THEY got off the train together, the woman and the poor little dog that had to dress as she said. Everybody stared at the dog, and he felt his shame keenly. He was short-legged and fluffy by nature, with reddish hair in his eyes, and a foolish, helpless look to his fat body. But if he had been let alone, everybody would have said that he was at least doing his best — none would have mocked him.
This illustration shows how the appearance as well as the value of the teeth may be improved by proper care
Effect on front teeth of continuous abnormal pressure, as of thumb-sucking, or “biting down”
He had not been let alone.
Around his neck there was a bright pink ribbon tied with a big bow. And on the ribbon there was a little bell that tinkled foolishly.
On his back he had a little jacket made of bright blue silk — a sort of a cross between a horse blanket and a pair of trousers. It had little sleeves that came down over his front legs. At the end of this arrangement, near his tail, was a little bow of pink ribbon. He was led by a fancy gilt chain.
Everybody looked at this poor creature, some in pity, more in contempt. You could see, as he pattered along dismally, that he was ashamed of himself and felt his position keenly.
Yet foolishly dressed as he was, the unfortunate small dog was much more sensibly arrayed than the woman that owned and led him.
He hadn't any holes in his ears, with earrings fastened to them — she had.
His hair was its natural color — hers was dyed bright yellow.
He did have a foolish blue silk thing around him, but at least it was loose and let him breathe — hers was just as foolish in color, and it was squeezed in in a way that would have made a skeleton say, "Ouch!"
The little dog's head was protected only by its natural growth of hair — the woman had on a hat that might have been invented by the lady in the violent ward who thinks she is queen of Sheba.
The dog's feet were comfortable and natural. His toe-nails rattled along on the boards noisily and comfortably — her feet were squeezed, butchered, thrown up into the air on high heels in a way that put her spine out of plumb and will ruin her health ultimately.
The dog had an honest, straightforward, altho rather pathetic expression — the lady simpered foolishly, actually well pleased with the ridiculous features of her costume.
She had tried her best, without success, to make a small poodle look as foolish as a tall, would-be fashionable woman.
The people stared and laughed at the dog — they should have laughed and stared at the foolish human being that led him.
Women, why do you dress and ornament yourselves and squeeze and hunch yourselves so foolishly?
Don't you know that a dog or a cat, and especially a cow, would look ridiculous in the things that you wear?
Why do you put upon yourselves a rigging to which you would not condemn a respectable cow? Please reform! — New York "Evening Journal."
