Witches Loaves by O Henry

About O Henry: known for his witty, ironical, humourous,

sarcastic narratives that mostly end with a twist in the plot.
capture uncommon yet realistic situations in a commoner’s
life.
About the text: O Henry’s ‘Witches’ Loaves’ depicts the
plight of a bakery owner, Miss Martha, who attempts to win
the affections of an elderly regular gentleman customer by
committing certain acts of subtle generosity towards him.
Short story style with a simple plot, presented through lucid
language and an ironic twist at the end, the story makes one
wonder about the side effects of making too many
assumptions.
Theme: Making assumptions based on minimal information
and acting upon them which may not be correct at all.
Characters: Miss Martha and Blumberger
Miss Martha: Owns a bakery and 2000 dollars in bank, 40
year old unmarried and with a sympathetic heart
Blumberger: The customer that Miss Martha likes, always
bought 2 loaves of stale bread from her bakery and nothing
else.
Miss Martha once saw a red and brown stain on his finger and
assumed him to be an artist who is very poor and survived on
her stale bread.
“How gentle and kindly his eyes shone behind his spectacles!
What a broad brow he had! To be able to judge perspective at
a glance -- and to live on stale bread! But genius often has to
struggle before it is recognized.” These lines show that once
we like someone we start to admire everything about them.
She starts to imagine what it would be if they were together
(day dreams).
She would wear different clothes to try and look attractive.
One day without him noticing, she gave him butter bread as
an act of generosity and started to imagine how his heart
would melt after seeing this but instead her plan backfired.
Blumberger was in fact an architectual draftsman working on
a competition and now his work was ruined. Blumberger calls
Miss Martha a witch, hence the title Witches Loaves. Witches
come up with decoxion, eg her attire to attract him, tools of
bewitching a person of interest to get some kind of attention.
The last para depicts how making assumption can lead to so
many misjudgements, and the difference of what one
imagines reality to be and what reality turns out to be.

Fashion
Fashion choices say a lot about personalities, beliefs and
ideologies. Choice of fashion is an identity marker, it reflects
their mindsets, worldviews and are a means of expression.
Fashion has a massive role to play in not just people’s
lifestyles but also defines the cultural aesthetic of a period.
In the heights of fashion
Lawson was an Australian bush writer. Bush writer refers to
the poets who give so much importance to nature in his
poems. Out back writers belonged to remote areas and they
are away from latest technologies. Lawson was one of the
famous writers of the colonial period. Through his writing he
made the Australian dialect popular and made people aware of
the Australian language. He presents the realistic picture of
the Australian outback existed during the period of
colonialism. In sharp contrast to the reality, there were people
who had romantic notion and they considered life as a
comfortable journey. Lawson brought out the reality of the
Australian outback life.
The poem talks about the outback life of Australia. People of
Outback Australia were not respected by the educated
people. They were insulted and their works were not
appreciated. It was just because the outback people were not
as fashionable as the city people. This was the perspective of
the modern Australia towards the outback people. The poem
was expressed in a straight forward tone.
In the Height of Fashion

So at last a toll they’ll levy

    For the passing fool who sings—
Take the harp grown dull and heavy
    (With the dried blood on the strings)
Let us sing, and sing right gaily,
    For the wreath is on our brow—
Are you hearin’, Victor Daley?
    We are fashionable now!
Explanation:
Stanza 1
The poet is talking about the present condition of the outback
writers. They had real talent but they were not respected by
the so called cultured people. They were kept away from the
educated society just because they were not fashionable. The
outback people wanted to change the situation. So they started
imitating the so called cultured people. The loss incurred by
the outback people was their own identity. They were
levied with the charge of giving up their original identity. The
person might be actually a fool but if he presented himself
fashionable, he was respected in the society. The educated
people did not recognize the songs of the outback people
unless they were fashionable. After becoming fashionable, the
so called cultured people started accepting all the works of the
outback writers. If one wants identity, he has to be
fashionable. The person need not be really fashionable in
thoughts and writings, but acting false and losing his own
identity make him fashionable.

