New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-04
THE TVVORTJTITY or STORIES

Since the stddy Of folklore has been seriously
pursued interest has been taken In the
genesis Of those popular tales legends, traditions
and supcrstitons which modern scholarship traces
30 frequently to Greek and Buddhist origin. Half
a century ago it wus customary to refer 10 the
icsts Of Hicrolllcs as indicating an extreme Old
age for story; but to-day llieroklcs has become
ouitc a modern. and the student seeks IN the
Jatalas, or Buddhist Birth Stories, for the germ
of anything whose history seems doubtful while
there are plentiful indications that as Western
knowledge of Asia increases the search VIII be
pushed further back, until perhaps IN some as yet
unrestricted textbook of the Vedantin period
any he discovered the source of those Joe Millers
~hich have amused many ages Indeed, when
ono considers how long ago the hope Of orig-
nality was abandoned by wise men, the fuss which
some modern authors make about what they are
nlco,ed TO think ideas invented by themselves
seems rather out Of proportion. Old Donatus
lived good many centuries ago, yet he left
notulont curse upon those who have said oil our
good things before US Mr. Shandy in the
habit Of affirming that it was impossible to SWEAR
without employing some parts OF the curse o;
Bisbop Ernulphus So it might he said that It
is jnpossiblc to tel story nowadays without re-
yamping one of the tales or anecdotes which
diverted the people of antiquity
One consequence of this is that old jokes and
stories are constantly being furnished up anu
reyitalizcd by giving them modern locations
and names Two instances Of this occur to US
an Ohio journal the other day printed a story
about Horace Porter, son OF Samuel Porter The
1d WAS at Princeton, and i'll in his room. There
came a rap at his door. Who's thereY he
shoutcI It's me. Dr. McCosh," was the an
aver. You're liar" retored Porter who thought
n Joke was being played on him. II 1t were
Dr. McCosh he would say, 1t is =" But 1t was
Dr NcCosh according to the story. Now this
anccdotc has been told Of innumemble heads Of
coll, gcs and principals Of schools and wel-tnown
people of various occupations. Its beginnings are
difficult TO trace. but perhaps it need not 20 fur
ther back than the founding Of the English uni
yersitics Another resurrected story has more
curious and more easily followed history
About year ago an Ohio country paper pub
hsl,d an astonishing account of an alleged ludg-
mcnt visited upon an atheist in the neighoorhood.
rs he was standing in field fire broke out all
around him. and out Of this fire not all the eXcr-
lions Of his neshbors could bulge him. There
he stayed until his body was consumed Inc
Tribune commented on the obvious antiquity OF
this legend when il appeared but the evidence to
prove its axe was not then at hand To-day We
can trace the story az least tWo huhurtu years
back.
Somewhere about the year $50, Allen Milbourn
had printed al the Stationcrs' Arms, in the Little
Old-Bliey, London. a ballad bearing this title
a Wonderful Example Of Gods Justice Showed
upon one Jasper Cunningham, Gentleman Born
in Scotland who was Of opinion that there was
neither God nor Devil The ballad is too long
for citation, but few lines sIl show how closely
the modern Ohio version followed the original
il, indeed, il is the original, and not merely a
variant OF older story:
Far in the Garden,
Whereas he ala abide,
Suddenly a fire
~prlng up every Side
which round about incOsed
This damned wretch that day,
~ 10 IUar'd and cry ii rnal srcNOus
But could not start away"
Observe how the details of the Ohio legend
.ppcar IN the following verse, too
PUT naught prevailed.
For all that they could do
Long ata.e aud also pltchioIksi
Tic, rclrheI h m unto,
Because they burst not venture
Ncur 10 the fiery fame,
lie taking hold upon them,
To draw him out Of the same'
The end OF the wretch IS the same in both
stories T. is "a curious illustration Of the indie
structibihiy Of old stories aud could the manner
q il, resurrection be traced the facts would no
doubt Doe interesting
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