[ "Dogs We Have Had" ]
This anonymous essay appeared in the August 8, 1868, issue of All the Year Round, the weekly literary and cultural magazine created, edited, and owned by Charles Dickens.
Newfoundlands are mentioned once by the author as he or she describes walking the streets with a Skye terrier named Jack, whom the author describes as being "the most delightful instance of real, natural, undisguised selfishness that could be conceived." (XX: 210).
In the streets he trotted along with infinite dignity, and towards other dogs bore himself
with a haughty contempt. Nothing was more amusing than to see a big, frisking, free-mannered dog run at him and coolly tumble
him over in the dust, and to see the little outraged gentleman pick himself up, all over dust, growling and snarling with rage and
mortification. More amusing still was it to see a great Newfoundland dog stalk up, not quite sure whether this could be a rat, or one of his own species, whom he was bound to respect. As he became importunate in his curiosity, and troublesome in his half friendly, half hostile attention, it was delicious to see Jack turn and snap deliberately at him, sputtering rage, while the giant would start back confounded, not knowing what to make of it. (XX: 211)