Once the greatest earl could flout us,

    And the meanest scribe could sneer—
Nought too bad to say about us,
    Nought too hard for us to hear.
Slaves to journal-owning Neroes,
    And we died—no matter how—
We’re sweet singers now and heroes,
    We are fashionable now.
Stanza 2
Earl refers to a position in a British family. The British
tried to make the Australian people to be fashionable.
Those who followed Australians are considered to be
fashionable and those who resisted following the British
were considered to be illiterate. In the real world, a person
with deadly weapon is considered to be powerful. The
greatest weapon was the earl, legal power, kills the weapon-
less people. People with no knowledge could also laugh at
people with greatest knowledge just because of the fact
that they were not fashionable. They do not openly insult
the outback people and at the same time, their words were not
pleasant. The outback writers became slaves of the those who
own publication houses. They did not want to present the real
situation but they wanted to project only an imaginary
environment. The outback people were forced to write as
per the requirements of the publication owners. Thus,
their creativity dies. Nevertheless they became heroes,
singers and great writers.

Once we suffered all save gaol, if

    We’d no rich admirers near;
And our sole guest was the bailiff
    And our only comfort beer.
Now we’ll dine with toffs and “ladies”,
    Who shall clasp our hands and bow.
Let the pale muse go to Hades!
    We are fashionable now.
Stanza 3
Now, the situation has changed. They had changed their style
of writing. Before the change, they were subjected to all
kind of humiliation. They would have experience all kinds of
punishment if they were sent to the jail. After the change in
the style of writing, people had started appreciating their
works. Before the change, they were taken care by the Bailiff
and the Bailiff was their only guest. They were provided
with low graded wine. After the change, they got the
opportunity to dine with rich women and they also got the
opportunity to clasp hand with the ladies. The muse had
gone pale because the poet was not true to himself. The
poet did not care about his creative muse and let it go to
hell.

Once we had to be contented

    With the “Palace of the Mind”,
While our coats were washed and mended,
    And our pants were patched behind;
Now by goose-knights we are measured,
    While the lordly tailors bow;
And our worn-out pants are treasured—
    We are fashionable now!

Stanza 4
Once they were so poor and they were not in position to
gain access to good food and cloth. They had only the dream
of getting the good luck. Their coats were torn and they lived
in utter poverty. They had only a single set of pant which
was torn. But now, they were greatly respected. Lordly
tailors came down to serve them and their old dresses
were preserved as a treasure.

Once, when stony-broke and mournful,

    We put our petition clear,
Then our country, cold and scornful,
    Answered, “Go and get a beer!”
And it threw the tray bit at us
    Just to stop our “silly row”,
Now it’s champagne spreads and—satis!
    We are fashionable now.

Stanza 5
Before adopting the fashionable way of writing, they were
poor and mournful. Their life was not comfortable while
their writings also expressed the same. They were supposed to
approach the British for a better life. But they did not receive
a warm response. The tray was infested with their petitions.
The British were scornful towards them and they threw
the petitions back at them. They considered their petitions as
a silly row. After adopting a fashionable way of writing,
they were respected by the British and both the parties
were satisfied now. To earn this, the Australian outback
writers had to give up their creativity.

Once our grandest lines were drivel,

    And our wisest words were rot,
All our teachings false and evil,
    To be sneered at and forgot;
Now our silliest clack delights ’em,
    Doggerel their feelings plow,
And our shallow bluff affrights ’em—
    We are fashionable now!

Stanza 6
When the outback writers were dealing with the local issues
with grandest lines, they were not appreciated. Their wisest
words were not given due respect. Their teachings were
considered to be false and evil. But, once after adopting
the fashionable way of writing, they wrote silly and it
made sense to the so called cultured people. Thus,
adoption of fallacy is considered as fashion by the British.

“I adore the Swagman—Drover—

    ‘When the World was Round!’—But ah!
‘While the Billy’s Boiling Over’
    Is too awfully hurrah!”
Thus the maiden trills and gushes
    While her johnnie knots his brow,
And the fair young maiden blushes—
    We are fashionable now!
Stanza 7
The poet adores the daily wagers because they are
hardworking and realistic (swagman-drover) The poet
wanted to write about them because they were considered to
be heroes by the poet. But the poet was forced to write
about a person called Billy, who have a lusty
temperament. Writing about Billy was appreciated by
women. But it was not welcomed by the lovers of the women.

