New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-10
4 CONFED ERATE FAIRY STORY"

determine so mOment0us transition'
81 CONFEDERATE FAIRY STORY"
The irreconcilable supporters of the Lost Cause
did not conine their efforts for the perpetuaton OF
rebel sentiment to the formation OF historical so
cieties and the publication of highlycoored school
histories. Wade Hampton's injunction that children
at the mothers knee should be taught to cherish
the hatreds of the rebellion was not needed BEFORE
it was given, the writer of foolish httle pook
called 1.-THE Princess of the Moon" copy of which
has been sent u.s. attempted to utilize even the lary
story for this abominabe purpose. This would DO
ridiculous, if it were not monstrous.
The book was published at Warrenton, Va, in
1860. As a literary production it is insufferable
twaddle. Its only significance lies in the facts we
have stated showing a spirit among the Southern
people which recent events unhappily prove to OK
ist still The book is most absurdly designated rs
"a Confederate Fairy Story" and is as strange
mixture of political bitterness and supernatural
fiction as ever issued from the press IL Is dedicated
"to the children of the South, who suffered during
the late war" The introduction, which IS addressed
TO dear little Southern readers" dwells upon the
privaiOn following the war. and urges them to re-
member that when God wills that they should
suffer through the wicked1ess of others" they
must not feel too much resentment against the
instruments OF his wrath" THIS pious sentiment Is
followed by an elaborate recital of the suffenngs
of Southern children which they have just been
asked to forget. How well they remember during
the war waged against u.s." " that chilly night,
when driven from your homes by brutal soldiers
the burning, the horrors which ensured -you, poor
little wanderers from Atlanta and children OF burn
ing Columbia You. little son Of the brave
papa how bitter the torture that bound
thee, hand and foot whilst thy sisters insulted
and thy mother weeping: thy tears oil IN
dgnaton return. and thou feelst in thy heart de-
sire for revenge Enough OF the introduction.
The story describes the adventures of an ex-COn-
federate soldier. who ultimately marrles the
Princess of the Moon. The indignation of the King
of that planet, never before suspected OF pro-
slavery sentiment, is great on learning from Kan
dolph, the Confederate how his countrymen had
been finally overpowered by countless hordes OF a
meddline pedlling race called Yankees" The
King asks to be told moro of that poor, stricken
land and his eyes moisten Randolph sings the
pathetic song of the conquered Banner" When
the story ends with the marriage, the good
fairy, with a touch of her wand, changes
the hero's dress into "a magnificent Con-
federate uniform" The festivities inter
rupted by the arrival of balloons floating
banners of rcd and white stripes" From these
come persons carrying "carpct-bags" and traps
of all descriptions. They like the country which
they guessed" would surpass " the best Govern
meDt the world ever saw" But when they
see handsome Confederate soldier on the
throne they are abashed. The appearance
of ono of his old slaves puts them to flight. They
drop their carpet-bags " from which fall numerous
valuable articics-spOOns FREEDOM mating" The old
slave had saved the COnfederate's father from his
burning house and this precious foOt-note is added
.poEf In lima
the late war, an old man burned to death in his
own house. by Yankee soldiers no faith
ful darkoy being near to rescue him
from the flames" But tho good fairy
intercepts the flying Yankees, danouuces them as
demons of cruelty" aud asks the Confederate TO
fix heir punishment. That noble youth however,
begs their release, "cyen though those enemies
have driven me from my home and deprived me OF
every earthly consolation" They are thereupon
dismissed by the fairy with this address
d" You may well rejoice that your captor,
being n Confederate soldier, spurns to
tIample on fallen foes, even though they
be the pillagers and plundcrers of his own house
boIo. Repent your ways while you have time. A
respite of punishment has been granted to enable
Won to return and warn your people against Nemesis
whose upifted hand ready to strike the blow
that will carry destruction in Its wake. Retrbu-
ton's sword, sharper than that of Mars is suspended
over them Go. avert the evil before ii is too late"
This stuff was addressed not to full-grown men
and women VINO could measure its wisdom, but to
little children on Osc virgin minds the lightest
word often leaves lifelong impression, and with
whom the most trifling act is sober reality. 1t
would be pleasant to think that the spirit which
animated it had died away. but Wade Hampton's
address to the Southern Historical Society four
years afterward, the compilation of Confederate
schoo-books continued to the present day, and the
action of the Louisiana Superintendent of EGuca-
ton with respect to a certain textbook. taken
| barely n month ago. show that there is TOO little
| ground for such a hope.