# Psmith — Psmith, Journalist character guide > Psmith in Psmith, Journalist by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Waring Psmith, Waring, the Three Pointers Psmith **First appearance:** 0001-psmith-journalist ## Snapshot A monocled Englishman of leisurely elegance who takes over Cosy Moments and turns its gentle pages into a crusade against New York's slum landlords. ## Who they are Psmith arrives at the Cosy Moments office as an acting subeditor and promptly treats a delegation of outraged contributors like a mildly amusing social call, dusting the editorial chair before sinking into it. His languid wit and unflappable courtesy conceal a taste for mischief and a genuine appetite for a fight worth having. When the paper's mild-mannered content gives way to a tenement exposé, he becomes the calm, needling center of a campaign that makes powerful enemies. ## Relationships ### [Billy Windsor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/characters/billy_windsor) _friendship_ Close friends and co-editors of Cosy Moments, working together to expose slum conditions. ### [Kid Brady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/characters/kid_brady) _friendship_ Psmith supports and promotes Kid Brady's boxing career as part of their newspaper campaign. ### [Mr. Wolmann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/characters/mr_wolmann) _rivalry_ Wolmann is a corrupt political boss who opposes Psmith's reform efforts. ### [Comrade Parker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/characters/comrade_parker) _rivalry_ Parker is a henchman for the slum landlords, constantly trying to sabotage Psmith. ### [Bat Jarvis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/characters/bat_jarvis) _friendship_ Psmith cleverly befriends Bat Jarvis, turning him from potential enemy to ally. ### [Pugsy Maloney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/characters/pugsy_maloney) _professional_ Psmith treats Pugsy with amused kindness and employs him as a messenger. ### [Mike](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/characters/mike) _friendship_ Mike is Psmith's close friend from school, and they reunite in New York. ### [Luella Granville Waterman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/characters/luella_granville_waterman) _social_ Luella is a society woman who writes for Cosy Moments and flirts with Psmith. ### [B. Henderson Asher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/characters/b_henderson_asher) _rivalry_ Asher is a lawyer hired by the slum landlords to intimidate Psmith and Billy. ### [Billy Windsor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/characters/billy_windsor) _friendship_ Close friends and co-editors of Cosy Moments, working together to expose slum conditions. ### [Mr. Wolmann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/characters/mr_wolmann) _rivalry_ Wolmann is a corrupt political boss who opposes Psmith's reform efforts. ### [Billy Windsor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/characters/billy_windsor) _friendship_ Close friends and co-editors of Cosy Moments, working together to expose slum conditions. ## In the story ### [Psmith, Journalist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/psmith-journalist) Co-editor of Cosy Moments, leading the tenement exposé with wit and strategy. ### [At “The Gardenia”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/iii-at-the-gardenia) Expresses disappointment with New York's lack of adventure and befriends Billy Windsor after helping with the cat incident. ### [Bat Jarvis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/iv-bat-jarvis) Displays his characteristic wit and calm demeanor, engaging Bat Jarvis with polished remarks and observing the scene with his monocle. ### [Planning Improvements](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/v-planning-improvements) Proposes transforming Cosy Moments into a 'red-hot' paper, sacks Luella Granville Waterman, and volunteers as unpaid subeditor. ### [The Tenements](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/vi-the-tenements) Psmith takes charge of the editorial changes, explores the tenements with Mike, and resolves to expose the slum conditions in Cosy Moments. ### [Visitors at the Office](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/vii-visitors-at-the-office) Sees Mike off at the ferry, then goes to the office to face the angry contributors. ### [The Honeyed Word](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/viii-the-honeyed-word) Acts as acting subeditor, defuses the contributors' revolt with diplomacy and wit, then hosts a reconciliatory lunch. ### [Full Steam Ahead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/ix-full-steam-ahead) Returns to the office, meets Kid Brady, and proposes a tenement exposé campaign. ### [X: Going Some](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/x-going-some) Acts as subeditor and co-leader, using wit and dignity to reject Parker's bribe. ### [The Man at the Astor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xi-the-man-at-the-astor) Suggests dining at the Astor roof garden for safety; remains calm and witty in the face of danger. ### [A Red Taximeter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xii-a-red-taximeter) Accompanies Billy and observes the tailing with characteristic calm and wit. ### [Reviewing the Situation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xiii-reviewing-the-situation) Psmith reflects on the seriousness of the tenement fight and resolves to see it through despite the risks. ### [XIV: The Highfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xiv-the-highfield) Travels with Billy to the Highfield, discusses the weather and Kid Brady's prospects, and nearly reveals their connection to Cosy Moments to a stranger. ### [An Addition to the Staff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xv-an-addition-to-the-staff) Articulates the need for a fighting editor and leads the recruitment of Kid Brady. ### [The First Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xvi-the-first-battle) Leads the defense, loses his hat to a bullet, and negotiates with the police. ### [Guerilla Warfare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xvii-guerilla-warfare) Discusses Repetto's alibi, proposes a new sleuthing strategy to find the tenement owner by questioning the rent collector. ### [An Episode by the Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xviii-an-episode-by-the-way) Listens to Pugsy's report and considers how to profit from the gang war. ### [XIX: In Pleasant Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xix-in-pleasant-street) Leads the investigation into the tenements, devises a plan to pay the Italian boy's rent and confront the rent collector. ### [XX: Cornered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xx-cornered) Leads the interrogation of Gooch, orchestrates the retreat to the roof, and sends Pugsy for Dude Dawson's gang. ### [The Battle of Pleasant Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xxi-the-battle-of-pleasant-street) Orchestrates the defense on the roof, negotiates with the gang, and engineers the escape via ladder. ### [Concerning Mr. Waring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xxii-concerning-mr-waring) Reveals he spotted and disarmed a follower who tried to steal the evidence; devises the plan to mail the paper to the office. ### [Reductions in the Staff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xxiii-reductions-in-the-staff) Visits Billy in jail, recounts his own arrest, and devises a plan to recruit Bat Jarvis as a sitzredakteur. ### [A Gathering of Cat Specialists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xxiv-a-gathering-of-cat-specialists) Leads the visit to Bat Jarvis, using diplomacy and humor to secure an alliance. ### [Trapped](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xxv-trapped) Hosts Bat Jarvis and Long Otto for protection; receives Billy's escape note; is trapped in a cab by Comrade Parker's revolver. ### [A Friend in Need](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xxvi-a-friend-in-need) Kidnapped by Comrade Parker; uses humor and logic to delay and probe Parker's intentions. ### [Psmith Concludes His Ride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xxvii-psmith-concludes-his-ride) Disarms and knocks out Comrade Parker during the taxi ride, then spends the afternoon at Kid Brady's training camp. Later refuses Parker's summons to meet Stewart Waring. ### [XXVIII: Standing Room Only](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xxviii-standing-room-only) Acting editor of Cosy Moments; calmly reveals his self-appointment and defends the paper's new direction against Wilberfloss. ### [The Knockout for Mr. Waring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/xxix-the-knockout-for-mr-waring) Reveals himself as the new proprietor of Cosy Moments and orchestrates the confrontation with Mr. Waring. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/chapters/conclusion) Relaxing in his Cambridge rooms, reflecting on recent events and the peaceful conclusion. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/characters/psmith - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_journalist_se/characters