The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-11-28
Tie Fmperors Clothes


Paul Courtney was an unsHccessful
poet.
ney was very practical. Few women
have 20 completely depended on their
brains instead of their feelings for re-
suits as she. Among other traits she
possessed that Of observation. and
what she observed she could utilize
one evening she read to her little son
story of Hans Andersen's. An en-
neror was fond OF dress. Two rogues
came 10 town and claimed to make
clothes of SO hne a texture that those
who were stupid and united for their
posItions could not see them the
rogues were ordered to make clothes
for the emperor When they were be-
ing woven he sent his prime minister
to see how they looked. The rogues
were working on nothing. The minis
ter supposed he was too stupid to see
the fabric and untitled for his posi-
ton. Not willing to admit his I'M
worthfness, he reported to the emperor
that the clothes were splendid. Oth-
ers made the same report When the
clothes came the emperor saw nothing
but not willing to admit his dehcien-
cies accepted them, put them on ana
appeared in them before the Whole
CITY. All, supposing that they We're de-
fcient. applauded the clothes except
little child. who said, 'Ihe emperor
has nothing on ut all.
That night Mrs. Courtney stole one
~ ber husbands oft neglected poems.
entitled I'm Imitation Of Poe" put an
cDnroprIata heading on IL, copied 1t In
Poe's handwriting she possessed
llthograph specimen, signed his name
to II and sent it to Song and story. a
high grade magazine, with q letter
stating that she had found it among
fine r,aners of her grandfather. who was
an intimate friend Of the great poet
she signed n fictitious name to her let
ter.
The poem was published at once and
produced a sensation. Critics. VINO
doubted its authenticity. did not dare
risk such an opinion. So they review
ed IL critically. pointing our those beau
ties which were to be found only in
The writings of Poe Young people of
literary aspirations dotted upon it, and
the great mass of the people, suppoSlhS
their betters knew all about 1t. accept
ed their opinions without questioning
them.
one evening Paul Courtney picked
up copy of the magazine containing
his poem and, turning the leaves
sprang from his chair. With indigna-
ton and astonishment. he called MS
wires attention to the liberty that had
been taken with his work she advised
him to 90 at once to the editor and
make vigorous protest Courtney.
after a sleepIess night, invaded the
editorial sanctum and confronted the
editor.
THAT poem" lac said. has been de-
cIIned by every magazine. including
your own, and when some person, I'M
known to me, sends it in as QUE OF
Poe's you publish 1t, and the whole lit
erary world goes mad over it. Now,
sir. what are you going to do about it!'
The editor gave way to thought for
awhile and then said:
The error must remain unexplained.
The matter will soon be forgotten"
II will have it up in the courts"
Suppose, Mr. Courtney, we give you
unlimited space in our columns for one
year by way of reparaton?''
"H'mw said the poet, soothed.
would you be willing to settle on
that bass?"
certainly. On no account can we
have this matter get out to the pub
lie"
Done" said Courtney. And he went
home to inform his wife of the result
of the interview.
The next issue of the magazine con-
tanned poem by Paul Courtney which
was mentioned favorably by several
critical journals Mr.. Courtney's pho
togravure appeared in catalogues Of
successful authors, and it was not long
before his poems and his physiognomy
We're alike familiar to the public.
What the critical journals pronounced
excellent the general reader accepted
as such Every magazine tried to Sc
cure poems from Mr.. Courtney, but he
had all the space he wanted in one.
at the end OF year the poet was
notified that he would be given no
more space in Song and Story. Hav-
ing made n name for himself. he was
not disturbed But in time the editors
Of other periodicals. noticed the oniis-
sion. and CoUr;ucy's poems began to
come back as Of yore. His wife told
him that lie had had his day in the
poetic world and should be satisfied
He wisely decided to take her advice
One evening Mrs. Courtney, seeing
few simple verses signed Buck
eye' I'm a newspaper. read them to
her BARNS. They We're received with
delight. Courtney, coming into the
room. noticed what had taken place,
and it occurred to him to test some of
his own work in the same way. Sc
Iecting several of the simplest of his
poems, he read them to the children
They were received without the slight
est expression of pleasure. Courtney
was disappointed.
Ten years passed. One evening Mr..
Courtney while looking over news
paper lighted on an item which he read