− Sat R 130:280 O 2 ’20 1000W + The Times [London] Lit Sup p613 S 23 ’20 1700w
GREGORY, JACKSON. Ladyfingers. il *$1.75 (1½c) Scribner
20–8277
Robert Ashe, alias Ladyfingers, expert “on life, lyric poetry and ... burglar proof safes,” had been left a pennyless orphan at the age of six, had grown up without guidance—except the memory of the fairy tales his mother used to tell him—and without morals; had become a newsboy, a pickpocket, a thief, and lastly a safe-cracker, and through it all remained a poet and an innocent boy at heart. His career is thrilling and romantic, for one day he finds himself the grandson of a multi-millionairess, a crabbed old witch of a woman, and in love with a sweet country girl. Then the awakening comes. His past has been hushed up, smothered in his grandmother’s millions. But the girl will have none of him for all her love. She fears a criminal inheritance for her children-to-be. Then Robert realizes that he has not yet paid for his misdeeds and that to pay is a law of nature. He gives himself up voluntarily to the police and serves a two-years sentence in the penitentiary. In the meanwhile Enid repents and prepares a home for him on his return. In due time the grandmother also repents and all ends happily.
Booklist 16:312 Je ’20
“All the world loves a crook if he is also an artist and a gentleman and Ladyfingers is a very charming specimen, but, alas, he begins to reform far too near the beginning of the story and becomes so noble that he is a little hard to bear.”
+ − Ind 103:323 S 11 ’20 70w
“Although there is a good deal too much description, the story is agreeably told. At first it moves quickly, then seems steadily to lose momentum, very much as though it had been started with a vigorous shove and then been allowed to slow down as it would.”
+ − NY Times 25:272 My 23 ’20 450w