Antedating of "Shaggy Dog Story"

[James A. Landau]

In a message dated 3/3/03 11:53:24 AM Eastern Standard Time,
fitzke at MICHCOM.NET writes:

> I remember reading what was supposed to be the "original" shaggy dog story
>  many, many, years ago.

Back when the Walt Disney movie "The Shaggy Dog" was released (late 1950's),
my father told me a shorter version of the story you give when I asked for
the definition of a "shaggy dog story".  I don't recall whether he said this
was the original of the genre or merely that it was the one which gave a name
to the genre.

      - Jim Landau