The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-08-30
BILL NYE'S CONFESSION.

In recent letter to the New York World
our respected contributor, Bill Nye, makes
the following confession as to the author
ship of that much-disputed poem, "Beauti-
full Snow
L had been reared in luxury, and as a
youth did not have to do anything but cut
cord wood and clear off timber land, but in
an evil hour l was tempted to go to the
great city, where folks did not readily fall
into my ways. So left the clearing, and
like Cincinnatus, L 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 little when
band played, but gradually got used to it,
and If things sort of startled me concealed
it, and could almost fool some people and
make them think l was town-bred, al
though | even yet hold a cigar like an i'm
migrant and dodge when l sit by a car
window and go past telegraph pole.
had not been in the city long before
noticed that though was observed was
not recognized as a general thing Obser-
walton without recognition is metropoli-
tan popularity. | soon grew to be more
and more vacant, and the different coats of
my stomach began to get out at the elbows,
for had brought my sylvan appetite with
me and also a glazed portmanteau, which
would not stay shut except when | wanted
20 open it to see if my new kip boots were
still safe.
l walked up and down the same street a
good many times, trying TO look like was
really going some where, which, as heaven
is my judge, was not. | stopped now ard
then to scratch my chilblains against the
curb and look at the most expensive dia-
monds in the jewelry show windows, and,
though my taste was pleased and gratified,
it only annoyed and tantalized my appetite.
For days and nights / did this, hoping
that some kind banker would allow his
team to run away near me, so that l could
save his little daughter and get chance to
wet my finger on a 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 q
most uncertain method for obtaining a
situation, for bankers are getting more
careful in selecting their horses, and also
the coachman generally takes his pick of
the daughters, thus leaving talented but
freckled young buckwheaters to marry
otherwhere.
was so empty that when Ibuttoned nv
vest in the morning could hear it echo
along down my corridors. I thought of
begging, but | could not do that So said
l must starve. If had not been so hungry
would have gone home, where barrel of
picked pork and bin of atrophed potatoes,
with pale green sprouts yard long, lust
fairly held out their arms to me. But had
put it off too long now. l must die on the
streets of a great city and be all mussed up
by an autopsy. ] put on clean shirt so
that would not shock the authorities too
much. and then l composed myself and
and thought was going. Then the smell
of soft-shell crabs came to my surprise and
astonished senses. 1t was awful. rose
up and tore out few han dful of hair, for |
could afford it at that time
Suddenly came the temptation to lead an
immoral life. 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 hour! It the midst
of it all l said at last; mo, l will not lead a
life of shameful have tried literary any
how. l will then compose poem, for &C
cording to what l have heard l am lust
about hungry enough now to do good liter
airy work" So 1 seated myself by the
waning light and on sheet of brown
wrapping paper, with little piece Of keel
wrote the words of Beautiful Snow,
I can show you the spot yet 1t is be-
tween the old Castle Gardens northwest
corner and Pier 1 Of the North river.
l also have what is left of the piece of keel
and my unsoiled character. Oh, how little
care for the honor Of writing Beautiful
Snow'' when I think that it saved me, for
took it to an editor and was going to read
- to him. He was irritated, because it was
Saturday and the business Office had ex-
pressed a wish to usurp the editorial page
for advertising purposes, and he was SO hot