Arthur Cosslett Smith wrote in a group with two other men and together called themselves V.,O.,C.S.. Arthur Cosslett Smith was originally from Rochester. He was unlike other writers of his time who looked at tradition as their reason to write. Instead, Smith spent time at the “Naval Academy of Annapolis” in his younger years, learning about the new world. He had a Law Degree from Columbia University and had also gone to Hobart College. He practiced law for many years but was also an avid writer. He traveled often and once while in London he grew to like The Yellow Book. Smith then chose to live in London. He died in 1926. His writing was called “delightfully un-American” by Vincent Starrett (Oxford Index).

    In his short story, “To Every Man A Damsel Or Two,” Smith depicts a man who is going on his first trip to a music hall. He seems a bit overwhelmed at the whole affair. He meets a woman who beckons him over after she laughs at him with another man, possibly noting his unsure demeanor. He does not stay for long and after spending a few florins on alcohol for the lady, she deems him too rude and waves him away and he is left confused after she pushes him out of the hall. He is unable to re-enter and as he walks away he realizes that the flower that was in his jacket pocket has disappeared. Interestingly enough, the O. in V.,O.,C.S., stands for Oswald Sickert who is the younger brother of the painter of “Ada Lundberg,” Walter Sickert.

In this story one can see a role reversal. Behaviour one may attribute to a man is actually from a scheming women. In this story the woman is depicted as the centre of attention once again and controls the evening. She uses some of her sexual appeal and basically objectifies herself in order to lure in unsuspecting men. Before the 1890s, men mostly objectified women and only spoke to them in hopes of becoming attached to them, but in the 1890s, the atmosphere was more conducive to friendship. Most people made friends or brought friends with them to music halls. Unfortunately, in this story the man was alone and was taken advantage of.