Of Dogs and Other Marvels

& A sampler of historical vignettes from two of Ricky Jay's publications, Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women and Jay's Journal of Anomalies:

CLEVER DOG. A highly manicured poodle, ((Munito)) was introduced into a circle of ((numbered)) pasteboards. With his teeth Munito picked up the correct cards to solve problems in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. For inquiries in . . . geography, botany and natural history, he selected appropriate alphabet cards. He could identify colors . . . and was adept at dominoes . . . The most logical explanation . . . was Munito's exceptional sense of sound, not smell . . . As Munito circled the cards with an "air of reflection," the trainer would . . . make an almost inaudible clicking noise with his fingernail or a toothpick. This would alert the dog to the proper selection.

SWORD SWALLOWING MADE EASY (from a turn-of-the-century pamphlet): Use a peacock feather dipped in oil to tickle the throat, which helps you become familiar with the sensation. Swallow a rubber tube -- when the sword is swallowed, it will be encased in the tube. ((Make)) an imitation sword . . . out of licorice covered with tinfoil or aluminum paint; the licorice sword is swallowed and a real one produced from behind the back, giving "the impression the sword has passed entirely through you." Hire somebody to do it for you, as it may save you much annoyance.

THE MAN IN THE BALL. A metal sphere just over two feet in diameter was placed at the bottom of a long, spiral track. The ball moved, as if by magic, slowly and smoothly up the perilous incline. Almost 24 feet in the air, the ball stopped . . . A pistol shot rang out, and hands holding flags emerged through holes in the ball.

Descending ominously, the ball traveled back down the spiral and settled on the ground. The hemispheres split and . . . LaRoche ((born Leon Rauch in 1857)), a full-sized man, emerged . . . to a tumultuous reception . . . The skill to move the ball up the long spiral, constantly shifting the center of gravity forward but not from side to side, was considerable.