Short Fiction · Chapter
The Love-Philtre of Ikey Schoenstein explained
Ikey Schoenstein, a timid druggist, pines for Rosy Riddle but is too shy to act.
What happens
Ikey Schoenstein, a timid druggist, pines for Rosy Riddle but is too shy to act. His rival, Chunk McGowan, asks Ikey for a love potion to ensure Rosy will elope with him. Ikey gives him a sleeping powder instead, then tips off Rosy's father. However, Chunk decides to win Rosy honestly and slips the powder into her father's coffee, allowing the elopement to succeed.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Ikey pretends to help Chunk with a love potion but actually gives him a sleeping powder, and later deceives Mr. Riddle by revealing the elopement plan. Chunk, in turn, deceives everyone by drugging Mr. Riddle instead of Rosy.
Love and Romance
The story revolves around romantic pursuits: Ikey's unrequited love for Rosy and Chunk's successful elopement with her, highlighting the lengths people go to for love.
Humor and Irony
The irony is central: Ikey's scheme to thwart Chunk backfires when Chunk uses the powder on Mr. Riddle, and the 'love philtre' turns out to be a sleeping powder. The narrative tone is light and comedic.
Characters to notice
- Ikey Schoenstein
The night clerk at the Blue Light Drug Store, secretly in love with Rosy Riddle. He provides a sleeping powder instead of a love potion and betrays Chunk's plan to Mr. Riddle.
- Chunk McGowan
Ikey's friend and rival for Rosy's affection. He plans to elope with Rosy and asks Ikey for a love potion, but ultimately decides to win her honestly and drugs her father instead.
- Rosy Riddle
Mrs. Riddle's daughter, the object of both Ikey's and Chunk's affections. She agrees to elope with Chunk and successfully escapes via fire-escape.
- Mr. Riddle
Rosy's father, who dislikes Chunk. He is forewarned by Ikey and plans to ambush Chunk with a shotgun, but is drugged by Chunk and sleeps through the elopement.
Key passages
“I wouldn't have this double handicap make a false start tonight for a million”
I wouldn't risk this elopement failing for anything.
Chunk expresses his anxiety about Rosy changing her mind.
“The Blue Light does not consider that pharmacy is a thing of bric-a-brac, scent and ice-cream soda.”
The Blue Light Drug Store is a serious pharmacy, not a fancy soda fountain.
Describes the old-fashioned, no-nonsense character of the drug store.
“Ikey's lip beneath his nose curled with the scorn of superior enlightenment”
Ikey sneered with intellectual superiority.
Ikey's reaction to Chunk's request for a love potion.
“If he comes in my back yard he'll go away in a ambulance instead of a bridal chaise.”
If Chunk tries to elope, he'll end up in an ambulance, not a wedding carriage.
Mr. Riddle's threat to shoot Chunk.