The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-26
JAPANESE FAIRY TALES.
Quaint Old Stories Whose Authors
Are Not Known.

Monkeys, Crabs, and Devils Are
Prominent In Them-Jaok the Giant
Kiler-An Explanation on the Jelly
Fish's Condition.
From the New York Sun.
The japanese have a series of fairy
tales resembling very closely the Mother
Goose and the Tar Baby stories of
America. Their authorship is not known
One of them relates to Momotaro, the
Japanese Jack the Giant Killer:
Once on time an old woman was wash
ing clothes in a river. She was leaning
over the water when she saw big peach
come tumbling and splashing down the
river She drew it ashore with piece
of bamboo finished her washing in a
hurry, and went home to give the peach
to her husband. She was cutting
the peach in two, one portion to be for her
husband and the other for herself, when
child jumped out Of the kernel. The
old couple rejoiced at sight of the boy,
and named him Momotaro, or Little
Peachling, because he came out of the
peach. Momotaro grew big and lusty,
and the old couple bestowed great care on
his education. In time he excelled every
body in strength, and he then deter
mined TO cross over to an island inhabited
by devils, seize their riches, and live in
ease,
He started alone for the island AS he
left the house his foster mother put
some dumplings into his pouch. On the
way he met dog, who agreed TO 20 along
and help if Momotaro would give him a
dumping Soon afterward a monkey
and pheasant came along, and offered
their services on the same condition
Then all four hurried toward the island
Momotaro and his three followers broke
through the gate and found themselves
in the midst OF a great multitude of
devils. Momotaro conquered them all,
and then had lively tussle with their
chief, Akandoii. Akandoji came at Mo
motaro with an iron club. but he was
crushed and tied with rope. Then the
chief of the devils sued for peace, while
the dog and the monkey and the pheasant
sat near by. Momataro made Akandoi
give up all his riches, and with these and his
three companions TO whom he attributed
lie gave great feast. Subsequently be
became one Of the leading citizens as was
proper.
Another story is about a battle between
a monkey and a crab The monkey had a
persimmon seed, which he didn't think
much Of save as a curiosity. and the crab
had nice toasted rice cake. The mon
key was hungry and asked the crab 10
swap. The crab did so and wise crea.
ture that he was, planted the persimmon
seed. Soon the seed grew into high
tree. The tree grew big persimmons
right away but the crab couldn't climb
the tree to get them, and so he asked the
monkey 10 go up and throw down some
The monkey climbed the tree and began
10 eat the nice ripe persimmons. The I'M
ripe ones he threw on the crabs back, and
finally the crab had TO take refuge in his
hole, where he lay in great pain. When the
crabs relatives heard Of what the mon
key had done they declared war OF the
monkeys. The monkeys gathered and
came forth 10 battle The armies met at
astream. The crabs were terribly beaten,
and they retired 10 their holes 10 have a
council of war.
Then rice mortar, q FOUNDER, bee
and an egg met and devised a plot for
revenge. The crabs asked for peace. and
requested the king Of the monkeys to
come and see them about their differ