Trixy (1904)
AUTHOR: Ward, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
PUBLICATION: Trixy. Cambridge: The Riverside Press, 1904.
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https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark:/13960/t6057nf2g&view=1up&seq=13
KEYWORDS: animals, dress reform, experimentation, vivisection
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---. “Tammyshanty”
SUMMARY (Bryn Skibo, edited Deborah Madsen)
Trixy can be described as an anti-vivisection tract disguised as a romance novel. Throughout, the male protagonist Steele’s passion for research and science are entwined with his masculinity and are compared to Miriam’s charitability and passion for the downtrodden, which are entwined with her (attractive) femininity. When Miriam falls in love again, with Surbridge, he wins her by giving her space, kindness, and unceasing care and affection. An implicit commentary on dress reform is offered through the character of Molly, who is eventually convinced not to wear the feathers and carcasses of dead birds on her hats.
Chapter I:
Olin Steele is seated in a medical lecture hall, shortly after arriving at the university as a new medical student. He identifies medicine with religion, seeing the two as inherently connected: to save the body is to save the soul; “the vital spark was the bond between God and man. … His professor was his high priest” (3). Another student comes in a drops a kitten down Steele’s shirt; he plays with it, the kitten visits other students, and Steele tells the boy who brought it to take it back, because it is obviously a lady’s pet (it is wearing a pink ribbon). The boy leaves and comes back empty-handed; the professor lectures for a bit on material that Steele finds simple. The professor suggests that the material is too obscure to be understood without an example (Steele argues it is quite easy to understand from the professor’s lecture), and the kitten is brought in strapped to a board as “the example.” Steele flees the room and walks home in a daze. He is so distraught that he “shut the door in Barry’s face”: his Saint Bernard dog (15). He ignores his family, though his mother and sister come looking for him: “These were women, and easy to manage. The boy reflected that his father and brother were yet to come home, and that with them he must absolutely reckon” (15). He tells his family the story: “His sister interrupted it now and then with girlish outcries (these were ejaculations rather of incredulity than of sympathy) and his mother visibly winced. But the two men exchanged glances…” (17). His brother, Richard Steele (Jr.) is a biology professor and tells Olin that experimentation is the way of contemporary science and that he will get used to it but Olin does not want to get used to it (17-18). Olin accuses Richard of having “changed” since he became a biologist. His father, Richard Steele (Sr.), is a tea merchant and tells Olin to do what he thinks is best (19). His mother looks at him “with an ineffable sympathy”; after the others leave, he sobs on her shoulder: “...it was so small. … It was damnable!” (20, 21). Later, Olin asks his dog, Barry, what he should do.
Chapter II:
10 years later, Miss Miriam Lauriat, a 27-year-old woman whose father passed away over a year ago, is leaving a party when she is introduced to a young Dr. Steele; she dismisses him and goes about her business. She goes home, changes, and sets out to visit apartments that she rents because one tenant, Dan, is about to be evicted by her agent and she wants to fix the issue. Dr Steele opens the door and bars her way because of diphtheria and they argue. She finds Dan outside and invites him and his dog, Trixy, to stay in her coach house. Upon her return, her aunt and lawyer are going over investments; the lawyer informs her that the man at the door was Dr. Steele, a brilliant young physiologist (42-43). Dr. Steele is described by Miriam as having cold grey eyes.
Chapter III:
Dr Steele is distracted; he does not believe in love (in his PhD he argued that love does not exist), but he decides to love and “win” Miriam. He goes to his club for dinner, where he is distracted and taciturn, and rides home in a storm - the storm reminds him of a similar storm ten years earlier, when he had been in the lecture hall and ran home. He has since followed the customary path set out by his family and become a doctor (46-47). Steele’s father has since died; his mother has fallen into hopeless invalidism since his death, his sister married (Steele thinks the marriage was simply to escape caring for her mother), and his brother Richard may leave soon for a job in California. Olin feels little emotion at this prospect. Barry, now very old, greets him at the door, sniffs his right hand and turns away, “thoughtfully” (49). Dr Bernard has become Olin’s assistant: his countenance is described as someone from the sixteenth century; his hands like vices. Bernard has developed into what he was always going to become, but Dr. Steele “had become fitted to a mould that was made for another soul” (51). Barry stands between the two men and growls at Bernard. They discuss the fact that the school needs more frogs for a nerve experiment, though Steele doubts the experiment is even necessary. On leaving, Barry runs out the door and “roars” at Bernard, who tries to strike him: “‘Barry,’ that’s my guest; Bernard, that’s my dog’” (53). Dr. Steele thinks about how he got there: “The tissue, the muscle, the nerve, the vital spark, tortured to a flicker, and resuscitated to a spasm - these had darkened the divine in him, and illumined the material” (54). He attempted to find the source of maternal affection by cutting into the still-living brains of “half a hundred dogs” only to discover that “love was too evasive. It was not to be cut out by a scalpel or grasped by pincers” (55); instead, he argued in his dissertation, love “was only a Greek hypothesis, a psychic disease, a dream of the past, the illusion of the present, and did not exist” (55). His doctorate is based on the premise that love is not real, yet he finds himself possibly in love with Miriam, “pity personified” (57). He decides he will love her: “‘She is a woman. I am a man. Since I determine, she shall conform.’ … ‘I will win her, anyhow. What the price is, who can say?’” (61).
