# The Handbook of Hymen explained — Short Fiction > Chapter companion for Short Fiction by O. Henry. ## What happens Sanderson Pratt and Idaho, two miners, spend a winter snowed in, each studying a book: Pratt's 'Herkimer's Handbook of Indispensable Information' and Idaho's poetry by Homer K. M. After striking pay ore, they settle in Rosa, where both court the wealthy widow Mrs. De Ormond Sampson. Pratt uses his statistical knowledge to impress her, while Idaho's poetic advances offend her. When Mrs. Sampson's house catches fire, Pratt consults his handbook for rescue instructions. ## Themes in this chapter ### Humor and Irony The rivalry between Pratt's statistical handbook and Idaho's poetry book is comedic, as is Pratt's use of facts to woo Mrs. Sampson and his reliance on the handbook during the fire. ### Love and Romance Both Pratt and Idaho court Mrs. Sampson, with Pratt's factual approach contrasting Idaho's poetic advances, leading to a romantic competition. ### Ambition and Failure Pratt's ambition to win Mrs. Sampson through statistics and Idaho's poetic courtship both face obstacles, with the fire testing their efforts. ## Character check-ins ### Unknown Narrator The narrator, Sanderson Pratt, recounts his rivalry with Idaho and his courtship of Mrs. Sampson. ### Billy Keogh Not present in this chapter. ### Andy Donovan Not present in this chapter. ### The Captain Not present in this chapter. ### Johnny Atwood Not present in this chapter. ### Jim Not present in this chapter. ### Lorison Not present in this chapter. ### David Mignot Not present in this chapter. ### Samuel Tansey Not present in this chapter. ### Annie Williams Not present in this chapter. ### Ranse Truesdell Not present in this chapter. ### Octavia Beaupree Not present in this chapter. ### The General Not present in this chapter. ### Miss Alice Not present in this chapter. ### Jeff Peters Not present in this chapter. ### Willie Robbins Not present in this chapter. ### The Colonel Not present in this chapter. ### The Doctor Not present in this chapter. ### Curly Not present in this chapter. ### Aileen Not present in this chapter. ### Fergus O'Hollihan Not present in this chapter. ### Mame Dugan Not present in this chapter. ### Hetty Pepper Not present in this chapter. ### The Hermit Not present in this chapter. ### Whistling Dick Not present in this chapter. ### Dan McMullen Not present in this chapter. ### Lawyer Gooch Not present in this chapter. ### Grandemont Charles Not present in this chapter. ### Van Sweller Not present in this chapter. ### Simmons Not present in this chapter. ### Dry Valley Johnson Not present in this chapter. ### Yancey Goree Not present in this chapter. ### Barney O'Connor Not present in this chapter. ### Curtis Raidler Not present in this chapter. ### Dicky Maloney Not present in this chapter. ### Shamrock Jolnes Not present in this chapter. ### Cork McManus Not present in this chapter. ### Denver Galloway Not present in this chapter. ### Teddy Westlake Not present in this chapter. ### Frank Goodwin Not present in this chapter. ### Beelzebub Blythe Not present in this chapter. ### Thomas McQuade Not present in this chapter. ### Tom Hopkins Not present in this chapter. ### Soapy Not present in this chapter. ### Ives Not present in this chapter. ### Webb Yeager Not present in this chapter. ### Nevada Warren Not present in this chapter. ### Mr. Morley Not present in this chapter. ### Mac McGowan Not present in this chapter. ### Señor Goodwin Not present in this chapter. ### Young Murray Not present in this chapter. ### Luke Summers Not present in this chapter. ### Jimmy Valentine Not present in this chapter. ### Mr. Peters Not present in this chapter. ### Uncle Bushrod Not present in this chapter. ### Vallance Not present in this chapter. ### Mrs. Conant Not present in this chapter. ### Joe Larrabee Not present in this chapter. ### Maggie Toole Not present in this chapter. ### Injunction Cherokee Not present in this chapter. ### Old Uncle Jake Not present in this chapter. ### George Ringo Not present in this chapter. ### Doc Millikin Not present in this chapter. ### Cricket McGuire Not present in this chapter. ### Tom Lawson Not present in this chapter. ### Tonia Perez Not present in this chapter. ### Willard Geddie Not present in this chapter. ### Francis Kearny Not present in this chapter. ### Mr. Blinker Not present in this chapter. ### Señor White Not present in this chapter. ### Perry Rountree Not present in this chapter. ### Fuzzy Not present in this chapter. ### Buck Patterson Not present in this chapter. ### Tobin Not present in this chapter. ### Robert Walmsley Not present in this chapter. ### Thomas McLeod Not present in this chapter. ### Jacob Spraggins Not present in this chapter. ### Thacker Not present in this chapter. ### Bob Hart Not present in this chapter. ### Billy Pemberton Not present in this chapter. ## Key lines > I never was as glad to see a ten-ounce nugget as I was that book. Pratt was overjoyed to get his handbook, comparing it to finding a valuable gold nugget. _Highlights the value Pratt places on factual knowledge._ > What you've got is statistics, the lowest grade of information that exists. They'll poison your mind. Idaho dismisses Pratt's book as mere statistics, claiming it will corrupt his thinking. _Illustrates the philosophical clash between poetry and facts._ > I think statistics are just as lovely as they can be. Mrs. Sampson expresses her appreciation for Pratt's factual conversation. _Shows her preference for Pratt's approach over Idaho's poetry._ > Herky, old boy, you ain't ever lied to me yet, and you ain't ever throwed me down at a scratch yet. Tell me what, old boy, tell me what! Pratt appeals to his handbook for guidance during the fire, trusting it completely. _Demonstrates his reliance on the handbook in a crisis._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-handbook-of-hymen - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters