Salute to Lucy and Elsie by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Short summary

5 seconds

Lawson was raised to respect women. By pitying the girls seduced by his son and his friend, he contributes to the young men marrying them and breaking their lives. No longer does Lawson feel pity for girls.

1 minute

Lawson lives in Cuba and awaits the arrival of his son George from America. By chance, he reads a letter for his son from his university friend and roommate.

He rudely describes an affair with 17-year-old Lucy and asks how George is doing with Elsie. Lawson was brought up in the old ways and doesn’t like this kind of talk and disrespect for girls.

Lawson writes the young man a polite but stern letter and asks him not to live in the same room with George.

Lawson’s son arrives and tells him that his friend and neighbor left the institute and married Lucy.

George finds out about the correspondence between his father and his university friend. He left and married Elsie, ruining his future.

Since then, Lawson has never spoken well of American girls.