Chapter IV:
Dan and Trixy go in to speak with Miriam; the quarantine is over because Molly only had a sore throat (not diphtheria), proving Dr Steele and the “Gallen men” wrong. Dan tells Trixy to shake hands with Aunt Cornelia, who responds: “‘Now that … is just an illustration of what I was saying, Miriam, when the boy came in. You can’t make the higher races out of the lower races. I maintain the Creator knew what He was about. When He made paws, He did n’t mean hands’” (64). Dan and Trixy invite the women to a performance he and Trixy are staging at the Grand Moose’s Retreat; this is the only way he can make money because he is lame. Miriam finds a kitten in the kitchen, cuddles it; when Aunt Cornelia suggests getting a dog, she drops the kitten and walks away. At the performance, Trixy is described having (more than) human intelligence: “Her black eyes blazed from her white face with a startling intelligence that, though other, was never less, and more often than human ... Trixy was better educated than her master, and experienced the disadvantage of the more alert intelligence leashed into a subject condition” (72-73). “There was a curious concord between the voices of the boy and the dog. It was that of love rather than that of music; one hardly knew whether to laugh or to cry” (74-75). Trixy, wearing a child’s dress, chooses Miriam as her favorite; Miriam gives a speech holding Trixy: “The face of the dog could not be seen, and its child’s dress and infantile attitude gave a strange impression, as if some new Madonna, gently owning her kinship to the subject races, had arisen to protect them” (76-77). Dr. Steele's attitude towards charity and the poor is revealed: “The scene [of appreciation for Miriam’s generosity] was foreign to Olin’s experience. He had experimented upon the poor; he had meant to be kind to them; sometimes he had cured them; but he had not been their friend. He was by no means sure that he wanted to be, or wanted her to be” (78). Dr Steele walks behind Miriam and the lawyer, talking about their various charities. Dr Steele is revealed to be the president of an anti-docking and eat-cutting association (82). Steele and Miriam walk together in silence until, “‘Tell me what you are thinking,’ demanded Olin Steele, in the commanding tone which it was his private belief that women liked…” (83). Dan and Trixy are asleep in bed: “Dan knew that he loved Trixy better than she loved him, but he loved none the less for that” (84). Miriam reflects on her past: she had only ever loved her father “and one other” (who remains unidentified). Without them, she is content to turn to philanthropy, as women do when their hearts are “unoccupied” (85). Miriam goes to art school, sees a white pigeon or dove and hears “the cry of a sentient being in moral agony” (88).
