[Ads-l] Not So Shaggy, 1919

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

The 1906 discussion of the shaggy dog story stated that it was "like
the story of Antonio and his trusty lieutenant". I am not familiar
with this story, but I have found two pertinent citations in 1907 and
1918. Has any list member heard of "the story of Antonio and his
trusty lieutenant"?

"The Denver Post" article dated January 08, 1906 acknowledged "The
Cincinnati Post". Now I've located the original article in "The
Cincinnati Post". Here is the citation:

Date: January 03, 1906
Newspaper: The Cincinnati Post
Newspaper Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Article: Advertises for a Dog and Gets One All Right
Quote Page 4, Column 3 and 4
Database GenealogyBank

Garson

On Tue, Aug 11, 2015 at 3:06 AM, ADSGarson O'Toole
<adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
> In 1911 the "Fort Worth Star-Telegram" published an article about the
> "shaggy dog" non-joke that was similar in structure to the 1906
> article in "The Denver Post".
>
> A banker named W. (Buck) Taylor enjoyed telling and retelling a
> pointless tale about a man who was seeking the return of his dog. When
> a candidate dog was brought to the man he replied "That is not my dog;
> that dog is too shaggy." This punch line was considered very weak.
>
> Mr. Taylor's fellow bankers decided to retaliate with a prank by
> placing an advertisement in Taylor's name that offered a reward for a
> shaggy dog.
>
> Date: February 22, 1911
> Newspaper: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
> Newspaper Location: Fort Worth, Texas
> Article: Sidelights on the Bankers
> Quote Page 1, Column 5
> Database: GenealogyBank
>
> [Begin excerpt]
> Whenever anyone in the bankers'
> party says "shaggy dog" they all
> think about W. (Buck) Taylor of the
> Boatmen's Bank, St Louis. Thereby
> hangs a tale. In Tuesday's Star-Tele-
> gram, there appeared an advertise-
> ment on page eight appealing for the
> return of a shaggy dog and asking
> that it be sent to Buck Taylor at the
> Westbrook hotel. At 5 o'clock, two ne-
> groes with as many wondering shaggy
> dogs tied to long ropes pages Mr. Tay-
> lor and showing him the "ad" of which
> he had no knowledge, called for the
> promised reward. Forty bankers
> roared in glee and the St. Louis man
> bought.
>
> Old Dog Story.
>
> The point is that Mr. Taylor's hobby
> is telling a story about a man adver-
> tising for a dog and telling the boy
> that brought one, "That is not my
> dog; that dog is too shaggy." The
> story is pointless and the teller tells
> it over and over while the party that
> has heard it thousands of times ap-
> plauds with mirthless laughter. The
> hotel incident was a simon pure frame
> up.
> [End excerpt]
>
> Garson
>
> On Mon, Aug 10, 2015 at 4:26 PM, ADSGarson O'Toole
> <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>> In 1906 "The Denver Post" published an article about P. J. Faulkner
>> who told his friends "the story of the shaggy dog". Faulkner insisted
>> that the story was very funny, but his listeners were left glum.
>>
>> A person named "James Fernorten wanted a shaggy dog". A candidate dog
>> was obtained; however, the dog was rejected because it was
>> insufficiently shaggy, i.e., "though shaggy some, was not so shaggy!"
>> Faulkner thought this punchline was hilarious, but his compatriots
>> disagreed, and found the tale humorless.
>>
>> Faulkner's listener's retaliated by placing an advertisement in
>> Faulkner's name for a "shaggy dog; must be either black or brown, but
>> not too shaggy; will pay good price." Faulkner was driven from his
>> house by the large number of dogs offered in response to the ad.

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