“I like your book, Mr Lawson,

‘Clancy of the Overflow’,
Better far than Mr Banjo’s—
‘When Your Pants Begin to Go’.”
No! I am no longer snarling,
Long ago we had our row—
Don’t be angry, Banjo, darling,
Though I’m fashionable now.
Stanza 8
Here, the poet refers to the comments received by his readers.
The readers say the Lawson's book is better than Banjo.
The poet does not want to humiliate the other writer. Based
on force, Lawson had to take up fashionable writing.
Thus, he requests Banjo not to be angry.
I am feeling young and restive—
Skittish more than I can tell,
Skipping with a skip that’s festive,
Singing with a gladsome yell.
I will let my hair grow longer,
Storm-tossed from my stormy brow,
I am going strong and stronger—
For I’m fashionable now.

Stanza 9
The poet feels restive and young as he was recognised by
the people. The poet's personality and appearance had
changed as he became a fashionable writer. The poet also
became stronger as he became fashionable.

We shall write lines to their poodles—

Darlings of Society—
Praise the blatant cad who boodles,
Write odes to the Divorcee.
Let, at last Australia know its
Brilliant circles anyhow,
We’re the Doo-dah, Doo-dah! Poets—
We are fashionable now.
Stanza 10
The so called educated people did not encourage poems of
the working class people but they encouraged poems of
their pet animals. The pet animals are considered to be the
darlings of the society. The elite class people encouraged
writing good about a cad. The poet had forgot his potential
and started writing as per the requirements of the elite
class. The so called educated circles had started recognising
them and thus they became fashionable.

Crazy for fashion by Babatunde Aremu

The poet builds on the Christian idea that Man is
made in God’s image and criticises the cosmetic and
stylistic embellishments that people indulge in with
each new fashion trend. Stressing on the need to
appreciate the beauty of the human body in its
natural form, he considers these ever-changing
fashion trends as more of a destructive practice rather
than an attempt at beautification.
Birds do beautifully display
Their feathers in the skies
Lions proudly show off
Their brittle hairs in the jungles
Peacock flaunts her feathers
Around the courtyards
Snails are comfortable in their shells
Man, God’s image is confused in himself.
Stanza 1
Animals and birds are not ashamed to show their
beauty. Birds do not feel ashamed to show their
colour feathers and the snail does not feel ashamed
to move slow. Thus, things created by god are happy
in their own way but man, who is said to be in the
image of god, he is not satisfied. Birds, Lions,
Peacock, Snail(BLPS) Black Lives PreciouS

Man is ashamed of Godly nature

Crazy outfits are designed
To display nookies and crannies
Skins are bleached to change colours
Tattoos are engraved to flaunt around
Hair colours are changed
Like the garment of masquerade
Man, never satisfy with nature

Stanza 2
Men are not happy with what they have got. Dresses are
created to protect a person. But, in the name of fashion,
dresses are tailored to expose their body. Skin and hair
colour cannot be changed. But, in the name of fashion they
are being changed. Men are hiding themselves in order to
expose their beauty.
Skin, Tattoo, Face(STF)

Man’s insatiable craze

For fashion runs like oceans
He has a face-lift,
Do liposuction and implants,
Have a tummy tuck
And even brigthens his teeth
All in the name of fashion
Its just crazy fashion

Stanza 3
Men's craze for fashion cannot be quenched. Men are not
happy with their natural face. They want to be very neat and
they want to project themselves in a very beautiful way.
Men want to beautify himself by hurting himself. It's just
the craze for fashion.
Face, Implant, Tummy tuck, Teeth(FITTT)

Why this rat race?

Why tampering with natural beauty?
Is God no more perfect?
Are these really fashion?
No, they are destruction In the name of fashion
Its just fashion crazy

Stanza 4
The poet raises few question. The craziness for fashion
entered into our society in the recent times. Men try to retain
the beauty given to him by god earlier. The poet says these
are not fashion but these are destructions. Men are
troubling themselves in the name of fashion.

Management
Process of planning, organising, directing, and controlling
activities. Effective and efficient utilization of resources.
Intangible force, teamwork, science and art, time, stress, and
health management.

