The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-18

lSS5SsSy 8 story gtl IS ~ more tXt IMAM tnTecA
thousand years old, and can actually
be seen every day In the ARMAMENT
for the original Tom Thumb is none other
than the little star Of the sixth ma gni-5
tudo, which Is observed close to the SEQ
ond star In the constellation OF the Great
Bear. .,tiss IA q; I'M
According to the traditions Of antiquity
| the first astronomers were the children
sr Central Asia. Tho immense plains \;
where the first Semitic valuations were
settled, led the shepherds. during the
serene nights to;contemplateit the heavens
and adore thejr5 splendor, 5.s IN
The Great Bear naturally attracted 4
their attention, and their ton
soon made the1n discover In the famous
constellation n chariot drawn by three
CXen. s; IA M;
Ever since those ancient times all tho
nation Of the earth have attributed to-
the four stars forming the square the
part OF wheels, and to the other three@
the part of oxen or horses. The little
star just above the second large star
vas soon given the part Of the driver
In the Germanic versions we find this 6
little star called relterein, the Il llttle#
rder). 5
The adventures Of Tom Thumb differ
In all the countries where the story is y
still told and has been told for thousands
Of years. All versions, however, agree
In nttributing the birth Of the little hero;
to the same cause. a poor couple (some-3
times woodcutters, sometimes laborers)f II
had been married a long time and had!
no children. "How sad" they thought, Il
was their cottage without children II
they could only have one not bigger than Il
the thumb, how they would love It II,
The prayer was heard, and q baby boy.
admirably made and OF the size Of q
thumb. was born to them. In the south
ern regions OF Europe, also in tho cast
tho woman begged that Il baby boy should *
be born to her. even IL one not bigger
than q grain of pepper. And In those
countries, Tom Thumb is called Pepper
let. "a Kan
AS soon as he was born, happy rs the \
parents were, they felt disappointed that 4
thelr wish had been granted to them 50
much to the letter, What will ever be
the use Of such n little creature?" Won
dered the father. i can be Of use TO ~
YOU, father" replies the little fellow In
most OF the versions; II can sit In the II
car of the second horse and tell him what
he has got to do, which way he has H
10 CO."
pcrlet, gets more enterprising. When the
horse, in whose ear he is sitting. is dis
ohcdient, he goes inside his nostrll and
tickles him until he gets his orders fol-
lowed. He never grew, this Tom Thumb;
no remained so small that the skin Of
n flea would have made too large coat
for him and an ant too large horse,
but In every country VIC find him, witty
and clever, and always able, through his
ingenuity, to get out of every scrape and
Il ouble,
In the Greek tale, Pepperlet Is In hiding
behind cabbage leaf, An OK eats tho
leaf and swallows him, Tho OK Is killed
and his bowels are thrown away. IN
/ them Is Pepperet. a fox now swallows
him, but wherever that fox goes q voice 4
wants to eat your chickens" The fox
dies of hunger, and the wolf eats him,
3Fepperlet now Inside the wolf. cries;
Nook out, shepherds, the wolf Is coming
10 devour your sheep" The wolf COM
mits suicide In despair, and our little hero "
In restored to his parents.
In the German version Tom Thumb Is y
GA ten whole by u COW, The COW Is soon
killed, because people are frightened to-
hear her talk, Her stomach Is thrown
or the dung hlll, where famis neg wo!s
wolf is killed by The little boys parents,
who hear his cries.
It is affirmed that 1t Is Tom Thumb
which gave to Radicals the idea OF his
Gargnntua. the famous giant Gas you see
the very opposite ideal.
OF course, the adventures Of Tom
Thumb are now eclpsed by the tale OF 4
Perrnult lie Petit Poucet I'm English, 4
Tom omy Thumb, the smallest OF seven
brothers, who get lost IN the forest BY
their parents, hut who find their way
home through the ingenuity OF Tom, VINO
has streWn white pebbles on the way all
TIC time. Unfortunately, the second time
the parents take the seven little boys Ton!
has nothing In his pockets but bread
crumbs. He strews them on the way, but 4
The birds eat them and they are lost.ay.f
or course, we know how they seek ref-
iure In the giants house, how they are 4
ia be killed for breakfast and how they
are saved by Tom, who puts on his bro
Tiers heads the crowns which were
placed by the giant on the heads OF his
daughters, wbo are killed Instead,