[ Jókai/ The Baron's Sons ]
Maurus Jókai (1825 – 1904) is the Anglicized name of Móric Jókay de Ásva, a Hungarian novelist, playwright, and politician.
This novel, first published (in Hungarian) in 1869 and subtitled A Romance of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, was translated by Percy Favor Bicknell and published in 1900 (Boston: L. C. Page). The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was one of several revolutions that year against the rule of the Austrian Empire, although the Hungarian Revolution was not successful.
The novel's references to a Newfoundland dog, in the context of a family pet, are incidental.
CHAPTER XXI. SUNLIGHT AND MOONLIGHT.
The poplar trees on Körös Island are clothing themselves with green, while yellow and blue flowers dot the turf. The whole island is a veritable little paradise. It forms the summer residence of a family of wealth and taste. On the broad veranda, which is shaded from the morning sun by a damask awning, stands a cradle hung with dainty white curtains; and in the cradle sleeps a little baby. In a willow chair at the foot of the cradle sits the mother, in a white, lace-trimmed wrapper, her hair falling in natural curls over her shoulders and bosom. A young man sits before an easel opposite the lady, and paints her miniature, while at the other end of the veranda a three-year-old boy is engaged in coaxing a big Newfoundland dog to serve as pony to his little master.
. . . .
The young artist is not satisfied with his picture. He has a decided artistic bent and talks of going to Rome to study; but this likeness that he is now trying to paint baffles him. It seems to lack something; although the features are correctly drawn, the whole has a strange and unnatural look.
"Béla, come here, little nephew."
The boy left the Newfoundland dog and ran to his uncle. (253 -254)
CHAPTER XXVI. AT HOME.
They rode over the bridge, and an ivy-covered villa came to view through the foliage. Proceeding up the gravel path to the veranda, they alighted and gave their horses to the stable-boy. Through the long windows that opened on the veranda could be seen a lamp and people gathered about it. A young woman sat with a sleeping child in her lap; an older lady, with a face of marble pallor, sat before an open Bible; and a young man held a little boy on his knee and drew pictures for him on a slate. A big[Pg 297] Newfoundland dog suddenly rose from the corner where he was sleeping, and, with a half-suppressed bark of eager expectation, came bounding to the door.
"Where am I?" stammered Ödön in great agitation.
"At home." (296 - 297)