Before television, people had to make their own fun. So they trained pigs to read.
Usually a set of cards showing letters and numbers were set in front of the pig. It would be asked questions: spell out a word, tell us the time, read the thoughts of that guy in the audience. And the pig would dutifully trot around, pick out the appropriate cards to spell out words and numbers, and so astound the onlookers.
How did it work? Well, the pigs were trained to react to tiny movements from their owner, of course. But that wasn’t public knowledge, and the public had many expanations, ranging from undisputable proof of animal intelligence to proof of witchcraft to proof of reincarnation.
The pigs’ owners certainly played up this mystery: one learned pig named Toby published an autobiography in 1817 with the astounding title The life and adventures of Toby, the sapient pig: with his opinions on men and manners. Written by himself. Toby claimed that his powers of reason came from his mother – she ate library books.
Sure, why not. Seems legit.
The Generalist Academy 
