# Jimmy Ralston — Short Fiction character guide

> Jimmy Ralston in Short Fiction by Ring Lardner.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Mr. Jimmy Ralston, Mr. Ralston, Ralston, Jim, James, Jimmy, Wallace James

**First appearance:** 0000-my-roomy

## Snapshot

A Follies comedian whose arrival at a cheap hotel turns a bored young woman's head and a family trip upside down.

## Who they are

Jimmy Ralston is a rising comic — just started with the Follies after making his name at the Winter Garden — who checks into the Graham Hotel and instantly becomes the object of Kate's fixation. He's not handsome but striking, a man whose sad face hides the screamingly funny things he says on stage, and the family schemes to meet him without admitting they haven't seen the show. His presence reroutes the whole trip: Kate refuses to move hotels, and the narrator's wry account of the pursuit becomes the story's comic spine.

## Relationships

### [Kate Hayes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/kate_hayes)

_romantic_

Jimmy Ralston and Kate Hayes have a romantic interest, with possible obstacles.

### [Kate Hayes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/kate_hayes)

_romantic_

Jimmy Ralston and Kate Hayes have a romantic interest, with possible obstacles.

## In the story

### [A One-Man Team](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/a-one-man-team)

A player on the visiting team, referred to as Wallace. He is confident in the team's ability to stop Davis.

### [XI: How It Ended](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xi-how-it-ended)

Brother of the narrator, argues about who slept on the train.

### [V: Katie Wins a Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v-katie-wins-a-home)

Comedian who captivates Katie and becomes the focus of her romantic and financial investments.

### [A Frame-Up](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/a-frame-up)

Potential orchestrator or victim of the frame-up, involved in the scheme.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/i)

The heavyweight champion, recently won the title from Big Wheeler, but is not enjoying the glory or the money.

### [XV: Sport Writer on The Rabies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xv-sport-writer-on-the-rabies)

The city editor, Tom Bilgewater, who reassigns the narrator to the city desk.

### [The Venomous Viper of the Volga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/the-venomous-viper-of-the-volga)

The Viper, Ivan Ivanovitch, the Russian heavyweight sensation.

### [Wedding Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/wedding-day)

The groom, a famous comedian, is late to his own wedding and delivers a long, self-focused speech at the reception. His conversation with Ruth reveals a flirtatious and insincere nature.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters/jimmy_ralston
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/characters