The Young Visiters or, Mr. Salteena's Plan

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21415

Title

The Young Visiters or, Mr. Salteena's Plan

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A whimsical, satirical tale by Daisy Ashford, written as if by a nine-year-old, following Mr. Salteena's absurd plan to transform himself into a gentleman. With charmingly misspelled prose and high-society parodies, this novella offers a delightful, laugh-out-loud look at Victorian life, romance, and the perils of social climbing.

Summary up to 500 words

In Daisy Ashford's whimsical novella *The Young Visiters or, Mr. Salteena's Plan*, the story follows Mr. Salteena, a forty-two-year-old butcher's son with a mustache and top hat, who accepts an invitation from his friend Bernard Clark to stay at the 'Crystale' Palace in London. There, he meets the seventeen-year-old Ethel Monticue and is introduced to the Earl of Clincham. The Earl agrees to train Salteena in society manners and etiquette, provided he pays a steep fee and refrains from marrying. Eager to become a 'gentleman,' Salteena moves into the 'Lower Range' compartments to learn the ropes. Meanwhile, Bernard and Ethel spend a romantic day near Windsor Castle. During a lunch by the river, Bernard confesses his intense love for Ethel and proposes marriage immediately. Overwhelmed by joy, Ethel faints but recovers after drinking champagne. They decide to marry the following week. Preparations are frantic and comical; Ethel orders a rich satin dress with a gold pattern, while Bernard commissions an elegant black suit with crimson lining. The wedding takes place at Westminster Abbey, attended by the Earl, who acts as a mentor, and a visibly jealous Mr. Salteena, who cries into his handkerchief as the couple departs for their honeymoon in Egypt. The story concludes with the fates of the characters. Mr. Salteena successfully becomes a gentleman, galloping beside the royal carriage in Hyde Park. He eventually marries a maid named Bessie Topp. Bernard and Ethel return from Egypt with a son, Ignatius Bernard, and go on to have seven children in total. The Earl of Clincham falls in love with Lady Helena Herring and marries her, though he later considers divorcing her for having sickly daughters. The novella ends with a farewell to these characters, celebrating the innocent, imaginative mind of its young author.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21415.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg21415.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-01 09:47 UTC

Categories

• Romance
• Children's Literature
• Humor