The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-12-09
Origin Of Familiar Things,

Inv i"oos P'fetat n''pi itf} h,1o aHA
stories have an origin quite different
from what Is usually supposed Thus.
il is generally thought that the story Of
Cinderella was invented By some one 10
happy ft Of immaginaiion butlit is
said 70 be founded on fact. The Greek
historian and geographer, Strabo, says
that one day, as lady, named Khodopis,
was bathing in the Nile, the wind ear
ried away her sandal and laid it st the
feet Of the King Of Egypt, who was then
holding court Of Justice 10 the open
air, not far of. Ills curiosity was ex-
cited BY the elegance Of the sdodal, ,andhe
offered reward for the discovery Of
the owner Of it, The lady claimed il,
and ii was found 10 ft her exactly. She
was very beautiful, and the king mar
ried her, She is remembered 10 histo-
ry as "the rosy checked queen" Of
Egypt, and she lived 1000 years before
the Christian ora. The story Of Blue
Beard has also been traced 10 histori-
cal basis. Giles de Laval, Marshal Of
France, in 1892 was distinguished for
his military abilities, but he rendered
himself infamous by his extraordinary
impiety add debaucherics aud by muir
dering his wives. He had long beard
of blush black color, whence be was
called Blue. Beard. He employed those
who pretended to be sorcerers to dis
cover hidden treasures, and be corrupted
young persous IL both sexes to attach
them to him, after which he killed them
for the sake Of their blood, which he
used for his incantations. BY order Of
the Duke Of Brittany he was burned
alive, in q field near Nontes, 10 the year
l440 The story Of Jack the Giant
killer has been supposed TO be derived
from the wars of King Arthur with his
rebellious Cornish vassals, who figure
as ogres and giants, while the King ap-
pears as Jnck. Many more cases might
be cited. ssThe House that Jack built"
has intefeStiug antecedeuts. This ia
nous jingling legend, believed 70 be an
imitation Of medimval Hebrew parable
in the form Of hymn, was codimemo-
rative of the principle events in the
history Of the Jewish people. The or
iginal is to be found 10 tho Jewish col
lection called the Sepher Aagguhnh,
vol. %, aud an Interpretation Of it was
given to the world so far back as 1871,
BY p. N. Lebrecht, Of Leipsic. There
are ten verses. The first consists Of
two lines and short refrain I; titus
/" A kid, kid my father bought for
two pieces Of money!" (refrain,) /" A
kid, kid" This refrain Is repeated at
the end Of each verse. The sec0nd
verse commences with the words NTben
came the cat, aud ate the kid, that my
father bought for two pieces Of money"
The third verso runs, 'sthcH cathe the
dog, and bi. the cat, that ate the kid,'
&c. The fourth is, ssthen came the
staff, and bvat the dog, that bit the CAT" !"
&c. The fifth is, 'stheu cainc the FIRE, and
burned the staff, that beat the dog" &c.
The sixth is, 'sthcn came the water,
and quenched the FIRE that burned the
staff" &c. The seventh is, "then came
the OK, and drank the water, that
oueucbed The fire. . &c TBe eirhth 4.
Z then came the butchef ana slew the
OK, that drank the water" 60. The
ninth Is atben came The aueeI of death.
and killed The butcher TINT 'slev M
or &c The tenth and last rms.
" then came the Holy One Blessed be
He and Killed tbe ANGEL of Death. tbat
kilIsd The butcher thas sIev the -.
that drank tbe water. tbat ouencbei
the Ere. that burned tbe staf ,hat Neat
the dor. that bit the cat that ate the
kid that INV father boucht for M 10 pieces
Of money ; kii, kid.@