The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-07-17
TIE TALE OF A DOG.
Lengthy Yarn Helped to Cut SheFs
the Life of Several Pub
licatiOna.

The discussion at recent Bohemian
gathering, at which al manner of
stories, entertaining and otherwise,
went round the festive board, and were
laughed at indiscriminately at length
became of grave and digniied nature
and the particular subject that en-
crossed much scientific thought and
learned views was, ''How to Cut Dogs
Tail" relates the Detroit Free Press.
Of course, this subject included not
only the process of docking dog in the
most painful manner possible, but also
the best method of enhancing his APP
pearance and making him an envied
animal in the matter of dog fashions.
The views were as varied as the drinks
that had been ordered and the argu-
ment waxed so warm at times that ar
biters had to be frequently chosen to
avoid fistic hostilities. A quiet young
man of pale, intellectual countenance,
who hadn't participated actively in the
conversation, was asked at a critical
moment to give his opinion.
'Well, gentlemen" he thoughtfully
observed, ''I'll tell We my experience
on the subject. You all know, or at
least some of We do, that have been
ambitious in the literary line. It's
yearning that l have never been able
TO suppress, though magazine and
newspaper editors have done their best
to cure me of the habit of bursting
forth into poetry periodically or of
writing didactic essays upon profound
subjects that I know nothing about.
What has all this got to do with cut,
ting a dogs tail? Well, I'll tell We, if
you'll just curb your impatience. When
was out west started to inflict my
ambition on frontier papers, which will
accept any kind of matter to help out
their boiler-plate. began a serial
story in a weekly paper. The article
was contributed free, for was bound
to become recognized in a literary way,
even if the recognition came from dis
tant, out-of-the-way places. called
the story The Tale of Yellow Dog
which animal figured conspicuously in
the plot. It was a lurid western story,
full of intrigue, Indians, cowboys and
the dog and made deep impression on
the natives. Well, about four install
ments had been run when the paper
suspended, cutting off the tale of the
dog. Give it up? No, started the
story over again in another obscure
little paper. This time had ground
out about Is more or lesS absorbing
chapters, when one week failed to
receive my paper to which had sub
scribed for five years in order to Jolly
the editor into publishing my story.
Well, when 1 went around to inquire
about the matter, found the sheriff
sitting on the front steps and holding
in his hands foreclosure notice. The
editor had disappeared in order to
avoid his creditors and the printers
were out celebrating the demise of the
paper. A little discouraged, but still
determined, made arrangements
with another indulgent publisher to
print The Tale of Yellow Dog and
started it all over again. By these
frequent repetitions got new ideas for
establishment and the head of my
story about the dog was becoming un-
recognizable from the tail, but per-
severed and decided to make the tail
conform with the head if ever got
around to it. Well, sir, had gotten
to the ninety-frst chapter and the re-
sentiment of some of the readers was
rising TO a perilous point, when the
paper suspended, again separating the
yellow dog from his now famous APP
pendage. Again and again 1 tried to
publish my story-always with the
same result. 1t was remarkable how
many little papers suspended during
all that time. No doubt the story
had considerable to do with the dis
asters But I'm bound to publish that
story some day. if have to issue it
in pamphlet form. That, gentlemen,
is all 1 know about cutting a dogs
tail"
Then the crowd rendered him an ova-
ton.
49, 0-AA4~