Dan and Trixy go in to speak with Miriam; the quarantine is over because Molly only had a sore throat (not diphtheria), proving Dr Steele and the “Gallen men” wrong. Dan tells Trixy to shake hands with Aunt Cornelia, who responds: “‘Now that … is just an illustration of what I was saying, Miriam, when the boy came in. You can’t make the higher races out of the lower races. I maintain the Creator knew what He was about. When He made paws, He did n’t mean hands’” (64). Dan and Trixy invite the women to a performance he and Trixy are staging at the Grand Moose’s Retreat; this is the only way he can make money because he is lame. Miriam finds a kitten in the kitchen, cuddles it; when Aunt Cornelia suggests getting a dog, she drops the kitten and walks away. At the performance, Trixy is described having (more than) human intelligence: “Her black eyes blazed from her white face with a startling intelligence that, though other, was never less, and more often than human ... Trixy was better educated than her master, and experienced the disadvantage of the more alert intelligence leashed into a subject condition” (72-73). “There was a curious concord between the voices of the boy and the dog. It was that of love rather than that of music; one hardly knew whether to laugh or to cry” (74-75). Trixy, wearing a child’s dress, chooses Miriam as her favorite; Miriam gives a speech holding Trixy: “The face of the dog could not be seen, and its child’s dress and infantile attitude gave a strange impression, as if some new Madonna, gently owning her kinship to the subject races, had arisen to protect them” (76-77). Dr. Steele's attitude towards charity and the poor is revealed: “The scene [of appreciation for Miriam’s generosity] was foreign to Olin’s experience. He had experimented upon the poor; he had meant to be kind to them; sometimes he had cured them; but he had not been their friend. He was by no means sure that he wanted to be, or wanted her to be” (78). Dr Steele walks behind Miriam and the lawyer, talking about their various charities. Dr Steele is revealed to be the president of an anti-docking and eat-cutting association (82). Steele and Miriam walk together in silence until, “‘Tell me what you are thinking,’ demanded Olin Steele, in the commanding tone which it was his private belief that women liked…” (83). Dan and Trixy are asleep in bed: “Dan knew that he loved Trixy better than she loved him, but he loved none the less for that” (84). Miriam reflects on her past: she had only ever loved her father “and one other” (who remains unidentified). Without them, she is content to turn to philanthropy, as women do when their hearts are “unoccupied” (85). Miriam goes to art school, sees a white pigeon or dove and hears “the cry of a sentient being in moral agony” (88).
Chapter V:
Miriam runs towards the sound, which comes from the Galen Medical School; a janitor ignores her concerns and says the dog probably got hit by a train; a student explains that it was a “rather pretty psychological experiment” and that the animal “never suffers” (92). Unsure, Miriam goes home. Aunt Cordelia has left to “open” the summer house for Miriam, whom she deems too “unpractical” to do it herself. The lawyer defends Miriam’s investments and her choice to help the needy; the aunt wishes she paid more attention to Dr Steele’s charity for animals, but notes that Miriam “‘says the human race is good enough for her’” (94). Miriam tells the lawyer about her experience. Leaving the house, the lawyer encounters Dr Steele and tries to ask him some questions about (assumedly) Miriam’s experience, which Dr Steele refuses to answer. Dr Steele is refused entry to the house. Later, Dr Steele washes his hands more carefully than usual at the school; Bernard yells at a “once-beautiful” spaniel who has clearly been operated on repeatedly. Steele tells him to stop the experiments on the dog for a while (99) but Bernard is “greedy” to conduct more. Dr Steele goes to the island where Miriam is vacationing: “Red-handed he sought her; iron-willed he hunted her” (101). There, a small Maltese kitten with a pink bow makes him blanche while Miriam holds it. He tells Miriam she should get a dog; Miriam tells him she had one, but it was lost a long time ago and she does not want another. They walk on the beach and Dr Steele professes his love in a bizarrely authoritative way that Miriam compares with the ocean - it will carry and drown you at the same time. Miriam tells him she prefers their relationship as it is; though she rejoices in being loved as she had hoped to be loved (113). The lawyer is announced by the aunt: “At that moment Dr. Steele could have cheerfully chloroformed Mrs Jeffries, or experimented (without anasthesia) upon Surbridge” (115). Later, he writes to Miriam: “It was a letter which would have brought almost any other woman whom he knew to his arms. … He wrote … as that sensitive boy might have written, who died that a physiologist should live” (115).
Miriam runs towards the sound, which comes from the Galen Medical School; a janitor ignores her concerns and says the dog probably got hit by a train; a student explains that it was a “rather pretty psychological experiment” and that the animal “never suffers” (92). Unsure, Miriam goes home. Aunt Cordelia has left to “open” the summer house for Miriam, whom she deems too “unpractical” to do it herself. The lawyer defends Miriam’s investments and her choice to help the needy; the aunt wishes she paid more attention to Dr Steele’s charity for animals, but notes that Miriam “‘says the human race is good enough for her’” (94). Miriam tells the lawyer about her experience. Leaving the house, the lawyer encounters Dr Steele and tries to ask him some questions about (assumedly) Miriam’s experience, which Dr Steele refuses to answer. Dr Steele is refused entry to the house. Later, Dr Steele washes his hands more carefully than usual at the school; Bernard yells at a “once-beautiful” spaniel who has clearly been operated on repeatedly. Steele tells him to stop the experiments on the dog for a while (99) but Bernard is “greedy” to conduct more. Dr Steele goes to the island where Miriam is vacationing: “Red-handed he sought her; iron-willed he hunted her” (101). There, a small Maltese kitten with a pink bow makes him blanche while Miriam holds it. He tells Miriam she should get a dog; Miriam tells him she had one, but it was lost a long time ago and she does not want another. They walk on the beach and Dr Steele professes his love in a bizarrely authoritative way that Miriam compares with the ocean - it will carry and drown you at the same time. Miriam tells him she prefers their relationship as it is; though she rejoices in being loved as she had hoped to be loved (113). The lawyer is announced by the aunt: “At that moment Dr. Steele could have cheerfully chloroformed Mrs Jeffries, or experimented (without anasthesia) upon Surbridge” (115). Later, he writes to Miriam: “It was a letter which would have brought almost any other woman whom he knew to his arms. … He wrote … as that sensitive boy might have written, who died that a physiologist should live” (115).
