The evening times., 1896-11-23
.SoME New Books

HE reader OF C. M. SINNERS Myths
and Legends of Our Own Land' will
find two-fold pleasure awaiting
him, the first of which will be found IN
thevariety andsprightlinesso of the odd
DTS OF anecdote, love nd tradition, which
he has woven into a succession Of delight
ful short stories, and secondly In the sur
prising knowledge that our short national
existence affords a SO abundant and inter-
esting development of those orphans OF
tradition for whom history will neither
stand sponsor nor probability entirely in
dorse. Mr.. Skinner not only furnishes
readable book but he contributes TO
American legendery literature an invalu-
able work which represents the untiring
labors Of an intelligent expert.
Theauthor does not claim to have entered
q hitherto untrodden field. He points
out that Hawthorne and Irving have made
paths across it. Truly through the writing S
OF these amiable authors We find tales
which have their foundation along the
bprderland where fact and fancy coalcsce
in the unity Of legend, but no writer
has heretofore garnered from all fields
and brought together nosegay of all
these flowers OF fancy.
There Is a geography Of lore, 1t seems;
neighborhoods 10 winch cling certain
groups of legends. There are the myths
of the Hudson and its hills, those pf Man
haitian Island and nearby, many aSspci-
ated with the valley OF the Delaware,
Puritan Land has an almost distinct lore,
the South has its own legends, SO have the
Lakes, the Rocky Mountains, and the
Pacific slope. This subdivision has guided
MIR. skinner in the arrangement OF his mat
ter.
For some reason, doubtless thanks to
Irving, the myths Of the Hudson seem
most familiar. There is genuine familiar
ity in the tales of the Catskill, Gnoues,
Rip Van Wrinkle, the Vanderdecken Of
Tappan Zee, the storm ship of the HUDSON,
Francis waIcott's Night Riders, and the
Lost Grave Of Paine. These are Tut
a few OF some two score.
The lore of Natural Fridge is interestingly
setout. Thomas jefferson ownedit George
Washington scaled its side and carved
his name on the rock u loot higher than
any one else. Here, too, cane the youth
who wanted Ia cut his name above Wash
lngton's, and who found to his horror, when
half way Up. that he must keep on, for he
had left no resting places for his feet at
safe and reachable distances, and there
fore, climbed un an on, cutting handholds
and foothoids IN the lime stone, until lie
reached the top. in Il :ainting state. ms
knife blade worn to a stump. Here, too,
IN another tunnel Of the cavern, runs Lost
River, that all must return to, at some
time, II they drink Of 1t. Here, beneath
the arch, is dark stain, 80 like a ilapping
eagle thuJ the French officer who saw II
during the R.ynlution augured from it Il
success Tor the united ar.As ul the nations
that used tlic eagle as their symbol The
Mohcans knew this wonder of natural
masonry, for to this point they We're pur-
sued by a hostile tribe, and ON reaching the
gulf found themselves ON the edge Of a
preCipiCc that WAS too steep at that point
to descend Behind them was the Zoe, he
fore them the chasm. AT the suggestion
of one Of their medicine men they joined
in prayer to the Great Spirit for deliver
ance, and when again they looked about
them, there stood the bridge. Their women
were hurried over; then, like So many
HOratii, they formed across the dizzy nigh
way and gave battle They fought with
such heart that the enemy was defeated. and
the grateful Moh!c1nS named the place
The Bridge of God"
The publishers. j Il. .Lippincott < Co.. have
given the work every establishment bar
noniuus with rich and ch.iste book making.