Books: Crow Legends

OLD MAN COYOTE—Frank B. Linder-man—Day ($3).

Even the once hostile U. S. Government now thinks it a shame the Indians are going the way of the buffalo, has set aside sanctuaries for their racial senescence. Though dreams of the young braves now are apt to be of college education and tycoonery, their old men still tell stories. Author Linderman, after 40 years of friendship no longer a suspected intruder, has listened to many a tale-telling among the Absarokees (Crows). In American (TIME, May 5, 1930) he retailed the reminiscences of old Chief Plenty-coups. Old Man Coyote tells of more mythical matter.

As good fairy-stories ought to be, these legends are highly colored, preposterously naïve, unmoral. Like Jack the Giant-Killer, the heroes have a lust for action which success only whets. When twin brothers had rescued themselves from a Jonah-like situation in a most unchristian manner, one said to the other: “There! That thing is finished. Now let us go about this World and kill every Wicked-person we find, Brother.” Agreed the other: “Good, they ought to die.” Old Man Coyote, a kind of Magic Person with more than normal powers, for all that got himself into some very bad scrapes. One of the worst was marrying a most attractive woman who turned out to be the Whirlwind. She was fond of moving camp. After the first move “Old Man Coyote could scarcely see. At first he could not even stand up. I will get away from this Whirlwind-person,’ he thought. ‘She is too fast for me.’ “