Psmith, Journalist · Chapter
Full Steam Ahead explained
Psmith returns to the office and meets Kid Brady, a boxer from Wyoming.
What happens
Psmith returns to the office and meets Kid Brady, a boxer from Wyoming. Billy Windsor explains the corruption in the boxing world and decides to back Brady. Psmith then proposes a campaign against the tenement housing abuses in Pleasant Street, aiming to expose the corrupt landlords. They plan to write a series of articles using general invective to stir public outrage.
Themes in this chapter
Social Reform and Justice
Psmith and Billy Windsor decide to expose the corrupt tenement housing system in Pleasant Street, aiming to bring about reform.
Journalism and Power
The chapter highlights the power of the press to investigate and expose social injustices, using Cosy Moments as a platform.
Courage and Risk
Psmith and Billy Windsor take on powerful interests by launching a campaign against tenement landlords, risking retaliation.
Characters to notice
- Psmith
Returns to the office, meets Kid Brady, and proposes a tenement exposé campaign.
- Billy Windsor
Introduces Kid Brady, discusses boxing corruption, and agrees to back the tenement exposé.
- Kid Brady
A boxer from Wyoming seeking fights in New York; Billy Windsor offers support.
- Pugsy Maloney
Mentioned as whistling in the office; Psmith asks him to stop.
Key passages
“If the kid had a manager, he’d get all the fights he wanted. And the manager would get nearly all the money.”
Billy Windsor explains that without a manager, Kid Brady can't get fights, and even with one, the manager would take most of the earnings.
Highlights the corruption in boxing promotion.
“What we want most is some big topic. That’s the only way to get a paper going.”
Billy Windsor emphasizes the need for a major investigative series to boost the paper's popularity.
Reflects the muckraking journalism strategy.
“The main problem, then, appears to be the discovery of the lessee, lad?”
Psmith identifies the key challenge as finding the person who actually owns the tenement buildings.
Sets up the investigative goal of the exposé.