The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-11-12
THE ORIGINAL RIPyAN WIN
KI.E.
BY CLINTON MoxrAauE.


the best stories that we are accus-
toned to read in our story books.
Any of you who have ever tried to
trace to their source anecdotes that
you have heard, have doubtless found
that they have been told oftener
than once, and that at each telling
they differed in essential particulars.
A long time ago Solomon announc-
cd that there was nothing new un-
der the sun" Some of our best sto-
ries are only the production of an
ancient historical legend of old time
myth. Many Of these can be traced
back to very ancient times, and have
passed through many transforma-
tions before they came to us. Orig
inally put in form by some dark
bearded turban crowned stofy.teller
Of the Orient, it was seized upon by
o. o. FL
thefancifuland beapty-loving Greeks.
Fromthem twas stolen by the Ro.
mans, who plundered literature as
they did provinces. During the
Middle Ages, the Anglo-saxon and
Norman Monks, for lack of other en-
ployment, and feeling sadly in need
Of something to do, shut up as they
we're in their gloomy monasteries,
took the old stories from their Latin
books and rewrote them again.
These in turn became the source
from which our best modern writers
have drawn some of their most
pleasing stories.
Most of you have doubtless read
Washington Irving's story Of Rip
Van Wrinkle. You are familiar with.
every character and incident of the
talc-the conyivial Rip, prone to ov-
er-indulgence at his beloved cups, the
elfn necromancers, the sleep of TWEEN
ty years, and the return and confu.
sion Of the unconscious sleeper at
the change he witnessed, all portray.
ed as Irving alone could portray it.
Yet this is but one Of the many leg
ends which genius has rescued from
oblivion, and re-clothing in fresher
garb, handed down to prosperity.
The story comes from the Orient, and
it is good as any of the wonderful
Arabian nights. Its hero can claim
equal rank with Aladdin, Camaralaz
aman, Sinbad, or any of the other
old worthless whose experiences are
recorded in that magnificent Eastern
story book In Irving's story it is a
party of hobgoblins who performed
the office Of enchantment, and the
victim is good natured Dutchman,
who is overcome by the potent inAu-
ence Of enchanted gin. The origin.
al is rather more pleasing story up,
on the whole, although the end is as
pathetic as that of its modern coun.
terpart. No fagon of charming
stimulant has part in the story,
and the funny little Dutch NEGRO
mancers are left out. Instead
beautiful fairy plays the part of en-.
chantress, and little golden casket
is the fatal gift by which the tragic
finale is brought about.
Mahmond was handsome young
fisherman, who spread his net and
rowed his boat on the tide of the
Enphrates, where the towers of Bas.
sarah overlooked the deep. He was
us good natured and industrious as
he was handsome, working hard ear
ly and late, and always singing at
his toll. His little stall at Bassar.
ah was kept well stocked with his
tiny merchandise, and he found
ready patrons; for his pleasant face
and cheerful words quite won the
hearts Of young and old in the sea-
port town. The young man did
most of his fishing in the night, for
the shop on the street required his
presence during the day. But of
this he did not complain, for his
Selnes were always drawn in full
and he had need of only a little sleep.
Mahamond Ben Ali was u happy and
eontented man,
One night, as he was toiling at his
nets, he was startled by the appear
ance of a bright light surrounding
him. AT first he thought it was the
moon just rising whose beams kind.
led such an illumination; but pres
emily, a voice spake to him, and