Telegram-herald., 1890-01-30


Kings son With the witch 4ad In the
Den OF Murderers-
Riddles are an old. old story in human
history and proverbs apparently began
With the very beginning Of human life.
Originally the riddle was considered as
the authoritative test Of mans intelll-
geuce and ability. therefore the man
who could ask = question that another
man could not answer was considered as
far tie ADLER Of the two, and men like
Esop. when they could not answer the
apparently simple riddle, were 20 cha
grined that they even committed suicide.
The high value thus attached 10 nd
ding did not stand very long before the
logical arguments Of the schools, but
among the common people the riddle has
lirel on, and IS still a stock amusement
Tor a larger portion Of the human race
than any other device. This Is especially
true OF the various riddles that are
woven into the tales of folk lore, partlc-
ularly those that are common 10 the diff
ferent nationalities.
Often the construction is so simple as
20 show a remarkable want Of ingenuity,
and generally the wit is scanty. and Of
ten the phrase vulgar. but. such as 1t is,
/ IT has set and still sets gray boards wag-
ginS. and thick heads nodding delight
in many lands by the myriad home fires
of the peasantry Of the world.
in like manner many Of the proverbs
that now seem meaningless had an origi-
nal connection with some old word tale
that has been lost or obscured while the
expression has lived on. Take, for in
stance. the proverbial phrase. ''the nine
lives of cat" It comes from an old Hin
doc story of "The Cat That Could Not
Be Killed.
The dog bit her tail in half, the ele-
phant seized her with his trunk and
threw her a long distance, then he put
his foot on her, then the leopard was
cheated bv her, man stuck his knife
into her and a bear clawed her, but they
( didn't XIII the cat, and all Of them wished
they had let her alone
The German tale of THE Riddle" is a
fair sample of large class Of the folk
/ tales iu which riddles play prominent
/ part. Here IL is:
There was once a kings son who was
F seized with n desire to travel around the
world. and took no one with him but y
/ faithful servant. One day he came 10 a
/ great forest. and when darkness overlook
/ him he could find no shelter and knew
not whore 10 pass the night. Then he
/ saw q girl who was going toward a small
+ house. and when he came nearer he saw
that the maiden was young and beauti-
ful He spoke 10 her and said: "Dear
/ child. can 1 and my servant find shelter
/ for the night:' "Oh, yes, said the girl,
in sad voice; that YOU certainly can;
+ but I do not advise you 10 venture t..
Do not 80 in" Why not" asked he.
The maiden sighed and said Ny step
I mother practices wicked arts. She IS all
disposed 80 strangers
Then he saw very well that he had
+ come to the house Of witch, but as it
was dark and he could not 20 farther,
and also was not afraid, he entered. Tho
. oil woman was sitting i'm IN arm chair
bv the Gre. and looked at the stranger
with her rcd eyes Good evening -
growloI she ard pretended 70 he quite
friendly Take scat and rest your
self She bieW mp the fire. ON which
sho was cooking something in small
pot The daughter warned the two 10
be prudent 90 e4t and drink nothing, for
the clI woman breved evil drinks.
Taev lopt quietly until morning. When
thnv were making ready for their do