# Mr. Ellis — The Marrow of Tradition character guide > Mr. Ellis in The Marrow of Tradition by Charles W. Chesnutt. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Ellis, Ellis Mr. Ellis **First appearance:** 0004-iii-the-editor-at-work ## Snapshot A thrifty newspaperman who loves Clara Pemberton from the margins, watching his rival Tom Delamere with a reporter's cold accuracy. ## Who they are Ellis arrives early to Clara's gatherings only to watch Delamere monopolize her smiles, and his Scotch thrift keeps exact account of the four dollars his rival owes him. As a newspaper man he sees what others miss—Delamere's cheating, his cowardice, his lies about card games—and records them with a jealousy sharpened by genuine judgment. His unrequited devotion and his refusal to press his advantage after Delamere's fall mark him as the novel's quiet, principled observer. ## Relationships ### [Tom Delamere](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/tom_delamere) _rivalry_ Mr. Ellis is a professional and romantic rival to Tom Delamere, competing for Clara Pemberton's affection and clashing over honor. ### [Mrs. Carteret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/mrs_carteret) _social_ Mr. Ellis and Mrs. Carteret are polite social acquaintances, interacting within the upper echelons of Wellington society. ### [Mrs. Carteret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/mrs_carteret) _social_ Mr. Ellis and Mrs. Carteret are polite social acquaintances, interacting within the upper echelons of Wellington society. ### [Tom Delamere](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/tom_delamere) _rivalry_ Mr. Ellis is a professional and romantic rival to Tom Delamere, competing for Clara Pemberton's affection and clashing over honor. ### [Tom Delamere](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/tom_delamere) _rivalry_ Mr. Ellis is a professional and romantic rival to Tom Delamere, competing for Clara Pemberton's affection and clashing over honor. ## In the story ### [II: The Christening Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/ii-the-christening-party) Young city editor; arrives early, feels awkward under Mrs. Ochiltree's blunt comments, and secretly loves Clara. ### [The Editor at Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/iii-the-editor-at-work) Mentioned as having shaken hands with Jerry in the past, reflecting his more egalitarian Quaker background, in contrast to Carteret's pride. ### [X: Delamere Plays a Trump](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/x-delamere-plays-a-trump) Observes Tom's degenerate behavior and loves Clara; evades Mrs. Ochiltree's questions about Tom's drinking and gambling, but implies the rumors are true. ### [XIII: The Cakewalk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xiii-the-cakewalk) Attends the cakewalk and recognizes the performer as Sandy, but senses something unreal about the performance. ### [XVI: Ellis Takes a Trick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xvi-ellis-takes-a-trick) Accompanies the Carterets on a drive; secretly in love with Clara; sent to find Tom Delamere; discovers Tom drunk. ### [The Social Aspirations of Captain McBane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xvii-the-social-aspirations-of-captain-mcbane) Briefly mentioned as parting with Delamere after the evening's events. ### [XIX: A Midnight Walk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xix-a-midnight-walk) Leaves the office and walks home, hopeful after hearing about Tom Delamere's cheating at cards; observes Sandy and a mysterious follower. ### [XXI: The Necessity of an Example](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxi-the-necessity-of-an-example) Reporter who confirms seeing Sandy Campbell near the Delamere yard with a bundle; briefly present before leaving. ### [The Discomfort of Ellis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxvi-the-discomfort-of-ellis) Struggles with guilt and responsibility after his testimony helped fix the accused man's guilt; resolves to uncover the truth. ### [The Vagaries of the Higher Law](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxvii-the-vagaries-of-the-higher-law) A witness who testifies that Sandy is not the man he saw, aware of the secret but complicit in the deception. ### [XXVIII: In Season and Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxviii-in-season-and-out) Handles the paper's detail work, is not admitted to the revolutionary committee's counsels, and refrains from pursuing Clara out of delicacy. ### [XXIX: Muttering of the Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxix-muttering-of-the-storm) Sends a message to Carteret via Jerry, interrupting the conspirators' meeting. ### [XXIII: Into the Lion's Jaws](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxiii-into-the-lion-s-jaws) Accompanies Dr. Miller in his buggy to protect him from further harassment, horrified by the day's violence. ### [XXXV: “Mine Enemy, O Mine Enemy!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxxv-mine-enemy-o-mine-enemy) Accompanies Major Carteret to the riot; expresses skepticism about stopping the mob, noting the violence must burn itself out. ### [Fiat Justitia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxxvi-fiat-justitia) Accompanies Carteret home and comforts Clara; later sent to the newspaper office. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/mr_ellis - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters