.

## Key lines

> I see that the cause of Education has received the princely gift of more than fifty millions of dollars

I notice that education has been given a huge donation of over fifty million dollars.

_Opening line that prompts Jeff's story about their own philanthropic venture._

> When a man swindles the public out of a certain amount he begins to get scared and wants to return part of it.

After cheating people out of money, a person often becomes frightened and tries to give some back.

_Jeff's cynical observation on the psychology of grafters turning to philanthropy._

> Are you convinced now that philanthropy when practiced in a business way is an art that blesses him who gives as well as him who receives?

Do you now believe that running philanthropy like a business benefits both the giver and the receiver?

_Andy's ironic justification of their scheme after splitting the profits._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-chair-of-philanthromathematics
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters