Character guide

Grace Charley

major

Also known as Grace, Charley Grace, Grace bellow, Grace dident

Fred's wife and the engine of the Grosses' social climb, she mistakes a neighbor's parlor for a stage and plays the leading lady in every suburban comedy.

Fred A. Gross

major

Also known as Fred Gross, Fred, Allison, little Fred

A Chicago detective turned suburban homeowner, he narrates his family's climb into respectability in letters that misspell every rung of the ladder.

Mrs. Hamilton

supporting

Also known as Mr. Hamilton, Mr. & Mrs. Hamilton, Hamilton

A neighbor who receives Grace's calling card with the frozen courtesy of a woman who suspects she is being investigated.

Mr. Martin

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Martin, Charley Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Martin

The next-door neighbor who shares Fred's train seat and his suspicion that the Hamiltons are starving their cat out of spite.

Brother Charley

supporting

Also known as Charley, Dear Charley, Brother Chas, Chas, Dear Chas

Fred's patient correspondent, the flat-dwelling brother whose quiet life becomes the foil for every Gross misadventure.

Mary Gross

supporting

Also known as Mary, F. A. Gross, Mary . F. A. Gross . Allison

Charley's wife and the quiet recipient of Fred's regards, she represents the flat-dwelling life the Grosses have left behind.

Mr. Thomas

supporting

Also known as Thomas, Mr. Thomas hadent

Mr. Thomas belongs to the revolving cast of suburbanites whose homes Grace and her husband visit in Ring Lardner's small-town social circuit, where card games, beer, and door-to-door calls structure the evenings. He answers his own door and, like Mr. Hamilton before him, jumps to the wrong conclusion about Grace's errand, a small comic beat that exposes how easily these neighbors misread one another. His brief appearance reinforces the story's running joke about suburban hospitality and the muddled transactions that pass for sociability.

Bob Barnes

minor

Also known as Bob, Bob Barnes of corse

Named character, appears in scenes, likely a friend or acquaintance.

Bro. Charley

minor

Also known as Bro, Charley sence

Another form of Brother Charley, appears in letters and narrative.

The Dr.

minor

Doctor character, appears in scenes, likely a medical professional.

Parker

minor

Also known as deputy Parker

Deputy character, appears in scenes, likely an authority figure.

Mrs. Carpenter

minor

Also known as Carpenter

Wife of Mr. Carpenter, appears in scenes.

The Hamiltons

minor

Also known as Hamiltons, Mr. Hamiltons

Family group, appears as a collective in various social situations.

The Moreheads

minor

Also known as Moreheads from Carrys, the Carrys, The Carrys

Family or group from Carrys, appears in narrative as a collective.

Mr. Carpenter

minor

Also known as Carpenter, Well finely Mr. Carpenter

Recurring character, appears in scenes, possibly a neighbor or worker.

Mrs. Carry

minor

Also known as Carry, ast Mrs. Carry

Named character, appears in scenes, likely a neighbor or acquaintance.

The Graces

minor

Also known as Graces

Family group, appears as a collective, possibly related to Grace Charley.

Mrs. Curtis

minor

Also known as Curtis, the Curtis, finely Curtis

Named character, appears in scenes, likely a neighbor or acquaintance.

The Walters

minor

Also known as Gus Walters

Family or individual, appears in scenes, likely acquaintances.

Fredericks

minor

Named character or family, appears in scenes, limited presence.

Dick Harger

minor

Also known as Dick

Named character, appears in scenes, likely a friend or acquaintance.

Mr. Hamilton

minor

Also known as Hamilton, Charley Mr. Hamilton

Individual from the Hamilton family, appears in scenes.

Jerry Donahue

minor

Also known as Jerry, Hello Jerry

Named character, appears in scenes, likely a friend or acquaintance.

Mr. Carlton

minor

Named character, appears in scenes, limited presence.

The Martins

minor

Also known as Martins idear

Family group, appears as a collective in scenes.

Mrs. Hamiltons

minor

Also known as Hamiltons, the Hamiltons

Female member of Hamilton family, appears in scenes.

Little Ed

minor

Also known as Ed

Named character, appears in scenes, likely a child or young person.

The Carpenters

minor

Also known as Carpenters, the Carpenters nether

Family group, appears as a collective in scenes.

Gus Goetz

minor

Named character, appears in scenes, limited presence.

Alec Welsh

minor

Also known as Alec

Named character, appears in scenes, limited presence.

Mr. Carry

minor

Also known as Carry dident

Husband of Mrs. Carry, appears in scenes.

Rumley

minor

Also known as old rumley

Named character, appears in scenes, limited presence.

Mr. Ewing

minor

Named character, appears in scenes, limited presence.

Mrs. Thomas

minor

Also known as corse Mrs. Thomas

Wife of Mr. Thomas, appears in scenes.