Chapter VI:
Miriam delays, says she prefers friendship, but does not preclude anything else in the future. Dr Steele resolves to win her yet: “Miriam Lauriat was a woman of intellect; she deferred to the superiority of his. She was capable of a profound and passionate love; she would yield to the torrent of his. She was in so far attracted to him that it rested with himself - he now believed - to beleaguer her thoroughly; … he had spoken too soon” (119). Dr Steele goes again to the island and sees Miriam giving a party for everyone from the slums; he is out of his element, so he joins her aunt on the porch, where they discuss a puppy who had its tail docked. He eventually leaves. Miriam spends time with the lawyer, whose company is calming, like an older brother. They see Dan on the ferry who is very agitated: Trixy was lost in town; the lawyer returns immediately to help him find her.
Miriam delays, says she prefers friendship, but does not preclude anything else in the future. Dr Steele resolves to win her yet: “Miriam Lauriat was a woman of intellect; she deferred to the superiority of his. She was capable of a profound and passionate love; she would yield to the torrent of his. She was in so far attracted to him that it rested with himself - he now believed - to beleaguer her thoroughly; … he had spoken too soon” (119). Dr Steele goes again to the island and sees Miriam giving a party for everyone from the slums; he is out of his element, so he joins her aunt on the porch, where they discuss a puppy who had its tail docked. He eventually leaves. Miriam spends time with the lawyer, whose company is calming, like an older brother. They see Dan on the ferry who is very agitated: Trixy was lost in town; the lawyer returns immediately to help him find her.
Chapter VII:
The lawyer is dedicated to finding Trixy, but he and Miriam agree that he will not talk to her about it, because...of her past. Miriam finds herself spending more time with Dr Steele because he understands she does not want to talk about the dog; he tells her once that Barry was lost for a week; she ignores this. Surbridge, the lawyer, attempts to tell Miriam what Dr Steele is, how he conducts his physiological research, but Miriam changes the topic to Trixy and then leaves for the seashore. Steele and Miriam have an intimate discussion on a screened porch; Miriam is repeatedly described (by the narrator, herself, and Steele) as “entrapped,” “in a cage” (149, 150). Miriam admits she may love Steele, but not now. Steele leaves. Miriam has missed several calls from Surbridge. In the city, Dan visits Surbridge with Trixy’s torn coat.
The lawyer is dedicated to finding Trixy, but he and Miriam agree that he will not talk to her about it, because...of her past. Miriam finds herself spending more time with Dr Steele because he understands she does not want to talk about the dog; he tells her once that Barry was lost for a week; she ignores this. Surbridge, the lawyer, attempts to tell Miriam what Dr Steele is, how he conducts his physiological research, but Miriam changes the topic to Trixy and then leaves for the seashore. Steele and Miriam have an intimate discussion on a screened porch; Miriam is repeatedly described (by the narrator, herself, and Steele) as “entrapped,” “in a cage” (149, 150). Miriam admits she may love Steele, but not now. Steele leaves. Miriam has missed several calls from Surbridge. In the city, Dan visits Surbridge with Trixy’s torn coat.
Chapter VIII:
In the laboratory, Trixy escapes her collar and investigates the other animals in the lab, including the black spaniel who was mentioned in the earlier chapter. He has since had some operation on his brain. Throughout this section, the narration is external but focalized through Trixy: “She put her right paw up and patted the door sharply, and looked at the prisoner with a pleading whine. ‘Do what I do!’ she said, as plainly as articulation could have said it” (168). “With the instinct which might or might not be called forethought, Trixy, … closed the door of the cage. … It is not impossible that she desired to conceal the fact of his escape” (168). “Perhaps - who can say? - she knew that she was risking her own chance” (174). The chapter closes with Trixy performing before the doctors, before she is strapped onto the board.
