The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-06-28
AN ANIMAL EDUCATOR.
Wonderful Achievements of an
Eighteenth Century ScOtchman.

hOnueIluI achievements oil un
Eighteenth Century ScOtchman.
Scott BisSett was born IN Perth, Scot.
land, in 1881. He was an humble shoe.
maker, and perhaps no person IN modern
times ever achieved so much success in
animal training. He removed from
Scotland TO London, where he married q
woman who brought him some property.
Then, turning 10 Il broker, he accumula.
lei until the year 1859, when his atten.
lion was turned TO the training and
teaching Of animals, birds, and fishes,
Btseit bOugbta horse and dog, and sue.
eeeded beyond his expectations in teach.
Ing them to execute various icats. He
next purchased two monkeys, which he
taught to dance and tumble on n rome,
and one would hold a candle in one paw
and Turn the barrel organ with the other,
While his companion danced. lie next
Taught three cats TO do many wonderful
things; to sit before music books, and
squall notes pitched TO different KEYS,
lie advertised "Cats Opera" in the
hAymarket theatre, and successfully
carried out bis programme, the cats
accurately fulfilling all the parts He
pocEeled some thousands by these per.
Ioma9ces. lie next taught a leyeret and
several species Ol birds to spell the
nane Of any person in the company, and
70 distinguish the hour of the day or
night Six turkey cocks were next rem.
uefed amenable 10 q country dance, and
aIeT SIX months teaching he trained a
tutl!el 10 fetch and carry like a dog, and,
having chalked the floor and blackned
hs claws, he made it trace out the name
oI any given person in the company. He
was equally successful in teaching gold.
IaCas' After some reverses we find
hlSsl! in Dublin, about 1775, showing
us Inherent ANIMALS; and, again making
some some money, he purchased a public
aU; aUase IN Belfast, determining 10 give up
Si animal training. Growing restless, his
oIl taste returns, and commences TO train
a.i,, aau 'eaSA animals once more. He begins
%0I " uCg and cat, and perfecting these
~, ~ .let lessons, he selects the NEST ob.
sunale Of the brute creation, an Irish MIC
" experiment upon. The teaching oi
ps pia unraly animal almost wearied ont
.;'s nsseI's patience, and he was about
S"Ing S.,Hg up The task in despair when he
,ElOught himself Of new wayoI taminO
sao young pig, After sixteen months 9l
uu~earled perseverance he ut last was
,s"aiued ,s by instilllng a little reason inlo
suS PlSs unreasoning Uranium, thus proy.
,uS mat pigs cannot only see the wind y
~ y common belief, but that they can be
I1sGe RsCs useful in raising the wind, )
n'.S D.tIIg The teaching Of his pig, BIssett
SsSS ~ea 70 Keep young pigs under his shoe
T'aNet pIt seat while he worked. In l7SE
PRsSSn RssI! brought his Learned pig" int
WWuohn, procured the leave OF tic Lori
SIyor ior his exhibition, and carried IN,
Slty by storm, 1t was trained 10 be n
uociIe and as obedient as a spaniel an,
vas taught TO spell names, cast un NE
counts, tell exactly tho hours, minute,
1aa seconds, to kneel and make his ODE
usnee to the company, and TO do varior
UIaer ieats. Some petty officer, ha
Ened with authority, brokeI into Bissett
S1 s%nr assaulted the poor, unotfending e.
aIGIIEr, broke and destroyed everythin
aaa drew his sword to kill the wondror
animal: Poor Bissett pleaded hard ft
,Ie Chief magistrates leave, but he wa
threatened that if he offended any mor
sAa his daring performances he wopl
v, " dragged to prison. Only II was
OOac DS.,e 70, zoo late in the era, II Is probab
HSs .'I blssett would have suffered at Il
~ S1Ts I lot witchcralt. After the break d
O,oS W SSlsseits hopes, his anguish of mir
Ssouueed ssoed an illness from which he ney,
'SSsS'uSlIy recovered, and he died 500
4'sF a'IeFward of q broken heart.