The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-10-27
BOBBY SHORES
WROTE OF BUTTE
TOLD OF SOME OF THE DOINGS
OF THE INNER SOCIAL
CIRCLES.
Caused a Shot Gun Parade in the
Direction Of Butte Newspaper Of
flee; Bobbie Was Fired for Writing
Too Vividly.

lice 6ODDle was tlred Tor Writing
Too Wildly.
Robert j. Shores, author, and form
er Montanan, is now the head of q
New York publishing house. He broke
into bellies letters through the back
door Of a Butte newspaper, years ago.
He was also a social light in Butte for
a time, but his popularity waned when
he told, in the public prints, som of
the backstairs gossip Of Copper So
ciety.
His father, Arthur J. Shores, was
a gifted man, who served the Great
Northern railway as chief counsel, and
later was at the head Of the legal de-
partment of the Amalgamated Copper
company. The elder Shores wanted
Bobbie, as he was generally known,
to be a lawyer, and sent him through
the best schools with this end in view.
But Bobbie was Of literary bent. Poet
ry just dripped from his pen and
worked its way in metered rhymth
through his typewriting machine.
But Bobby insisted on becoming a
newspaperman. So it was arranged
for him to break into the game
through the Butte Inter Mountain.
"Knickerbocker'' Stories.
About this time the New York
Journal vas running a series Of
stories dealing with New York society.
They were clever, spicy yarns, of red
blooded people, and just the kind Of
reading for the tired business man.
Hearst inspired them because Of the
fact that Gotham's society leaders
would have none Of him. These stories
were signed by "Charlie Knickerbock-
en-" and attracted much attention.
The managing editor Of the Inter
Mountain was a great admirer Of the
"Charlie nKickerbocker" stories. He
considered them as the acme Of clever
ness. To his brain came an inspira-
ton.
Butte was then at its gayest. Why
not run a series Of Kn~ickerbocker stor-
les Of individuals moving in Butte So
ciety? There was an abundance Of
material. Who was qualified to do the
work? Why Bobby Shores, of course,
the Beau Brummel Of Butte's inner
circles. Bobby was approached. He
saw visions of quick fame and went
to his work with avidity. By innuen-
do in naked type he told of the inner
workings of Butte society. 1t was the
kind of stuff hat would make the
men mentioned reach for their shot
guns and 90 looking for the man re-
sponsible.
So Bobby passed his stories up to
the city editor. They really should
have been written on asbestos paper.
The city editor was a man new to
Butte, and the stories were just so
many words assembled to him. Be-
sides the word had gone forth that the
managing editor had ordered them.
They got into the paper, unabridged,
just as Bobby, in his Irresponsible
blithness, had penned them.
Created a Near Riot.
Naturally they created a sensation.
There was a shot gun parade OF ag-
grieved individuals in the direction of
the newspaper office. After several
interviews the managing editor con-
cduded to take a vacation for his
health's sake. In the meantime the
demonstration around the newspaper
office became almost a riot. The city
editor was unable to stand up under
the onslaught Of the Butte four hun
dred and resigned and got out Of town.
1t was up to the management of the
paper to do something to appease the
wrath of those offended. 1t was de-
cided to make of Bobby a burnt offer
ing on the altar of Butte's angry elect.
Bobby was canned.
That is how Bobby broke into and
out of the Butte newspaper game. 1t
was enough to discourage the average
young man, just starting in life. But
S not Bobby. In a month he was back
on the job again, but he wrote his
stories with chastened spirit. They
would pass the most exacting city
G editor. But the punch was gone, and
a the fun for Bobby, too. He quit and
G went out on the coast, where he could
put more pep into his stories. Finally
he drifted to New York, where, it
seems, his abilities have finally found
: their reward.