The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-06-18
THE DEMON PRINCESS
SEGEND OF |TAMARA OFsRusSta AND
HER SuITORS.

The story, ms Narrated In the Mys-
ticnI FolLlore OF the Trnnscnu-s
cn.us, of why This RenutifuI ROYAL
Woman ReiEned Alone.
Outside the skaziSas or folk stories
of Russia no woman is said to be more
beautiful than anything in all the
world. In the skazk.s this expression
is used only concerning the priucesSes
and the queens, those marvellous wo-.
men who have from time iminemorfal
held first place in The historic litero-
turc and the legends of every country
on the face of the earth.
The princesScs in the English fairy
stories were more beautiful than amy
thing. and the queens in all the folk
tales of ltera ture have been most Won
drously beautiful. In the Russian folk
lore the expression OF great beauty is
used only concerning the princesSeS
and queens. while in other countries 1t
is used to describe all the hcroines of
folklore stories
In all the legends relating to early
history OF all the Russias there is no
story which is held In higher regard
than the tale OF the Princess Tamara.
who rei.-ned over the Georgian state OF
the Ira rsc:l ucasus in the twelfth cen
fury. Fer story holds q high place In
Russian or Georgian literature, and
Lcmontoff has made play about her
that is more thrilling in its suggestion
even than the story of Ivan tue Terri
. BILE
Sir John Maundevile in his travels
abroad found references to her terri
Bile bea uty. and he has written in lis
books a s to how she slew her suitors
-
translation. but so far as they may be
told in modern English this is the
story, coated In the mysticism of the
far east:
Ye shall know. then, that the Prin-
cess Ia mara dwrlt in high mountain
place-up against the clouds-where
the rains come down and where the
winds sweep from the crags OF the
mountain tops.
It is told in the countries hereabout
that she was tile most beautiful wo-
man in all the whole world. Nowhere
was ever one more beautiful not even
Sheba'S queen. In the great. castle
she dwelt. and there came to her
suitors from the farthest ends OF the
earth to sue for the hand of Inmara,
the princess who dwelt in the castle
high in the mountain tops where meet
the east and the west. A great road
has been built which leads to the cas-
tie, and along this road journeyed the
suitors who would have her for wife
kings and princes and knights OF high
degree But the Princess Tnmara was
q proud princess and she would nave
none of their fhvor-no, not faVor.
even from the king of farthest ina.
She would have none of him, and she
caused to make let great 5oust ana
tourney. and be was slain.
So that was the end of that king
Now. upon day the Princess rama
IA performed a great magic She let
make herself into the form Of drag
and nowhere ever in the world
was ever seen dragon so terrible as
she. Then she caused messages to be
sent to all the princes OF the earth.
and all the kings. and all the Knights.
and all the mobiles Of great degree. and
she id in this message that whose
ever. be he king or prince or NOBLE,
should come and kiss her on the mouth
while she was In the form of the drag
on. then he should be king over ner
f1ominjous and rule with her on the
throne.
Now. upon another day the Princess
Tamara was III q room In her castle
combing her hair-black. like the night
and into the castle came man-"ho
had ridden from = great ship some
where and he had heard of the mar
Vicious beauty Of the Princess Iamara.
and he would have her to wife. NOW
in the mirror when she was coIuDinS
her hair she saw the image of TINS
man, and she asked of him II be were
knight. and he said. NAY. l am no
knight, but only a sailor come from Il
ship"
Then she told him to return to ms
fellows and cause them to make,
knight of him. for he was fair OF faVor
and a man such as might reign as king
in her Gominions.
Then he returned to his ship, ana mis-
comparions made a knight OF him.
But before lie had gone from the cas-
tie the Princess Tauara had said that
he should find her upon his return IN
shape like a dragon, but that he was 10
have no fear He was to come to her
and kiss her upon the mouth, however
dreadful might be the appeara nee
which she should assume.
Now, when the man returned to the
castle. after he had been made knight
by his fellows he rode upon q pa1frey.
and he was attended by his squires
and his retainers and a great caval cade
of others who had come from far coun-
tries by ship with him.
H., RI