BY EDITH BLAKE

There is a strange annual event which occurs on the corner of Franklin and Morse streets in Edgartown. It’s totally weird. In a lovely old Greek Revival house (that is air-conditioned) there is a sudden collection of cavalier King Charles spaniels. This year there were 21. They come in all different colors, ruby and white, black and tan, tricolor, black and white, with eyes that are much too big for the rest of the dog.

This affair was started about eight years ago by Sherry Mattison, who is “Mrs. Dog” on the Island. Success is always copied so the next year it was given by Leslie Hardy (who did not have air-conditioning) and finally it has come to rest at Bunnie Gural’s.

This year it was held on July 26, a perfect day for this sort of thing with 21 dogs, none of whom barked, bit, or even stole some of the delectable luncheon which was served to the mistresses of the King Charles department. All was serenity. As it was neutral territory, there were no canine fusses. As it was dry, there was no mud donated to the beautiful, wide floorboards. And as this is a neighborhood sort of thing, and most of the four- and two-footed walked, there was no parking problem.

Navigating through the waving white plumes representing dog tails was quite an enjoyable feat, and some wondered how the owners knew who was who, what was what, and who belonged to whom.