Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-01-12
Written for the Green Mountain Freeman.
Fairies.


Says Irving, g | feel convinced that the true
interest and solid happiness of man is promoted
by the advancement of truth yet cannot but
mourn over the pleasant errors which it has
trampled down in its progress. The fauns and
Syphs, the household sprite, the moonlight
revel, Oberon, Queen Nab and the delicious
realms of fairy land all vanish before the light
of true philosophy, but who does not sometimes
turn with distste from the cold realities of
morning and seek to recall the sweet visions Of
the night?" How interesting and attractive
are the mythologies of ancient nations and
tribes. How fascinating the illusions of the
imaginative mind, The interest gained from
perusing early Roman and Grecian Histories is
found in the fiction and the NEUROLOGICAL ac-
count Of those nations. But amid the fiction of
the past perhaps none is fraught with so much
pleasure as the many charming stories of Fairies
and Fairy Land. Trancelike we listen to the
pleasing tales, and in our dreamings they seem
indeed realities which our intellects endeavor to
reconcile to reason. would not for moment
imagine they impart happiness, for they are
Illusions, but pleasure, according with the
saying of Chawfort that, pleasure can be sup
piled by illusions, but happiness rests upon
truth" Youthful minds seek for reading amid
tales of the dashing and invisible Fairies, and
how entranced older people are over the mystic
scenes OF Midsummer Nights Dream. The
lives of these airy forms, roaming unseen thro'-
out the material world are represented as moving
the lind actions and affections of man. We find
they have some OF the elements Of mankind, such
as affection, dislike and ROBUSTNESS, and even
among their saint like court, dissentions often
would arise and angry talks disturb their secret
meetings. Shakespeare, in the above mentioned
play, has beautifully drawn the characters of
the King and Queen of the Fairies their quar-
rel and reconciliation, which doubtless your
readers are familiar with, and will not repeat
them here. recollect once of seeing in play
representation of the Fairy's home, where
with silver sceptres, wreathed heads, and white
garments, the assembled Fairies obeyed every
nod and command of the Fairy Queen. AL.
though it WAS long ago, yet often memory
brings to mind the pleasing thoughts and un-
equalled harmony of that playful scene.
From all accounts, it seems they were won't
to seek out some pleasant grove, and there spend
! o;,, ;,1e nd
ship, adapted to their being and nature. And
yer often were they disturbed in their chosen
retreats, and changed their home, if perchance
the forests were too frequented. In the tale of
the Forty Thieves in the Arabian Nights, we
know the Fairies were extremely fearful on ac-
count of the frequent approaches of this re-
nowned band, and finally left this forest for an
other home. Again W.T. find they are apt to
wander along by the sides of still-dowing rivers,
roaming in the green meadows OF upon the hill.
p:dv, and in the silver moonights sing their
songs and tell their tales to their loving Queen,
who chides them and listens to all their sayings.
Having the speed Of the wind they easily form
ed circle around the earth, and all impossible
lities were easily overcome by their will. They
seemed to have had the power of Heather Gods,
but how the Ancients rcconciled this with their
religious system, we are not informed in CLASH
cal literature. This is one of the fallacies of
this fiction. We believe they never partook of
food, for they never needed any subsistence from
which to derive nourshment Their thoughts
were Of love, and many are the loving dittes
recorded of this angelic race. Sleeping in
bowers, and in the howery gardens, roaming
here and there at pleasure, free from care and
labor. performing many mysteries, their lives are
given to us as truly fascinating and interesting.
have spoken of the interest connected with the
accounts of this fictitious race, and could we be
transported back to the times when these Fairy
tales were believed, we could better realize the
pleasure connected with these stories. Even
now, we would almost be glad to revive the
credulous times when these tales where believed
and honored. English Lords sigh for the good
old times Of Robin Hood, the Spaniards sigh for
the Chivalric times but we would discard these
realities for the sweet pleasures of Fairy Land.
The imagination, that choice originator of our
mind, delights in these Eighty stories, and
brings to man many delightful tales, clothed in
the garb of fiction. G.
AN IRISH STATION MAsTER-Not long aso