The Glass Dog
by L. Frank BaumGenre: Fairy Tale
Setting:
Format of Original Source: Short Story
Recommended Adaptation Length:
Candidate for Adaptation? Promising
EXCERPT:
When the lady’s maid heard from the glass-blower that he had a medicine which would cure her mistress, she said:
“I’m glad you came.”
“But,” said he, “if I restore your mistress to health she must marry me.”
“I’ll make inquiries and see if she’s willing,” answered the maid, and went at once to consult Miss Mydas.
The young lady did not hesitate an instant.
“I’d marry any old thing rather than die!” she cried. “Bring him here at once!”
So the glass-blower came, poured the magic drop into a little water, gave it to the patient, and the next minute Miss Mydas was as well as she had ever been in her life.
“Dear me!” she exclaimed; “I’ve an engagement at the Fritters’ reception to-night. Bring my pearl-colored silk, Marie, and I will begin my toilet at once. And don’t forget to cancel the order for the funeral flowers and your mourning gown.”
“But, Miss Mydas,” remonstrated the glass-blower, who stood by, “you promised to marry me if I cured you.”
COMMENTS:
A rambling bit o’ this and that, which doesn’t quite add up to much…but perhaps there’s more to be wrung from this story than Baum thought of. Baum hints as much in his final tag: As for the glass dog, the wizard set him barking again by means of his wizardness and put him outside his door. I suppose he is there yet, and am rather sorry, for I should like to consult the wizard about the moral to this story.” We’re left with rather the same sort of “What’s the point of this story?” — and yet, there are a lot of events in its few pages, and the characters’ points of view are all fairly clear…but most importantly, there’s something VERY promising in the poor glass-blower’s line: “But,” said he, “if I restore your mistress to health she must marry me.” We wonder if a slight twist on the set-up could make this even more promising…and that is, the glass-blower actually doesn’t WANT to marry the woman, but he’s caught between his ethical desire to save a woman’s life…and the consequences of saving her. In sum: Not enough here as is, but you might find the right hook to make everything work, even as surreal as it then might be. [There might even be a way to claim this is THE Wizard’s backstory?]
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