New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-04

p. Permission OF III. r Y. Crovell Company,
Nav York
Once uron time an Irish princess
named Dcctera disappeared from the
court ~ King Conor. Of Ulster with nifty
young girls who had been her companions
there, and for three years nothing more
was heard Of them. Al the end OF that
time a flock Of birds descended upon the
itolds about the castle and began 10 de-
stroy the fruit. King Conor and his no.
blcs went out against the birds with
sings, but could not overtake them, for
they kept flying just little way or as
the soldiers approached, thus Turing them
to the banks OF the BONE. Here they
oncamped for the night. but one of the
men. exploring alone. came 10 noble
mansion where lived n glorious young
lnau and lovely woman. his wife, who
had fifty young girls In attendance upon
her He Immediately recognized Dectera
and her fifty companions. The Young
man. he knew, must be one Of those Won
derful beings from the Land OF Youth.
about which we read Sunday or two
ago He went back with his news TO the
King and the King sent for Dectera to
come to him. but she would not DO SO.
Next morning the men Of Ulster found In
their camp a beautiful boy baby. II was
Dectera's gift To Ulster. and for this pur-
pose she had lured King Conor TO her
pals on the Boyne.
The boy was brought up BY Decteras
sister, and on old Druid. az the wise men
of ireland were called prophesed that his
~. q ka ts snf al
men. Now, in those days, as well as IN
much later times. the man whom all men
praised was usually a great warrior and
Cuchulain Goo hoo-lin) grew up 10 be the
greatest warrior in Ireland He was only
a boy when he demanded 'the arms of
manhood" but the two great spears that
the King gave him spintered IN his hands
when he shook them. Also the chariots
which he was set TO drive were broken TO
pieces by the stamping OF his foot. So
the King gave him his own chariot end
arms. and those be could not break
After this Cuchulain studied the art Of
war under Skaths, woman warrior For
a year and day he abode with skatha,
and all the feats she had TO teach he
learned easily. His only rival in skill
and valor was yellow-haired Ferdis, OF
Connaught, but instead Of hating each
other. as rivals often do, Ferdia and Gu
chulan loved each other Ferdia became
to Cuchuain his friend above all friends,
and ere they parted they vowed to love
and help one another az long as they
should live.
Cuchuiain was still a stripping, young
and modest, as the ancient record informs
US. when Queen Maev of Connaught de-
clared war upon Ulster. She wanted the
famous Brown Bull OF Ulster, whose back
was so broad that fifty children could
play on It al once and who. when he was
angry with his keeper. had stamped the
unfortunate man thirty feet into the
ground. One would think that no one
would have wanted such an animal at
any price. but Maev had persuaded her
self that she could not live without the
Brown Bull, and when his owner refused
even 70 loan him TO her she came With
all her mighty men to take him BY force.
But before she started she sent spies
into Ulster TO see what preparations were
being made for the defence and to her
surprise and delight they brought back
word that nothing at all was being done.
A strange sickness had fallen on the land
and all it's warriors lay grooming upon
their beds unable to lift spear. For