The Learned English Dog

[Dave Monroe]

There were so-called "Learned" animals, pigs in
particular, performing on the streets of London,
though one at the very least did make it into
Lit'rachure ...

All moveables of wonder, from all parts,
Are here--Albinos, painted Indians, Dwarfs,
The Horse of knowledge, and the learned Pig ...

http://www.bartleby.com/145/ww293.html

William Wordsworth, The Prelude (1805 version), VII,
689-708

And someone took a potshot at Johnson hisself via one
...

"On the Learned Pig"

Though Johnson, learned Bear, is gone,
  Let us no longer mourn our loss,
For lo, a learned Hog is come,
  And wisdom grunts at Charing Cross.

Happy for Johnson--that he died
  Before this wonder came to town,
Else it had blasted all his pride
  Another brute should gain renown

The Public Advertiser, 6 April 1785

http://waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l&month=0109&msg=60179

http://waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l&month=0207&msg=68738

See ...

Altick, Richard.  The Shows of London:
   A Panoramic History of Exibitions, 1600-1862.
   Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1978.  40-2.

Jay, Ricky.  "Porcine Prophets and Pig-Faced Ladies."
   Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women.  New York:
   Warner Books, 1986.  1-6.

Jay, Ricky.  "The Faithful Monetto & The Inimitable
   Dick."  Jay's Journal of Anomalies.  New York:
   Farrar Straus Giroux, 2001.  3-8.

http://waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l&month=0109&msg=60179

The Faithful Monetto, by the way, was a Learned Dog
...

--- Toby G Levy <tobylevy at juno.com> wrote:

> Dave,
> 
> Are you saying that there were other talking dogs in
> English literature, outside fantasy and children's
> books?


		
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