<p>George Ade's greatest recognition came with Fables in Slang (1899), a national best-seller that was followed by a weekly syndicated fable and by 11 other books of fables. The fables, which contained only a little slang, were, rather, examples of the vernacular.<br>The critic August Nemo selected seven short stories from this essential author of American literature:<br>The Fable of the Preacher Who Flew His Kite, But Not Because He Wished to Do...