The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-02-17
RIP VAN WINKLE.
Not Irving's, But the Original, ORR
entail "Rip."

It is sometimes difficult to determine
the real origin of many of the best sto-
ries that we are accustomed to read in
our story books. Any of you who have
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 announced
that there was nothing new under the
SUM- Some of our best stories are only
the reproductions of an ancient historical
legend or an old-time myth. Many of
these can be traced back to very ancient
times, and have passed through many
transformations before they came to us.
Originally put in form by some dark
bearded, turban-crowned story teller of
the Orient, it was seized upon by the
fanciful and beauty-loving Greeks.
From them it was stolen by the Romans,
who plundered literature as they did
provinces. During the middle ages the
Anglo-Saxon and Norman monks, for
lack of other employment, and feeling
sadly in need of something to do, shut
up as they were, in their gloomy mon
asteries, took the old stories from their
Latin books, and rewrote them again.
These, in turn, became the source from
which our best modern writer's have
drawn some of their most pleasing sto-
ries.
Most of you have, doubtless, read
Washington Irving's story of Rip Van
Wrinkle. You are familiar with every
character and incident of the tale-the
convivial Rip prone to over indulgence
at his beloved cups, the elfin necroman-
GERS, the sleep of twenty years and the
return and confusion of the unconscious
sleeper at the change he witnessed-all
portrayed as Irving alone could do it.
Yet this is but one of the many legends
which genius has rescued from oblivion,
and reclothing in fresher garb, handed
down to posterity. The story comes
from the Orient, and is as interesting as
any of the wonderful Arabian Nights.
Its hero can claim equal rank with
Aladdin, Camaralzaman, Sinbad, or any
of the other old worthless whose exper-
fences are recorded in that magnificent
Eastern story book. In Irving's story
it is party of hobgoblins who perform
the office of enchantment, and the vic
tim is good-natured Dutchman, who
is overcome by the potent influence of
the enchanted gin. The original is a
rather more pleasing story upon the
whole, although the end is as pathetic
as that of its modern counterpart. No
tlagon of charmed stimlant has part in
the story, and the funny little Dutch
necromancers are left out. Instead Il
beautiful fairy plays the part of Ell
chantress, and little golden caslSet is
the fatal gift by which the finale is
brought about.
Mahmoud was handsome young fish,
erman, who spread his nets and rowed
his boat on the silver tide of the Euphrates
where the towers of Bassorah overlook
the deep. He was as good natured and
industrious as he was handsome, work
ing hard early and late, and always sing
ing at his toll. His little stall in Basso-
rah was kept we'll stocked with his tinny
merchandise, and he found ready pa
irons, for his pleasant face and cheerful
words quite won the hearts of old and
young in the seaport 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 seines were
always drawn in full, and he had need
of only little sleep. Mahmoud Ben
Ali was prosperous and contented
man.
One night as he was toiling at his nets
he was summoned to the shore by sew
eral loud cries for help. fastening in
the direction of the sounds he came to
where two brutal fishermen were drag
ging an old woman toward one of the
huts outside of the city walls. She was
struggling manfully to resist them, but
their united strength was too much for
her.
why do ye do this, my brethrenp"
asked Mahmoud, calmly, as he put him
self in their way. '.Doth not the mas
ter's book say, we shall respect those
who hath gray haire'
''She is WITCH" cried one of the
men, "she hath bewitched our nets and
driven the fish away. Take that,
good mother, and tomorrow We shall 60
before the Cadi; then we shall see what
will become of your sorceries. With
that he struck her with his sandal, and
with his companions help continued to
drag her along.
Help me, young SIR cried the
woman to Mahmoud, 'help me, and
Allah will reward thee"
Her imploring voice and his natural
gallantry prevailed over any thought OF
danger, and he rushed upon her as
sailants.
Eye do wrong to beat woman he
said .tand / will 600 thaf instino is