Daisy Fraser -- Spoon River Anthology

Benjamin Fraser >>>

This poem was included in the original 1915 edition.

Did you ever hear of Editor Whedon
Giving to the public treasury any of the money he received
Fopr supporting candidated for office?
Or for writing up the canning factory
To get people to invest?
Or for suppressing the facts about the bank,
When it was rotten and ready to break?
Did you ever hear of the Circuit Judge
Helping anyone except the "Q" railroad,
Or the bankers? Or did Rev. Peet or Rev. Sibley
Give any part of their salary, earned by keeping still,
Or speaking out as the leaders wished them to do,
To the building of the water works?
But I  Daisy Fraser who always passed
Along the street through rows of nods and smiles,
And caughs and words such as "there she goes."
Never was taken before Justice Arnett
Without contributing ten dollars and costs
To the school fund of Spoon River!

Comments

Jay Bushman , 7 months ago

I need some help here. In every summary, analysis and discussion of Spoon River I can find, Daisy Fraser is referred to as the town prostitute. On what data is that assessment made? I can't find anything, direct or oblique, that describes her as that. An outcast, certainly. Even a "soiled woman." But someone who trades money for sex? Am I missing some evidence, some reference?

Here's what we do know about her:

-She gets arrested and sent to court repeatedly.
-She inspires stares and whispers of the "respectable" townsfolk when she walks down the street.
-She supports the liberal cause, even if most of the liberals don't want her presence at their meetings.
-She is certainly a libertine, a free-thinker, and is described in the Spooniad as "saucy."
-She mothered an illegitimate son with Benjamin Pantier.

While all of these attributes add up to someone who would be on the fringes of Spoon River society, I don't see anything that says she is a prostitute. What am I missing?

Paul Houle , 7 months ago

I've thought the same thing.

Anon Ymous , 6 months ago

I think having an illegitamate son might start some rumors hence the "town prostitue" reputation.

Ur Momma , 6 months ago

I think that being a town prostitute is an honor... Go Daisy!

robin , 5 months ago

he not cute but his truck is fine

Life Span , 3 months ago

Can anyone guess her age at death or when she may have been born.

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The Spooniad

Sexsmith the Dentist

Prominent Words

contributing (in 2 documents)
fact (in 2 documents)
invest (in 2 documents)
nods (in 2 documents)
Q (in 2 documents)
Daisy (in 5 documents)
candidate (in 3 documents)
Circuit (in 3 documents)
earned (in 3 documents)
factory (in 3 documents)
Fraser (in 6 documents)
fund (in 3 documents)
office (in 3 documents)
row (in 3 documents)
Sibley (in 3 documents)
Rev (in 7 documents)
cost (in 4 documents)
goes (in 4 documents)
public (in 4 documents)
rotten (in 4 documents)
support (in 4 documents)
Arnett (in 5 documents)
break (in 5 documents)
gives (in 5 documents)
keeps (in 5 documents)
Leader (in 5 documents)
railroad (in 5 documents)
receive (in 5 documents)
taken (in 5 documents)

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