Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye

Chapter 19Chapter 19

Wicker BarWicker Bar Holden is to meet Carl Luce at the Wicker Holden is to meet Carl Luce at the Wicker

Bar, which is in a very nice hotel. Bar, which is in a very nice hotel. ““In case you don't live in New York, the In case you don't live in New York, the

Wicker Bar is in this sort of swanky hotel, Wicker Bar is in this sort of swanky hotel, the Seton Hotel.the Seton Hotel.

The bar often features Tina and Janine, who The bar often features Tina and Janine, who sing silly songs in French and English. sing silly songs in French and English.

Holden recalls that they are not very talented, Holden recalls that they are not very talented, but that everyone in the bar gets all excited but that everyone in the bar gets all excited about the duo. about the duo.

The thought of their phoniness, naturally, The thought of their phoniness, naturally, bothers Holden. bothers Holden.

Holden arrives at the Wicker Bar early and Holden arrives at the Wicker Bar early and manages to find a seat even though it is manages to find a seat even though it is crowded. crowded.

It was pretty early when I got there. It was pretty early when I got there. I sat down at the bar--it was pretty I sat down at the bar--it was pretty

crowded--and had a couple of Scotch and crowded--and had a couple of Scotch and sodas before old Luce even showed up.sodas before old Luce even showed up.

Carl LuceCarl Luce Carl arrives and begins to drink. Carl arrives and begins to drink.

Old Luce. What a guy. Old Luce. What a guy. He was supposed to be my Student He was supposed to be my Student

Adviser when I was at Whooton. Adviser when I was at Whooton.

The only thing he ever did, though, was The only thing he ever did, though, was give these sex talks and all, late at night give these sex talks and all, late at night when there was a bunch of guys in his when there was a bunch of guys in his room. room.

He knew quite a bit about sex, especially He knew quite a bit about sex, especially perverts and all. perverts and all.

He was always telling us about a lot of He was always telling us about a lot of creepy guys that go around having affairs creepy guys that go around having affairs with sheep, and guys that go around with with sheep, and guys that go around with girls' pants sewed in the lining of their hats girls' pants sewed in the lining of their hats and all.and all.

Luce seems bored and anxious to leave. At Luce seems bored and anxious to leave. At several points in the conversation, he tells several points in the conversation, he tells Holden to grow up and quit being so childish. Holden to grow up and quit being so childish.

Holden persists in talking about sex even Holden persists in talking about sex even though Carl seems uninterested. though Carl seems uninterested.

Once again, as with Sally, Holden grows Once again, as with Sally, Holden grows excited while talking and has to be told to excited while talking and has to be told to lower his volume. lower his volume.

When Carl is ready to leave, Holden When Carl is ready to leave, Holden pleads with him to stay a little longer. pleads with him to stay a little longer.

Carl, however, has had enough of Holden. Carl, however, has had enough of Holden. As he departs he suggests that Holden As he departs he suggests that Holden

should be psychoanalyzed.should be psychoanalyzed.