In the laboratory, Trixy escapes her collar and investigates the other animals in the lab, including the black spaniel who was mentioned in the earlier chapter. He has since had some operation on his brain. Throughout this section, the narration is external but focalized through Trixy: “She put her right paw up and patted the door sharply, and looked at the prisoner with a pleading whine. ‘Do what I do!’ she said, as plainly as articulation could have said it” (168). “With the instinct which might or might not be called forethought, Trixy, … closed the door of the cage. … It is not impossible that she desired to conceal the fact of his escape” (168). “Perhaps - who can say? - she knew that she was risking her own chance” (174). The chapter closes with Trixy performing before the doctors, before she is strapped onto the board.
Chapter X:
Miriam feels impelled to return to the city, where she accidentally discovers Caro, the black spaniel who escaped the lab and her long-missing dog. She calls for Dr Steele to see to him. Dr. Steele believes he is being called because Miriam is submitting to his ardor: “Oh, now at last, her beautiful reluctance had yielded; right womanly as she was, she had surrendered royally” (192). He recognizes the dog as his and they both realize the meaning: “He had come like a god; he went like a cur” (194). Surbridge the lawyer arrives shortly thereafter and tells Miriam that Trixy had been saved at the last minute; he had been given eye-witness testimony by the slumdwellers that a dog bandit had stolen Trixy and dragged her to the Galen Medical school. He found her there, as well as Caro’s collar which had been dragged out when Trixy and Caro were found in the closet. Surbridge goes to the press.
Miriam feels impelled to return to the city, where she accidentally discovers Caro, the black spaniel who escaped the lab and her long-missing dog. She calls for Dr Steele to see to him. Dr. Steele believes he is being called because Miriam is submitting to his ardor: “Oh, now at last, her beautiful reluctance had yielded; right womanly as she was, she had surrendered royally” (192). He recognizes the dog as his and they both realize the meaning: “He had come like a god; he went like a cur” (194). Surbridge the lawyer arrives shortly thereafter and tells Miriam that Trixy had been saved at the last minute; he had been given eye-witness testimony by the slumdwellers that a dog bandit had stolen Trixy and dragged her to the Galen Medical school. He found her there, as well as Caro’s collar which had been dragged out when Trixy and Caro were found in the closet. Surbridge goes to the press.
Chapter XI:
Olin Steele rages in his bedroom, knowing he has ruined everything with Miriam. He defends himself by holding up the value of his work against the life and “the discomfort (that was his word) of a dog” (213). Masculine research and science are pitted against Miriam’s feminine humanity and charity: “Rather than lose her, he felt as if he could have slain her. If such a thing had been possible, he could have tortured her into loving him” (213). “His ideal woman would have followed a man to hell if he had chosen to lead her there, and would have stood by, adoring, while he did a demon’s work. … Now, for the first time, Steele perceived that there was a theory above a theory, and a law beyond a law. Now he found himself hurled to the conclusion that a man has his share of the mutual surrender of the loving; that he must yield himself to the angel in the woman whom he loves” (214, 215). Steele goes to Miriam to plead his case; she shows him Caro’s collar; they dispute that he uses people’s pets for his experiments. He accuses her of placing “the animal above the human race!” (218): “‘What is one dog - what are ten thousand dogs compared with the life of one baby?’ he demanded fiercely. ... ‘You have tormented many dogs. … Have you ever saved the life of one baby?’” she retorts (218, 219). Steele offers to abandon his research for her, to become “a plain doctor” but Miriam refuses him and he, in turn, accuses her: “‘You are more cruel to me than I was to that dog. You vivisect me.’” (223). Aunt Cornelia comes home and receives the story. Dan and Trixy are adopted into the family.
Olin Steele rages in his bedroom, knowing he has ruined everything with Miriam. He defends himself by holding up the value of his work against the life and “the discomfort (that was his word) of a dog” (213). Masculine research and science are pitted against Miriam’s feminine humanity and charity: “Rather than lose her, he felt as if he could have slain her. If such a thing had been possible, he could have tortured her into loving him” (213). “His ideal woman would have followed a man to hell if he had chosen to lead her there, and would have stood by, adoring, while he did a demon’s work. … Now, for the first time, Steele perceived that there was a theory above a theory, and a law beyond a law. Now he found himself hurled to the conclusion that a man has his share of the mutual surrender of the loving; that he must yield himself to the angel in the woman whom he loves” (214, 215). Steele goes to Miriam to plead his case; she shows him Caro’s collar; they dispute that he uses people’s pets for his experiments. He accuses her of placing “the animal above the human race!” (218): “‘What is one dog - what are ten thousand dogs compared with the life of one baby?’ he demanded fiercely. ... ‘You have tormented many dogs. … Have you ever saved the life of one baby?’” she retorts (218, 219). Steele offers to abandon his research for her, to become “a plain doctor” but Miriam refuses him and he, in turn, accuses her: “‘You are more cruel to me than I was to that dog. You vivisect me.’” (223). Aunt Cornelia comes home and receives the story. Dan and Trixy are adopted into the family.
