The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-28
GIANTS, DWARFS, AND FAIRIES.


OF the most un-Englsh of English counties. IL
is an isolated Celtic district, abutting on the Old
Saxon frontier. Clinging to the past, Jealous OF
the new, the Cornish miners ana hshermen,
stay -at-homes themselves, and unWsited by
many strangers, have retained among them
more old legends and traditions OF the past than
even the Welsh or the Highlandtrs.
In several parts OF Cornwall there still exist
huge rocks, said to have been used by the giants
when hurting or playing at athletic games. The
Ttans of TrecIobben and 81. Michaels Mount
often met to play at "bobbutons." The throw
was generally made from Trecrobben Hill, and
the Mount was the "bob," on which huge slabs
of rock served tor the buttons. Hohourn of
the Cairn wae giant, who is said to have mar
red farmers daughter. Once, when watching
some Cornishmen hurlng he was so pleased at
the game made by a young peasant that In sheer
good.nature he killed him by pattng HIM on the
head. The giant OF TrebiRgan was much less
benevolent son OF Anak. He is said to nave
dined every day on children whom he fried on
fiat rock outside his cave. HIS arms were so
long that be would snatch the sailors from ships
passing by the Lands End; and sometimes,
after having had his fun, replace them again.
In some OF these "dros," It is too evident
that the story-teller has we'll earned his name by
having embroidered the old legend, and that,
too, pretty handsomely. or these alterations
from truth, the history OF TON and the Giant
lazy young giant near Hayle, and his unwiedy
rival lived in castle towards st. Ives. Tom, in
driving wagon full OF beer from market, tres.
passed on the giants territory. The giant
attacked him with his club, which happened to
be yourg elm tree; Tom fought him with a
wheel and an axle-tree, and eventually ran MIN
through the BODY with the pole. As O reward
for his fair nghtiug and courage, the giant lett
Tom all the gold, copper, and tin in his castle.
This generous g ant figured for centuries in the
old guise-danceS at Cornish festivals. The giant
Bolster was another hero Of Titanic days. He
lived on ST. Agnes Beacon Hill, and the earth.
work near Trevenaunance Porth still bears his
name. This monster could stand with one foot
on st. Agnes Beacon, and the other on earn
Brea Hills, six miles apart. bad husband, he
employed his wife in carrying and removing
blocks Of granite from hill to hill. lie fell in
love with st. Agnes, and that virtuous lady,
weary OF his opportunities, offered to marry him
if he would Ell hole IN the cliff at Chapel Porth
with his blood; but as the hole opened into the
sea, unknown to the obtuse and unobservantgiant,
he fell victim to bis love. The red stain still
visible in the cliff shows where the deuge of
blood once poured. Nor was the giant of Goran,
who dug the huge intrenchment there, twenty
feet broad, and twentytour feet high, ia one
night, one whit wiser. The latter hend being
i'll, called in a subtle DOCTOR who PLAYED HIM the
old trick. He grew at last so weak, that the
great mcdiCine-man kicked HIM over the cliff
and killed him. The promoutory ia still called
the Dodman or the Dead Man. The Cupboard,
curious gorge on the coast near Portwreath,
was once The cavern OF the giant Wrath, who
waited there for wrecks and drifts. Wading out
to sea, he used to tie the boats to his girdle
walk hack to his den, and there deVour the luck
less fishermen. Jack the Tinkeard figures largely
in the giant Stories He was friend of that Tom
who slew Blunderbuss, and was remarkable tor
bull's-hide coat which was as tough as iron
He thrashed Tom at singlestick, and taught him
TO draw bow with his toes, SO as to kill
hares and kids that were almost out of
sight, Jack drove the enchanter Pengerswick
out OF his castle, and dug pit tor vicious old
giant at MOrva, into which Jacks enemy fell,
and broke his wicked old neck.
Very much akin to the giants, though dating
only from the seventeenth century, is the
Demon Tregeagle, that terror of Cornish chill
dren This demon, when in the flesh, was the
afa nd IN lord Anuyr hunin- ha dA-
stroyed deeds, forged titles and prosecuted the
poor. AS magistrate, he put to death inno-
cent persons, to hide his own iniquties: as a
landlord, he was rapacous, grinding, and I'M
Scrupulous. He is reported to have murdered
his sister, and broken the hearts of his wives
and children. On one occasion, his spirit is
said TO have been called into court as the wit.
ness IN q case of disputed title to some land.
Reluctant to retire, the lawyers and churchmen
were at last compelled to bind Tregeagle to
empty out Dosmery pool with pierced limpet-
shell. The Dosmery is a black, lonely pool on
the Bodmin moors One night, chased by
demons and hell-hounds, Tregeage fled to
Roach rock, thrust his head in at the east win
dow OF the chapel, and implored help of the
hermit The monks of BOdmin then gathered
together, and sent the erring spirit to the shore
At Padstow to make trusses of sand, and ropes
of the same material, with which to bind them.
Every night he packs them together; every day
the breakers roll them level again. Worn out
with his howlings, the priest of Padstow ban
ished him TO Bareppa, and there condemned him
Loo, and empty them at Porthleven, till the
beach was clean down to the rocks. Every
night the sweep of the Loo round towards the
Lizard etfaced the poor creatures labors. One
night, however, the mOckiAg devils tripped III
the sack-bearer, and so Tregeagle fell, and the
sand pouring out, raised the bar that DESTROYED
she harbor of Helstone Once more banshed
the unjust steward was sentenced TO sweep the
sands from PortcurnoW Cove round Tol lPeden
Penwith headland. There Tregeagle still labors
His roarings are heard during the coming
storms, and on the moors his shrieks pierce thu
night winds.
The "mery maids" or mermaids, figure a
largely in Cornish as they do in Breton mytho
lOgy. They are descended from the Greel
Sirens and the Morse water-spirits, and arr
firmly believed in all through the tin country
Morva parish between ZennOr and st. just i
famous for them; and families still exist ther
who are supposed to have received gifts from
them. At Morva they are seen as "iadies' OF
the rocks, going from the shore 10 isolated reefs
or weeDing and wailing on the beach.
Padstow harbor is said to have been choket
with sand by mermaid in revenge for benz
shot at by fisherman. The town of Seaton
near Looe, was, tradition also says, oVerWhelme,
with sand for a similar reason. Near the beau
Etul serpentine cove OF LamOrna, not far iron
1he Lizard Cliff, a lady shows herself previou
10 storm with comb, mirror, and other fttinI
decorations, to compensate for the fsh's tail
Before a wreck, she has been heard singin!
plalntlyely, the moaning spirits along the shor
echoing her lamentations. Young men ar
Known TO have swum Off to the rock that sh
haunts, lured by her songs; but they have neve
returned.
At Curry, near the Lizard, there exists trad
1ioD. An old man walking in reti ed cove
came suddenly upon rock on which wa seate
beautiful girl, with fair hair so long that
covered her whole body. Alarmed at the in
trnson the mermaid slid off tho rooly into daa