Tattered-Sounding Applause

from "The String Theory," by David Foster Wallace, Esquire

The applause of a tiny crowd is so small and sad and tattered-sounding that it’d almost be better if people didn’t clap at all.

Wallace was at his best when he confined himself to reportage. His very strong nonfiction relies on simple declarative sentences like this one with its funny, sad, unique observation. A "tatter" of course is a worn-out piece of cloth that has come to represent all things forlorn. The sound of tatters can be the same sound as insufficient clapping. Bravo, Dave. RIP.