Performing dogs

Posted by ESC on June 18, 2003

In Reply to: Performing dogs posted by ellan on June 18, 2003

: in a book I read recently, the author quoted a critic who referred to dr. johnson's comparison of a woman preaching with a dog walking on its hind legs: "it is not done well, but one is surprised to find it done at all" -the critic says the same could be said of any woman on stage, etc etc -but who was this critic, and when did he say this? I can't remember when or in what book I read this, and am now beginning to worry that I dreamt the whole thing. I really need to find the source of this quote (the horrible critic, not dr. johnson's original), or my tutor will have my guts for garters -does this ring a bell with anyone? can anybody help me?

Hillary Rodham Clinton used the expression "talking dog syndrome" in her book, "Living History." She writes, "There's a similar thought attributed to Dr. Samuel Johnson by Boswell: 'Sir, a woman preaching is like a dog's walking on its hind legs. It is not done well, but you are surprised to find it done at all.'"