Before there was TV, the internet, and YouTube to showcase amazing animals there was Vaudeville. One such dog on the Vaudevillian stage was a talking French Bulldog named Princess Jacqueline. She had a reported vocabulary of 20 words, which she could use in correct order. She lived to be 10 years old, dying of pneumonia in 1934 in Waterville, Maine.
Below are links and newspaper clippings announcing Princess Jacqueline’s passing and amazing talent. The mentioned New York Anti-Vivisection Society, was active from 1908 to 1937 and was one of the vanguards of today’s animal rights and welfare groups.
Lebanon Daily News clipping found at Newspaperarchive.com.
Milwaukee Sentinel clipping found at Google News.
An article, believed to be written by dog man and publisher Captain William Lewis Judy, mentions Princess Jacqueline. Captain Judy was the founder of National Dog Week in 1928 and published Dog World Magazine. (Visit the National Dog Week blog to learn how this event is being revived. It’s actually this month, September 19–25.) Here is the 1943 article excerpt:
Article found at OldandSold.com
“The author has carried on an interesting correspondence with Inez B. Scott. Bolton, Mass. on the possibility of training dogs to talk in words. We heard the widely-publicized “‘talking dog,” the French bulldog Princess Jacqueline but only disappointment followed in our mind. Certain breeds of twisted nasal passages and short neck utter strange yawning sounds and the owner of Princess cleverly announced the somewhat similar English words, such as a long-drawn-out “mammm-mma for mama. We quote from one of Miss Scott’s letters (her dogs are cocker spaniels):
“I heard the frenchie (Princess) talk and realized her squeaky voice was difficult to understand.”
A more positive report from Time Magazine, February 11, 1929.
Doggerel
In Baltimore, Md., in the psychological laboratory of Johns Hopkins University, a priest and several professors, social workers, dog fanciers turned their ears in the direction of Princess Jacqueline, brindle French bulldog, who was reputed to be “able to talk.” They asked her to spell. She replied: “Wah the ell, wah the ell.” They asked her to sing. She sang sourly. When she spoke, later, it was nearer English than French, nearer dog than English.
In the 1930s, newsreels were the modern day equivalent to YouTube clips and captured newsworthy items on film. Pathé was a leader in the field and it’s interesting that a search of their online library finds a reel about talking dogs, but it doesn’t include Princess. Have a look at the newsreel Talking Dogs featuring a talking dog named Nicky. Click on the image to be taken to the active page.
TALKING DOG
Okay, okay! I can hear you talking! “I wanna see a Frenchie!” The next newsreel includes a perfect Frenchie at a 1930s British dog show. He’s about halfway through the clip. Enjoy!
CANINE ARISTOCRATS
