One book leads to another...

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Friends of the Famous - B



When Lord Byron, the famously flamboyant aristocratic poet of the 19th century Romantic Movement, discovered he couldn’t bring along his beloved Newfoundland, named Boatswain to Trinity College, he adopted a bear he called Bruin, instead. Although Bruin followed Lord Byron around in much the same way as a dog would, the poet’s devotion was never more evident than at the end of his dog Boatswain’s life, when Lord Byron nursed his canine friend without caution for himself, until the dog succumbed to rabies.
 
“There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and the music in its roar; I love not man the less, but nature more.” ~ Lord Byron

Tycho Brahe was a 16th-century astronomer who, after witnessing the highly doubted occurrence of a solar eclipse, became forever enamored with stars and measurements of alignment in the solar system. Adamant about the correctness of his mathematical formulas, he lost part of his nose in a sword duel with his third cousin, who dared to disagree. Nonetheless, Brahe’s lengthy notes would later be used in the groundwork of Sir Isaac Newton. But in the meantime, he had an Elk, with a penchant for alcohol. The elk, an agreeable sort, was known to frequently out-drink the guests at dinner parties until one night after too many beers Brahe’s congenial friend tumbled down the stairs and died. ∞

The Chicago Tribune once named the original movie ‘Benji’ the best family film of all time, and this was before the little guy went on to become the second (behind Lassie) animal ever to be inducted into the Animal Actors Hall of Fame. When trainer Frank Inn adopted Higgins from a shelter, he couldn’t have known the dog, who also played in Petticoat Junction, would go on to such fame, or have foreseen the phenomenal impact a shelter dog would have on the pet-adopting public. Subsequently, the part of Benji when not an offspring of Higgins, was played by shelter dogs.

Have you ever lost a treasured pet? Would you drink with an Elk? Would you, or do you have a shelter pet?

21 comments:

  1. Wow, this is interesting. Lord Byron took quite a risk nursing a rabid dog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, and whether unaware of the danger or not, he left no doubt as to his love for Boatswain:-) Only fitting for a devoted pet, don't you think? They freely give us so much.

      Delete
  2. Hi, dear Diedre!

    I enjoyed reading Byron's poetry and wish such lovely words would roll off my fingertips. Mrs. Shady and I have watched several documentaries about the struggles of early astronomers who butted heads with the establishment over their theories. People who think it is funny to give alcohol to animals are not my kind of people. People who offer a forever home to shelter animals are my kind of people. Our Cocker Spaniel Toto was given to us by an impoverished Alabama farm boy who could not afford to care for her. We gave Toto 14 years of love until she passed away in 2013.

    Thank you, dear friend Diedre, and have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love documentaries! Today it's a fascinating look at the spike in UFO sightings during wartime.
      Even if an animal enjoys alcohol I think as caregivers we have a responsibility to do just that. The same goes for over-feeding, though I fear sometimes we're quite guilty in that respect ;-)
      I never tire of reading about Toto and the mutual pleasure you shared with her. But tell me, have you and Mrs. Shady thought of having another one to share in your adventures? You guys sound like best-ever pet owners:-)

      Delete
    2. Hi again, dear Diedre!

      We discussed it and, as much as we both love dogs, we believe we are making the right choice by not replacing Toto. Adopting a pet is a kind gesture, but it ties you down to a commitment that can last 15 to 20 years. At this stage of the game, at our age, we want the freedom to travel and we also want to make home improvements that aren't feasible with pets in the house. That's our stance, at least for now. Thanks for asking, dear friend Diedre!

      Delete
  3. It's always devastating to lose a pet and never gets any easier. Poor Lord Byron! :( Giving alcohol to animals for human amusement is horrible. I enjoyed reading about Benji and how he influenced the trend for shelter adoptions. Kudos to his trainer!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So true, Debbie. Our pets become such cherished parts of our lives that they do leave lasting imprints.
      I think I love Benji more now than when I was a kid! :-)

      Delete
  4. Aww Benji was so cute. I had no idea he was a shelter dog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think so too, Stephanie! Even more so now that I've learned about his background.

      Delete
  5. Hello from A to Z. I too belong to SCBWI.

    A sword duel over a disagreement about math? Wow, that's crazy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cynthia!
      I guess Brahe was rather passionate;-)
      Having already sneaked over to your blog I look forward to your posts.
      "pouncing on unsuspecting dessert tables..." Love that!:-)

      Delete
  6. This was a fun post. Nursing your rabid dog is devotion. All the stories were great. I taught about Tycho Brahe; but, had forgotten what he had contributed but I remembered about his nose. I understand the women loved him.
    Almost all my dogs have been throwaway mutts and they have all been great dogs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ann:-) A ladies man despite his nose - imagine that!
      Mutts are always the best, aren't they?

      Delete
  7. Byron was such a fascinating personality. Great B post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, he sure was, Sandra. It's easy to become distracted while researching some of these characters;-) I have to remind myself to stay on course!

      Delete
  8. Outdrink an Elk. Funny. But where was the elk when it fell down a flight of steps? So odd.
    Never really lost a pet because I've never really had one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe the tipsy elk was on his way back to the barn when he ran into trouble leaving the mansion:-)
      I hope you do have a pet one day, Jeffrey. They tend to turn an ordinary life into one of unexpected joys:-)

      Delete
  9. Fascinating, I did not know any of that! I raised a greenfinch when I was a child, she lived for 13 years, and was devastated when she died. We have a shelter cat who is now 12, and I have a 6 year old assistance dog who I adore, and who has saved my life many times. I would definitely drink with an elk. And have a bear as a pet, if it wasn't unfair on the bear... ~Liz http://www.lizbrownleepoet.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Liz!
      A greenfinch? Now that is fascinating:-) A dog and a cat, aren't pets wonderful? We had three cats, five dogs, and a peacock. It was amazing how they all got along ;-)

      Delete
  10. We have lost several treasured pets. One was Pete's fist horse, Hank. Pete and Hank would sometimes ride all night. Hank would drink beer with Pete, Hank went in a house with Pete, Hank ate hamburger steak and brown gravy with Pete outside a little dive diner a quarter mile from our house. Pete slept all night out in the yard with Hank once when he was sick. Finally, Hank sub-combed to equine encephalitis (first case in this area). When he was sick, and obviously dying, trucks lined the sides of the rural highway out front of our home as people stopped to pay their respects to one of the best gated saddle horses they ever knew.
    Revisit the Tender Years with me during the #AtoZChallenge at Life & Faith in Caneyhead!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, what a wonderful story of companionship! The two made quite a team:-) I've met a couple of horses who liked beer but have never shared a burger with one - I like them (burgers) too much to share (grin). What a sight it must have been when folks lined up at Hank's passing!

      Delete

Any thoughts? Join the conversation, comments welcome here!