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The significance of these two scenes are both symbolic, each for Holden's reluctance to move on from the past. The composition does so in recognizing how "terrific" his brother was when he was still alive, and when he died he was a child, a symbol used against Holden's approach to adulthood. His memories of Jane however signify the innocence of remaining immature, and when confronted with the idea that this innocence may have faltered years later, Holden prefers to have the naivety beaten out of him instead of confronting it.
Later the same day after Stradlater takes Jane, Holden's old friend on a date, he asks Holden to write his composition for him. Holden decides to write it about his brother's Baseball mitt, which simply angered Stradlater after reading it.
When confronted about his date with Jane, Stradlater refuses to elaborate, and feeling a sort of violation Holden instigates a fight between Stradlater and himself to clear his conscience.
