Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-01-01
From the Charleston Enterprise.

full Arcadian Valley in which he livesP
From the Charleston Enterprise.
"Ouaneetee: Legend of Sunset Moun-
taln," by Eli d AXE. From the au-
thor the Enterprise has received copy
of this little brochure.
Uncle Eli" explains in the prefa-
tory the "why of it," The context, it
appears, was suggested by desire to
entertain couple of little nieces left
at home while the writer visited at
Asheville, N. G., few years ago.
And the "Legend" has to do with the
aboriginal inhabitants Of that famed
section. who, according to the story,
performed rites, ceremonies and ori-
sons upon the rugged peak of the
mountain known provineially as Sun
set Mountain. Mr.. AXE is very near
ly the master OF good English; added
to this is strain of the rom antc and
poetic In his nature that wells out in
this little effort like the clear and
linpid springs from the hillsi1es, and
a gift of philosophy that finds express
sion here and there in words and SEN
tences that are none the less impress
sive because often veiled in satire and
made more prominent by comparisons.
The story involves all the conven-
tional characters of the more preten-
tious works OF fiction: Hero, heroine,
villain-all, and as it progresses a
very pretty love story is unfolded,
showing on either side of the path of
happiness the lovers seek to tread the
abysses OF hatred intrigue, crime and
passion. 1t keeps close to nature, in
that it's descriptions of the miracles of
growth and development in plant and
animal life are garbed in language
that enables one to witness these phe-
nomena as they are presented The
characteristics of the Indian are well
brought out, and though the language
put 10 the mouths of the speakers is
perhaps not such as they used, never
theless it Is of tie kind that we have
been led to believe they would have
used had they known how; it is in
keeping with their known habits OF
thought. His superstitious nature is
shown, an eclipse of the sun and an
earthquake coming at opportune mo-
ments to foil the plans of the villain
by operating upon that attribute Of
ignorance, whether ancient, aboriginal
or modern. Also, of course, the story
ends in the conventional way: the
lovers are united-purified by trials
and troubles-and ''live happy ever
after"
A number OF poems assist the writer
10 more fully conveying to his reader
the natures he essays to depict. Among
them are two or three far above the
ordinary. But here is one that is not
alone out OF keeping with picture of
savagery, but which deserves TO have
a brilliant setting In the midst OF
modern civilizations:
In Holy Writ It's told
How Adam sinned Of old
Because the woman Eve had tempted him;
When filed our fatal cup was to the brim
With vice and woe and tears;
Eternity gave place to years;
Was changed the sphere whereon we dwell
From heaven fair to hideous hell
"Ihe woman tempted me,
And did eat" said he
This Adam, father 10 our boasted kind;
While Eve, with no excuse to hide behind,
For disobedient deed
Her weird in meekness dreed;
The scourge on her in wrath was laid,
But spared the man in guilt afraidl
So runs the ancient tale
Invented by the male