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Literary
August 20, 1908
Pine Bluff Daily Graphic
Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas
What is this article about?
Maggie Ryan, a disheveled woman arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct, appears in court with her loyal brown spaniel. The kind judge gives her until night to leave town. The dog, unaware of her stigma as a 'mistress' and societal hypocrisy in punishing women, follows her devotedly with unwavering love.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Heart to Heart
Talks.
By EDWIN A. NYE.
Copyright, 1908, by Edwin A. Nye.
THE DOG DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
The woman's name was Maggie Ryan.
Sullen eyed and defiant, she swept into the police court. Her hair was awry and her clothes were rumpled from a night spent at the police station. You see, they don't provide very good toilet requisites at the police station.
A little brown spaniel trotted at the woman's heels. Maggie Ryan had slept or tried to sleep on the hard, bare confines of the matron's room. Usually dogs—real, for sure dogs—are not admitted to the station, but something in the woman's wistful face caused the matron to let this little dog in. He curled up contentedly at the foot of the hard cot where the woman lay. And when she got up in the night and paced the room he walked at her side.
In the morning the woman divided her rough breakfast with the spaniel. He was a hungry little dog.
With reckless bravado and scorning the audience of curious loafers Maggie Ryan answered the judge's questions. The dog stayed close. Maggie had been arrested on the charge of disorderly.
"D. and D."—drunk and disorderly.
Her eyes were hard and cynical. Her mouth was set in a severe, straight line. Traces of a one time beauty lingered. Dabs of face powder showed too thick in some spots. The toilet facilities at the station, we have already explained, are not good.
The spaniel crouched close to the woman's skirts.
"I will give you until tonight to leave town," said the judge. The judge was kind hearted, and he had looked often at the little spaniel. The woman made a mocking bow, taking in the spectators at court.
She started toward the door. From there she would probably "hit the rails"—out of town, out somewhere anywhere out of town.
The little dog started to follow her he sprang to her side. Once he jumped up and licked her hand.
For the first time that day the woman's lip quivered. Her eyes softened. They were almost beautiful eyes—when there were tears in them.
The woman's head drooped for an instant. and with one hand she furtively gave the dog's head a rough caress.
The station door swung behind them, and they started down the street. The little dog capered and then trotted proudly along at the woman's side. As he lifted his brown eyes there was in them a wonderful, worshipful look of love and devotion.
Because he was only a dog.
He loved this woman. his mistress—a mistress from whom other women drew aside their skirts in disdain.
He was only a dog. and he didn't understand.
How should he know the custom of humans who punish the woman sin-and let the man go free?
Talks.
By EDWIN A. NYE.
Copyright, 1908, by Edwin A. Nye.
THE DOG DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
The woman's name was Maggie Ryan.
Sullen eyed and defiant, she swept into the police court. Her hair was awry and her clothes were rumpled from a night spent at the police station. You see, they don't provide very good toilet requisites at the police station.
A little brown spaniel trotted at the woman's heels. Maggie Ryan had slept or tried to sleep on the hard, bare confines of the matron's room. Usually dogs—real, for sure dogs—are not admitted to the station, but something in the woman's wistful face caused the matron to let this little dog in. He curled up contentedly at the foot of the hard cot where the woman lay. And when she got up in the night and paced the room he walked at her side.
In the morning the woman divided her rough breakfast with the spaniel. He was a hungry little dog.
With reckless bravado and scorning the audience of curious loafers Maggie Ryan answered the judge's questions. The dog stayed close. Maggie had been arrested on the charge of disorderly.
"D. and D."—drunk and disorderly.
Her eyes were hard and cynical. Her mouth was set in a severe, straight line. Traces of a one time beauty lingered. Dabs of face powder showed too thick in some spots. The toilet facilities at the station, we have already explained, are not good.
The spaniel crouched close to the woman's skirts.
"I will give you until tonight to leave town," said the judge. The judge was kind hearted, and he had looked often at the little spaniel. The woman made a mocking bow, taking in the spectators at court.
She started toward the door. From there she would probably "hit the rails"—out of town, out somewhere anywhere out of town.
The little dog started to follow her he sprang to her side. Once he jumped up and licked her hand.
For the first time that day the woman's lip quivered. Her eyes softened. They were almost beautiful eyes—when there were tears in them.
The woman's head drooped for an instant. and with one hand she furtively gave the dog's head a rough caress.
The station door swung behind them, and they started down the street. The little dog capered and then trotted proudly along at the woman's side. As he lifted his brown eyes there was in them a wonderful, worshipful look of love and devotion.
Because he was only a dog.
He loved this woman. his mistress—a mistress from whom other women drew aside their skirts in disdain.
He was only a dog. and he didn't understand.
How should he know the custom of humans who punish the woman sin-and let the man go free?
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Short Story
Dog Loyalty
Drunk Disorderly
Social Hypocrisy
Gender Bias
What entities or persons were involved?
By Edwin A. Nye.
Literary Details
Title
The Dog Didn't Understand
Author
By Edwin A. Nye.
Key Lines
Because He Was Only A Dog.
He Loved This Woman. His Mistress—A Mistress From Whom Other Women Drew Aside Their Skirts In Disdain.
He Was Only A Dog. And He Didn't Understand.
How Should He Know The Custom Of Humans Who Punish The Woman Sin And Let The Man Go Free?