The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1886-02-19
RIP VAN WINKLE.
Irving's, But the Original ori-
entail "Rip,"

4 is sometimes difficult to determine
&real origin of many of the best sto-
h that we are accustomed to read in
N story books, Amy of you who have
IA to trace 10 their source anecdotes
n you have heard, have doubtless
End that they have been told eftener
b once, and that at each telling they
bred in essential particulars.
long time ago Solomon announced
t there was nothing new under the
" Some of our best stories are only
n reproductions of an ancient historical
Fnd OF an old-time myth. Many Of
be can be traced haue to very ancient
Aes, and have passed through many
Hformatlons before they came to us.
put in form by some dark
#rdep., turban-crowned story tcller of
h Orient, it was seized upon by the
@ciful and beauty-loving Greeks,
Nm them it was stolen by the Romans,
# plundered literature as they did
@vinces. During the middle ages the
and Norman monks, for
l of other employment, and feeling
Hly in need of something to do, shut
Mas they were, in their gloomy mon
8eries, took the old stories from their
Din books, and rewrote them again.
|fse, in turn, became the source from
ch our best modern writers have
AVN some Of their most pleasing sto-
alost of you have, doubtless, read
&shington Ireing's story of Rip Van
Hnklc. you arc familiar with every
a]ractes and incident of the tale-the
Hvivlal Rip prone to over indulgence
Eis beloved cups, the clfin necroman-
Hs, the sleep OF twenty years and the
Hurn and confusion of the unconscious
#eper at the change he witnessed-all
Brtrayed as Irving alone could do it.
I this is but one Of the many legends
ich genius has rescued from oblivion,
reclothing in fresher garb, handed
awn to posterity. The story comes
Pm the Orient, and is as interesting as
IN of the wonderful Arabian Nights.
hero CAN claim equal rank with
#lddin, Camaralzaman, Sinbad, OF any
the other old worthless whose exper-
&ees are recorded in that magnificent
&stcrn story book. In Hving's story
Is a party of hobgoblins who perform
i office Of enchantment, and tile vic
u is a goot-natured Dutchman, who
Il overcome by the potent influence OF
enchanted gin. The original is a
liner more pleasing story upon the
Pole, although the end is as pathetic
that of its modern counterpart. No
Egor of charmed stimlant has a part in
story, and the funny little Dutch
Scromanocrs are left out. Instead a
Aautiful fairy plays the part of en-
antress, and 1.-THE golden casket is
fatal gift by which the finale is
ought about.
Mahmoud was a handsome young fish
nan, who spread his nets and rowed
boat on the silver tide of the Euphrates
lere the towers of Bassorah overlook
p deep. He was as good natured and
$lustrious as he was handsome, work
g hard early and late, and always sing
Ia at his toll. His little stall in Basso.
b was kept well stocked with his fnny
#crchandise, and he found ready pa.
pms, for his pleasant face and cheerful
brds quite won the hearts of old and
Dung in the seaport town. The young
IAN did most of bis fishing in the night
n the shop on the street required his
Essence during the day. But of this he
not complain, for his seines were
ways drawn in full, and he had neet
only a little sleep. Mahmoud Ber
was a prosperous and contentet
Ham.
zone night as he was toiling at his net.
was summoned to the shore by sew
8al loud cries for help. fastening il
#e direction of the sounds he came tt
%iere two brutal fishermen were drag
ing an old woman toward one of tn,
PTS outside of the city walls. She wa
rnggling manfully to resist them, bu
cir united strength was too much fo
why do ye do this, my brethrenp'
ked Mahmoud, calmly, as he put him
I in their way. "Doth not the mas
RS book say, we shall respect thos
no hath gray hairP"
"She is a WITCH" cried one of til
en-, ''she hath bewitched our nets AM
'iven the fish away. Take that
pod mother, and tomorrow ye shall g
fore the Cadi; then we shall see wha
III become of your sorceries." Wit
at he struck her with his sandal, an
It'll his companions help continued +
rag her along.
Help mc, young sir,' cried tn
oman to Mahmoud, "help me, an
lah will reward thee.''
her implorimg voice and his naturs
alantry prevailed over any thought G
ger, and he rushed upol her az
ilante.
.',,Ye do wrong to beat a woman" h
NO. "and ! will see that justice