Does the story say something about life in a big city? "The Cop and the Anthem" by O. Henry

O. Henry's short story "The Cop and the Anthem" does,
indeed, depict the callousness and detached attitudes of many urban people.  When Soapy
enters the restaurant the head waiter immediately zeroes in on him as an "undesirable"
and "conveyed him in silence and haste to the sidewalk."  After all, anyone who detracts
from the appeal of the restaurant is immediately removed since he can cost the business
customers.  Likewise, although the less pretentious restaurant serves Soapy, with no
concern about his improverished state, he is roughly thrown into the dusty street when
he cannot pay.

That Soapy cannot get himself arrested, of
course, comprises the ironic humor of O. Henry's tale; but, at the same time, it points
to the number of true miscreants that populate a big city such as the street walker
and the umbrella thief. Yet, when Soapy enters the church and listens to the church
anthem, or moving short sacred choral work presented during a worship service, he
examines his life and resolves to improve himself.  However, just as he steps out of the
church, he is arrested for doing "nothing."  With a humorous twist to the old question
"Where is a policeman when you need him?" Soapy is arrested now that he does not want to
be.  The policeman appears when he is not wanted--how typical of the feeling of many
city dwellers!