Clip of the Week: May 31, 2023
On May 31, 2023 by Elyse
We know what happens to a marriage when a wife has 35 cats, but what about when she has 27 dogs?
Answer: the unauthorized sequel to “One Hundred and One Dalmatians.”
Dogs to sing a chorus and harmonize domestic infelicity, was an arrangement advised by Magistrate Breen in West Chester police court yesterday.
The idea suggested itself when Mrs. Teresa Bertrame, living at Kruger avenue and 225th street, asked the magistrate to order her husband, Charles Bertrame, to keep away from her. [Bertrame], who is a musician, complained that his wife keeps twenty-seven dogs, objectionable as part of the household.
At least he didn’t suggest turning them into a fur coat.
“Certainly, I have twenty-seven dogs,” replied Mrs. Bertrame. “He never gives me any money; I support myself by buying and selling dogs.”
No surprise there—“Cruella de Vil” had one-hit wonder written all over it.
“Can you play a piano?” asked the Magistrate Breen of the woman.
“Yes,” she replied.
“Well, you go home, play the piano, let your husband play his violin, and the dogs can sing. And then you will both be happy.”
The couple went out of court together.
– The Los Angeles Herald, May 1, 1910
Magistrate Breen added, “The neighbors will have a howling good time!”
This might be the first—and last—time “starting a band” was considered good marital advice.




Recent Posts You
May Have Missed
Did you click through Facebook or Twitter? We got lucky—don’t let social media algorithms keep you from seeing a post! Save yourself a click, and subscribe to have stories delivered to your inbox as soon as they’re published.
Disclaimer: The modern era is far from the first to grapple with rampant “fake news.” As I am neither a historian nor journalist, I make no claims about the accuracy or lack thereof of the above sources. I assert only that they make for a good story.
Share this:
- Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
2 comments
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Recent Posts
Subscribe to the Blog via Email
Search
Archives
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
About This Blog
Welcome to Second Glance History! This blog seeks to uncover the people and the stories forgotten by history and give them another read through a modern lens. Join me every week as we examine the differences that divide and the common threads that connect the then to the now.
Dogs, piano and violin still tops anything by Taylor Swift…
The internet agrees with you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZaeouaIMXE