RIP VAN WRINKLE BY WASHINGTON IRVING

When Rip Van Winkle tries to console himself and escape from Dame Van Winkle, he often goes to a sort of philosophical or political club that meets on a bench outside of a small inn. Here the more idle men actually gossip and tell sleepy stories about nothing, every once in a while discussing “current” events when they find an old newspaper. They seem to represent other men like Rip who crave the company of other men rather than nagging wives.