IF
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
Stanza 1
If you can remain focused while others are distracted,
and also when they blame the situations upon you, then
it is a good virtue to have. When you have the belief to
accomplish something while others don't believe you, it
is a virtue to have. However, over-confident is not
encouraged by the author. The author advices to make
provision for their doubting as well. If one can wait
for good things to happen, it is a virtue to have. If
others lie to you, you don't have control over it. You
can control only your words. If somebody hates you,
don't give way to hating. Hence, indifference is the best
point to stay. If you are a wise person, don't make the
tailor the world for you. It is better to talk less than
what you know. It paves the way for understanding the
opponent. Illustrates the way to act during times of
acute crisis.
Instilling these virtues might make the son self
righteous so he warns against that.
Keep your head, trust, allowance, patience, lies.
(KTAPL)

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
Stanza 2
We should not be consumed by dreams. One should not
be confined to thoughts alone. Thoughts should lead
to action. Only then, the thoughts are said to be
valuable. We should treat success and failures in the
same way as one can lead to the other. Success and
failures are not always as they seem to be. When your
truths are twisted by others, you should stand by
your words. Whatever the tools you have used to build
the optimum level of something, when that particular
object is broken, use the same tools to build again from
the ashes. Do not be taken over by defeats. Try to
build success from the failures. Triumph and Disaster
are the two extremes of life, they are fake, either make
one extremely happy or miserable. Not long lasting and
shouldn’t be taken seriously.
Dreams, Thoughts, Imposters, Listen, Broken
(DTILB) Don’T Irritate Lewis Brother
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!
Stanza 3
Risk your winnings on any one particular thing on life.
This paves the way for achieving something better.
Every beginning brings an energy change. When your
heart, nerves have given up, you should be able to
control your mind.
Risk, Hold

’If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
Stanza 4
We should treat everyone equally. Idea of getting hurt is
the responsibility of oneself. What others do to us
cannot be controlled. Excess of faith leads to
expectation. We should be able utilize each and every
minute of our life usefully. This enables us to own all
the belongings of the earth. Equal, Friend, Utilization
(EFU) Ehh Fu88 you

Humility, Rationality, Perseverance, Truthfulness

Social Media
Any form of communication facilitated through the
internet. It is instantaneous and its reach is global.
Largest and most easily accessible for expression.
Revolutionary, eg advertisements, awareness. Also fake
news, online harassment, data hacking, addictions, dark
web. User driven, can be a boon or a bane.
Truth in the time of Social Media
The writer questions new media, it is not fact-checked
and sometimes just put in form of stories to appeal our
emotions.

SWOT

Strengths

There are no other competitors

They have direct access to ground reality
The unity which comes from particular community
They have strategies for their work even though they
don’t come from a formal business
They are affordable
Zero fuel consumption
They have coordination amongst them
They have a proper service commitment
They don’t have any strikes
They have a trust among all
They are six sigma complianced
They work in a very disciplinary way

Weaknesses

No technology being used

They are dependent on the local trains
They haven’t got aligned with the dynamic
environment
There is no branching out of the particular business
They get limited to only one city
They don’t have a formal way of calculating rates
They are not into diversification (example - employing
transgenders)
The future of the business is unstable. Even though it is
a very respectable job in Mumbai, it is not sustainable.
Having damaged roads and heavy traffics slows them
down
Opportunities

Diversification can help them making their handles

larger
They can be associated to other large companies
They can be tied up with messes
They can use technology and work with the trends so
that they stay updated with everything
They can expand to new geographies
They can earn revenue through advertising their
facilities
They can start their own messes
They can start cloud kitchening

Challenges
Unpunctual customers
Physical Distance
Large number of dabbas
Mumbai Traffic
Crowded trains
Network coordination
Multiple handovers
Time!
Motivation

Principles of management used over here

Esprit De Corps
Cooperation
Unity of Direction
Decentralisation
Order
Authority and responsibility
Equity
Discipline
High levels of motivation
Division of work
Subordination of individual interest
Harmony not discord
Cooperation no individualism
Efficiency
Job satisfaction

Coding system
VLP (Vile Parle Suburb): Nearest Station from
residence
3: Code for the particular destination station for eg
churchgate
E: Code for Dabbawalla at residence (Source area)
9EX12: Code for Dabbawalla at the destination
EX: Building names (Express towers)
12: Floor number