# Dan Boone's Joke explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

The narrator reflects on his playful youth, including a joke that ended his friendship with Daniel Boone, and his subsequent hobby of collecting autographs. He recounts humorous anecdotes of obtaining signatures from famous figures, and describes his trip to Philadelphia for the 1926 Dempsey-Tunney fight, commenting on the city's strict liquor laws and the fight's outcome.

## Themes in this chapter

### Satire of Media and Business

The narrator's autograph collecting satirizes the celebrity culture and the absurd lengths people go to for fame, as well as the business of boxing promotions.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Grant

Mentioned as a notable figure whose autograph the narrator collected, part of his hobby.

## Key lines

> Lardy, why don't you run for an office?

Daniel Boone suggested that the narrator enter politics.

_The narrator's playful response ends the friendship._

> It was for the purpose of adding to this collection that I visited Philadelphia in September of 1926

The narrator went to Philadelphia to collect autographs from the notables gathered for the Dempsey-Tunney fight.

_This trip is the main event of the chapter._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xx-dan-boone-s-joke
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters