The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1890-09-04
VOL. VII.

Will the World newspaper allow
me space in its valuable columns to
state fully and finally under what cir
cumstanees ! wrote the now famous
poem called Beautiful Snow ?"
had been reared in luxury, and in
youth did not have to do any thing
but cut cordwood and clear off timber
land, but in an evil hour | was tempt
ed 10 go to the great city where
folks did not readily fall into my
ways So / left the clearing, and,
like CincinnOtus, also left my steers
standing in the iurrow, to strike out
for the ripsnorting town. At fist |
was afraid Of the cars and shied a lit
tie onou lho band played, but gradu-
ally | got used to it, and il things sort
OF startled me ! concealed it, and
could almost fool some people and
make them think was town.bred,
although even yei hold cigar like
an immigrant ard dodge when | SIT
by a car window and 60 past a tele'
graph pole.
had not been in the city long be-
fore | noticed that though was OBJ
served ] was not recognized as a gen.
eral thing. Observation without re-
cogniLion is metropolitan peculiar
ity. soon grew to be more and more
vacant and the different coats OF my
stomach began to get out at elbo VS.,
for had broGght my sylvan appetite
with me and also glazed portman-
teau, which would not stay shut ex'
cept when l wanted to open it to see il
my new kip boot were safe
/ walked up and down The same
street good many times trying to
look like l was really going some
where, which, as Heaven is my judge,
was not. stopped now and then
to scratch my chilblaln against the
curb and look at the most expensive
diamonds in tae jewelry show-win-
ows,and though my taste was pleased
and gratifiei, it only annoyed and
tanSalized my app tite.
For days and nights / did this hop
ing that some kind banker would al
low his team to run away near me,
so that could save his little daughter
and get chancl to wet my finger on
sponge at his counter and count
over his coupons for him. But when
you come to consider this in cool,
methodical way, you will see that it is
most uncertain method for obtain
ing a situation, for oankers are get
ting more careful in selecting their
horses, and also the coachman gener-
ally takes his pick OF the daughters,
thus leaving talented but freckled
young buckwheaters to marry other
where.
/ was so empty that when button.
ed my vest in the morning | could
hear it echo along down my corridors.
thought OF begging, but | could not
do that. So said must starve. II
had not been so hungry would
have gone home, where barrel OF
picked pork and bin Of atrophied
potatoes, with pale green sprouts a
yard long, just fairly held out their
arms to me. But | had put it off too
long now. | must die on tn streets
OF ,grea' CITY tud be all mussed NJ
by an autopsy. put on clean shirt
so tn | would not shock the author.
tiles too much, and then | composed
myself and wal cd for death. ! wait
ed quite awhile and thought | WI
going. Then the smell OF soft-shel
crabs came to my surprised and as
tonished senses. j vas awful. | ros,
up and tore out lew handsful o
handfuls of hair, for ] could afford i
at that time.
Suddenly came the tempta
ton to lead an immoral life. di,
not know whe er to d. that or writ
a poem. saw on every hand hoy
vice throv white agricultural virtu
stood around and chewed imaginar
yictuals.
Oh, il was an awful hour In tn
midst OF it all salt at asst "No,
will not lead life Of shame-till
have tried literature anyhow. wi
compose poem, for according
what have heard am just abor
hungry e. ough now To do good lite
airy work" so sea- led myself by tll
waning light and on she, t OF brow
yrapping.paper with little piece
keel, ] wrote the words of "Beautfl
Snow"
can show you the spot Vt
is between the old Castle Garden
northwest corner and pier of Il
North River. also h I'VE what is lie
of the piece Of keel and my unsoilt
character. 0, how little ! care for Il
honor OF writing Beautiful Snov
when | think that it saved me, for
took II to nm editor and was going
read it to him. He was irritated b
cause il was Saturday and the hu'
ness Office had expires ed wish
usurp The editora! page or advert
ing purposes, and he was SO hot h
he told me to go where 1t has be-
the whole aim of my life thus far
4 4 No. al i,