as to the breed of the dog -- did that ever get answered?  Because I do
have it from a definitive source:

My father was a St. Bernard, my mother was a collie, but I am a
Presbyterian.


first line from A DOG'S TALE

by Mark Twain

-- 
Prof. Harold K. Bush
Professor of English
3800 Lindell
Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MO  63108
314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
<www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>