Los Angeles herald., 1890-08-16
WHY KURENT GOVERNS.
MANS STRUGGLE WITH THE SLA-
VONlC DIVINITY.

The Human Overcome Not by Proves
But by Flattery-Singular Story of the
Fall of the Race-Man Becomes Prey
to His Appetite and Is Dwarfed.
Kurent and man contended which should
rule the earth. Neither Kurent would yield
to man nor man to kurent, for he (man)
was so gigantic-he wouldn't even have
noticed it If nine of the people of the present
day had danced up and down his nostrils.
s'Come," said Kurent, 'let us see which
is the stronger; whether it is or you that
is to rule the earth. Yonder is a broad sea;
the one that springs across it best shall
have both the earth and all that is on the
other side of the sea, and that is, in faith,
a hundred times more valuable than this
wilderness"
Man agreed. Kurent took off his coat
and jumped across the sea- so that just one
foot was wetted when he sprang on to dry
land. Now he began to jeer at the man;
but the man held his tongue, didn't get out
of temper, neither did he take off his coat,
but stepped without effort and quite easily
over the sea, as over brook, and came on
to dry land without even wetting foot.
Ppm the stronger" said man to Kurent;
1tsee how my foot is dry and yours is wet"
''The first time you have overcome me-"
answered Kurent. yours are the plains,
yours is the sea and what is beyond the
sea, but that isn't all the earth. There is
also some beneath us and above us. Come,
then, let us see second time which is the
stronger"
Kurent stood on hollow rock and
stamped on it with his foot so that it burst
with noise like thunder and split in
pieces. The rock broke up and a cavern
was seen where dragons were brooding
Now the man also stamped, and the earth
quaked and broke up right to the bottom,
just where pure gold flowed like broad
river, and the dragons fell down.
''This trial, too, is yours" said kurent,
'but don't acknowledge you emperor till
you overpower me in a third fierce contest.
Yonder is a very lofty mountain. 1t rises
above the clouds; it reaches to the celestial
table, where the cock sits and watches
Gods provisions. Now then take you an
arrow and shoot and so will l. The one
which shoots highest is the stronger, and
his is the earth and all that is beneath and
above it,
Kurent shot, and his arrow wasn't back
for eight days; then the man shot, and his
arrow few for nine days; and when on the
tenth day it fell the celestial cock that
guarded Gods provisions fell also, spitted
upon it.
"You are emperor" said cunning Kurent.
-'I make obeisance to you as BELTS sub
ject."
But the man was good natured, and made
covenant of adaptive brotherhood with
Kurent, and went off to enjoy his imperial
dignity Kurent, too, went off, but he was
1o% <hn had l., DC.
shame; where he could not prevail by
strength he determined to succeed by craft.
4'You are hero, man." he would say. II
am witness thereto; but beware of me if
you are hero also in simplicity; go to
bring you gift that have devised entirely
by myself"
He squeezed the vine, his stick, and
pure red wine burst out of it, "Here's a
gift for you. Now, then where are you?'
He found the man on the earth the other
side of the sea, where he was enjoying a
bowl Of sweet stirabout
"What are you doing, my lord?" SAID
Kurent.
"rve mixed bowl of stirabout from
white wheat and red fruit, and, see, here
am eating it and drinking water"
my poor lord, you are emperor of the
world and drinking water! Hand me a
cup that may present you with better
drink, which l, your humble servant, have
prepared for you myself"
The man was deceived, took the cup with
red wine and drank some of it, "Thank
you, adopted brother, you are very kind,
but your drink is naught."
Kurent was disguised, went off again
ard thought and thought how to cheat the
man Again he squeezed his stick, AGAR
h p,,t L
did not allow it to remain pure; the rasca
mixed hellebore with it, which Villa.
and prophetesses pluck by moonlight tt
nourish themselves with. A second tim,
he went in search of the man, and fount
him at the bottom of the earth, where pur,
gold was flowing like broad river.
"What are you doing, my lord?" asked
Kurent,
81 am getting myself golden shirt, ant
I am tired and very thirsty, but there's nc
water here, and it's long way to the WORLD
seven years. journey"
II am at your SERVICE" said Kurent
"Here's cup of wine for you; better never
saw the red sum-"
The man was deceived, took it and dranl
it up. "Thank you, Kurent. You are gooG
and your drink is good, too"
Kurent was going to pour him out ;
fresh cupful, but the man would not allow
1T, for his nature was still sober and sensi
BILE. Kurent was Disguised, and went of
to see whether he could not devise some
thing better. For the third time he squeez
ed his stick Wine burst out more strong
ly, but this time it did not remain pur
nor without sin. The rascal applied al
arrow, opened vein and let some blacl
blood flow into the wine. Again he wen
in search of the man, and found him Oh
the high mountain at Gods table, wher
he was feasting on roast meat which hat
mot been roasted for him, but for God him
self
What are you doing, my lord?" asked
Kurent in amazement and JOY when b.
saw that the man was SHINING abominably
"Here I am, sitting and eating roas
meat; but take yourself off, for am afrait
of God, lest he should come up and smit
me-"
''Never fear" was Kurent's advice
elbow do you like Gods roast meat?"
TITS nice, but it's heavy. can scarcely
swallow it."
II am at your SERVICE" said Kurent
"Here is wine for you, the like OF which
isn't on earth or in heaven, but only witt
me-"
The third time the man was deceived
but cruelty. "Thank you, Kurent," h
said. "You are good, but your drink