Pets have been important to people for a long time. Careful research on the part of author Mimi Matthews tells of many of them in The Pug Who Bit Napoleon: Animal Tales of the 18th and 19th Centuries. Josephine had a dog, one who was with her all the time, including her wedding night, and that's when Napoleon got bit! (He would carry the scars for life). There are lots of dogs, some cats, and birds, donkeys, and rabbits and more. And while not pets, exactly, the chapter at the end, on the flea circuses that were once so popular was fascinating.

I don't like sports all that much, and don't follow any of it on tv, etc., so this was a somewhat unusual read for me: The History of College Nicknames, Mascots, and School Colors, by Gary Hudson. I guess it was just quirky enough to appeal to me! And, it did turn out to be a fun read. The colors for one team were inspired by a large field of dandelions in flower, another by a large hat (think 1920's) worn by a woman on a train, and one by which colors could be delivered to an island (not all of them could). A team in Texas has the cougar for a mascot ... which was influenced by none other than Butch at Washington State University!

Reading Hermit With Dog