Chapter XIII:
All of society is present at the trial; Dr. Bernard is accused of receiving stolen property (Trixy). Dan bears testimony as do the slum-dwellers; Mary Cady is described as wearing “a green hat surmounted by a blue jay, a catbird, and the remains of a cockatoo” (241-242). Surbridge cross-examines Dr Bernard; it is metaphorically compared to a vivisection. Trixy is called as the “real defendant”; she performs for the judge and recognizes Dr Bernard (who said he did not know her). Dan and Trixy win the case; Bernard is found guilty of receiving stolen property. The case is characterized as a win for the working class (258).
All of society is present at the trial; Dr. Bernard is accused of receiving stolen property (Trixy). Dan bears testimony as do the slum-dwellers; Mary Cady is described as wearing “a green hat surmounted by a blue jay, a catbird, and the remains of a cockatoo” (241-242). Surbridge cross-examines Dr Bernard; it is metaphorically compared to a vivisection. Trixy is called as the “real defendant”; she performs for the judge and recognizes Dr Bernard (who said he did not know her). Dan and Trixy win the case; Bernard is found guilty of receiving stolen property. The case is characterized as a win for the working class (258).
Chapter XIV:
Dr Steele has been in bed sick for six weeks, after having inoculated a guinea pig with a disease and catching it himself (259-260): “On the day when the patient creature drew its last miserable breath, Dr. Steele was appalled to discover in himself the too familiar symptoms of the malady that he had imposed upon his timid and unimportant victim” (260). He is comforted by Barry and sees a vision of animals trooping past him, simply asking “Why?” (267). “It now recurred to the physiologist that he was bearing in his own body, nerve by nerve, a reduplication of the sensations which he had inflicted in some of his recent experiments” (267-268). Dr Bernard visits and is ejected; he angrily goes to a hospital and watches a surgery on a “witless maid” and realizes only science using human subjects has worth. Dr Steele receives a letter from Miriam in which she declares: “I cannot see how any true woman can take a vivisector’s hand” (274). Dr Steele resolves, if he lives, to go to California be a healer, the type of doctor he scorned before. Barry the dog stays by him in his delusions.
Dr Steele has been in bed sick for six weeks, after having inoculated a guinea pig with a disease and catching it himself (259-260): “On the day when the patient creature drew its last miserable breath, Dr. Steele was appalled to discover in himself the too familiar symptoms of the malady that he had imposed upon his timid and unimportant victim” (260). He is comforted by Barry and sees a vision of animals trooping past him, simply asking “Why?” (267). “It now recurred to the physiologist that he was bearing in his own body, nerve by nerve, a reduplication of the sensations which he had inflicted in some of his recent experiments” (267-268). Dr Bernard visits and is ejected; he angrily goes to a hospital and watches a surgery on a “witless maid” and realizes only science using human subjects has worth. Dr Steele receives a letter from Miriam in which she declares: “I cannot see how any true woman can take a vivisector’s hand” (274). Dr Steele resolves, if he lives, to go to California be a healer, the type of doctor he scorned before. Barry the dog stays by him in his delusions.
Chapter XV:
Molly has made an effort to dress herself with “good taste”: this includes using fruit on her hat, rather than dead birds (282). Miriam is clearly upset during a boat trip with the slum-dwellers. She invites Surbridge; they eventually realize they love each other.
Molly has made an effort to dress herself with “good taste”: this includes using fruit on her hat, rather than dead birds (282). Miriam is clearly upset during a boat trip with the slum-dwellers. She invites Surbridge; they eventually realize they love each other.
Last updated on July 24th, 2024
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How to cite this page:
Skibo, Bryn. 2024. "Trixy [summary]." Vegan Literary Studies: An American Textual History, 1776-1900. Edited by Deborah Madsen. University of Geneva. <Date accessed.> <https://www.unige.ch/vls/bibliography/author-bibliography/ward-elizabeth-stuart-phelps-mary-gray-phelps-1844-1911/trixy-1904>.