A Pasteboard Crown

The Lawton family's arrival at a decaying house sets a suburban neighborhood talking. John Lawton, his wife and their daughters, Sybil and Dorothy, move into Woodsedge with battered furniture and the help of their cheerful maid, Lena. Mrs. Lawton remembers the servants and comforts of better days, while her daughters meet the upheaval with laughter and affection. Clara Morris begins this novel of the New York stage with a close look at reduced circumstances, family pride and the quick circulation of gossip.

The story also gives personal relationships the urgency of an accident. When Dorothy is caught in a runaway vehicle, Leslie Galt intervenes and publicly claims her as his future wife to protect her reputation. His sudden declaration adds a social complication to the rescue. Readers interested in theatrical fiction will find domestic scenes alongside a stage setting, with attention to appearance, performance and the pressures of being watched.