New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-14
a Fnmous Animal Rducntor.

Scott Bissett was born in Perth, Scotland
l72l He was an humble shoemaker, and
perhaps no person in modern times ever
achieved so much success in animal train
ing. He removed from Scotland to Lon
don, where he married a woman who
brought him some property. Then, turning
a broker, ne accumulated until the year
1853, when his attention was turned to the
training and teaching Of animals, birds and
fishes. Bissett bought horse and dog,
and succeeded beyond his expectations in
teaching them TO execute various feats.
He next purchased two monkeys, which he
taught to dance and tumble on a rope, and
one would hold a candle in one paw and
turn the barrel-Organ with the other, while
his companion danced. He next taught
three cats to do many wonderful things, to
sit before music books and squat notes
pitched to various keys. He advertised a
''cat's opera in the Haymarket Theatre,
and successfully carried out his programme,
the cats accurately fulfilling all the parts.
He pocketed some thousands by these per
fOrmances.
He next taughta leveret and then several
species Of birds to spell the name of any
person in the company, and to distinguish
the hour of the day or night. Six turkey
cocks were next rendered amenable to a
country dance, and after six months teach
ing he trained turtle TO fetch and carry
like a dog, and, having chalked the floor
and blackened its claws, he made it trace
out the name of any given person in the
company. He was equally successful in
teaching gOldfnch. After some reverses
we find Bissett in DubliR, about l765, show
ing his different animals; and, again max
ing some money, he purchased public
house in Belfast, determining to give up
animal training.
Growing restless, his old taste returns,
and he commences TO train and teach ami
mails once more. He begins with a dog and
cat, and, perfecting these in their lessons,
he selects the most obstinate of the brute
creation, an Irish pig, to experiment upon.
The teaching of this unruly animal almost
wearied ont Bissett's patience, and he was
about giving up the task in despair, when
he bethought himself of a new way of tam
ing the young pig. After sixteen months Of
unwearied perseverance, he at last was re-
warded by instilling a little reason into the
pigs unreasOning Uranium, thus proving
that pigs can not only "see the wind, by
common belief, but that they can be made
useful in raising the wind" During the
teaching OF his pig, Bissett used to keep
young pigs under his shoemaker seat while
he worked.
In l773, Bissett brought his "learned
pig" into Dublin, procured the leave of the
the city by storm. 1t was trained to be as
docile and obedient as spaniel, and was
taught to spell names, cast up accounts, tell
exactly the hours, minutes and seconds, to
kneel aud make his obeisance to the com
pany, and do various other feats. Some
petty officer, halfarmed with authority,
broke into Bissett's room, assaulted the
poor. unofending exhibitor, broke and de-
stroyed everything, and drew his sword to
kill the wOndrons animal. Poor Bissett
pleaded hard for the chief magistrates
leave, but he was threatened that if he
offended any more with his daring per-
fOrmances he would be dragged to prison.
Only it was little too late in the era, it is
probable poor Bisset would have suffered at
the stake for witchcraft. After the break
ing up of Bissett's hopes, his anguish of
mind produced an illness from which he
never effectually recovered, and he died
soon afterward with broken heart.