The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-24
BILL NYE TELLS ALL.
How He Came to Write the
Poem Beautiful Snow"
ALONE IN THE GREAT CITY.
True and Awful Story OF How He Did
It, With Names and Dates and
Other Circumstantial Evidence.

To the Editor Of the Neap Fork Woyld: VIII
the World newspaper allow me space in its
valuable columns TO state fully and finally
under what circumstances ! wrote the now
famous poem called Beautiful Snow?'
/ had been reared in luxury. and as q
youth did not have to do anything but cut
cordwood and clear of timber land, but in
an evil hour was tempted to go to the
great city, where folks did not really fall
into my ways. So left the clearing, and.
like Cincinnatus. also left my steers
standing in the furrow, to strike out for the
rip-snorting town. At first / was afraid of
the cars, and would shy a little when the
band played. but gradually got used to it.
and if things sort of startled me / con-
cealed it, and could almost fool some peo-
pie and make them think / was town bred,
although l even yet hold cigar like an
immigrant and dodge when sit by car
window and go past telegraph pole.
had not been in the city long before
noticed that though / was observed was
not recognized as general thing. Obser-
walton without recognition is q metropoli-
tan popularity. / soon grew to be more
and more vacant. and the different coats of
my stomach began to get out at elbows. for
had brought my sylvan appetite with me
and also glazed portmanteau, which
would not stay shut except when wanted
to open it to see if my new kip boots were
still safe.
walked up and down the same street a
good many times trying to look like was
really going somewhere, which, as Heaven
is my judge, / was not. / stopped now and
then to scratch my chilblain against the
curb and look at the most expensive dia-
monds IN the jewelry show-winGows. and,
mn as W nj cd
1t only annoyed and tantalized my appe-
tite.
For days and nights I did this, hoping
that some kind banker would allow his team
to run away near me, SO that / could save
his little daughter and get q chance to wet
my finger on sponge at his counter and
count over his coupons for him. But when
0dical way, you will see that it is q most
uncertain method for obtaining situation,
for bankers are getting more careful in Sc
Letting their horses. and also the coach
man generally takes his pick of the daugh-
tiers. thus leaving talented but freckied
young buckwheaters to marry otherwhere.
/ was so empty that when / buttoned nv
along down my corridors. thought of
begging. but could not do that So I said
! must starve. If had not been SO hungry
/ would have gone home, where barrel of
picked pork and bin of atrophied pota-
Toes. 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 the streets of great city and be all
unused up by an autopsy. put on clean
shirt so that would not shock the author
tiles too much, and then / composed N.Y.
self and waited for death. I waited quite
while an0 thought was going. Then the
smell of soft-shell crabs came to my sur
prised and astonished senses. Itwas awful.
/ rose up and tore out few handsful or
handfuls of hair, for / could afford it at
that time.
Suddenly came the temptation to lead an
immoral lie. did not know whether to
do that or write poem. / saw on every
hand how vice throve, while agricultural
virtue stood around and chewed imaginary
victuals.
Oh. it was an awful hourl In the midst
of 1t all said at last: mo. will not lead