The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-10
THE yALKYRIE's GODMOTHERS.
How Lord Dunraven Selected the
Name Of His Yacht.
New York Press

New York Press
Lord Dunraven's formidable and hand
some yacht Valkyrie bears name more sig
nificant, and In many respects more inter-
esting in its history than that of any of the
white-winged racers that have hitherto
striven in vain to wrest the Americas cup
from the POSSESSION Of the New York Yacht
Club. Lord Dunraven is himself descended
from the sturdy Norsemen who, in the days
previous TO the Norman conquest, waged
war so constantly and at times so success
fully against the people Of Great Britain.
In casting about for a name with which
to christen the handsome water athlete
which the ship builders of the Clyde had
constructed to help him in his ambition TO
win the much-coveted Americas cup, he
naturally turned to the land of his ancestors
for fitting and significant name.
'All water craft" unused the noble
yachtsman, ARE feminine. L must, there
fore select feminine name for my beauti-
Gus Where shall find the proper name?"
Lord Dun-aven as he tells the story him
self. was sitting in his library at the time.
His eye rested upon work upon old Scan
dinavian mythology which stood upon one
of his library shelves.
"Ah!' he exclaimed, 'let me look here and
see what l can find
Any student familiar with the history
and mythology or the Norsemen will at
once appreciate how thoroughly success
full was Lord Dunraven in his research.
For the name selected is at the same time
that of the most beautiful and most terrible
beings known 10 the mythology OF the
ScandinavianS.
Odin was the chief god of the Norsemen's
mythology. He it was who not only created
the universe, but all the other and lesser
gods who assisted him in governing ii. The
place of his abode, the paradise of the
Norseman's mythology, was known as Wal
halla. In this paradise Odin surrounded
himself with maidens of wondrous beauty,
who were known as the ValkyrieS. These
maidens were as terrible as they were
beautiful. Odin seems TO have had au-
thority to bring to his paradise the greatest
heroes of the world so that he might enjoy
himself with witnessing daily contests Of
SKILL and bravery, and strength among
them.
the Valkyries were therefore charged
throwing the bravest heroes of the world
and bringing them to Walhala. They had
the power to project themselves through
ether at terrific speed, power also which
the owner of the challenging racer hopes
she to, possesses. They visited the battle
fields of all the lands of the earth, and
touched with their spears the braveSt of the
earth's heroes The touch of the spear of q
Valkyrie cast fatal spell about the Sc
lected hero. Brave and va liant and power
was to be slain. The departed hero was at
once brought to Walhalla, where he spent
his DAYS in fighting and feasting Every
day these heroes engaged In strife among
themselves until the victors overthrow their
adversaries. Then the overthrown were
prepared for them by the Valkyries. The
Valkyries attended at this feast and when
the heroes had eaten their fill they supplied
them with horns of mead from which they
drank until they were intoxicated
The proper pronunciation of the word is
not Val-kie-rie. as is commonly heard, but
Val-kyr-rie, with the accent on the first
syllable.