Today's Reading:
The Water Baby.
Author Jack London.
Edited by A. Grove Day
Title: Stories of Hawaii
Publisher: Appleton Century
Written in 1918
Key Facts:
This story, is a story within a story.
Jack London tells the tale of a 70 year old fisherman, who has taken Lakana, who was born on the Islands out fishing.
The old fisherman is a Hawaiian Singer and he chants as they fish for giant squid. He tells the story of Maui, as the Queen Liliuokalani's family told it.
He explains how the Sun wanted to only work 6 hours a day, but Maui, by restraining the sun with 16 legs, made the Sun slow down, so that a Market day was created of 12 hours.
He further explains, how Maui fished up dry land with hooks made fast to heaven, and how this allowed man the room to get off all fours, and walk on two legs. Lakana thinks in his own mind how similar this is to the idea of evolution.
The old man explains he is a child of the ocean, which he proves by diving forty feet, and allowing a very large octopus to ensnare him, and then killing it, and bringing it back to the surface. He notes the sharks are out now, and it will be awhile before they will get another bite.
He then tells the story of the water baby, which I will not spoil, but have attached a link to a site which has the full story done by Jack London. I will give you a short outline: The Water Baby is about an 11 year old boy who is ½ fish, and he must provide enough lobster, for the approaching King and his party, so the village will not be shamed. He must outsmart 40 sharks to do this.
They also discuss dreams, and how it is impossible to tell who the dreamer is, and the person being dreamed. That perhaps Maui, dreamed the Islands of Hawaii, which would make them a land of dreams.
Jack London lived in Hawaii, and his rule was each morning he had to write 500 words to a story, then he could do what he loved to do on the Islands.
NOTE: I came across this book just after I left Hawaii, and had traveled by Military Space A travel for free, to Greece. I was waiting in the Airport and saw a book shelf which advertised free books. I walked over and found this 1965 copy of this book. The Book is Fantastic, and I would encourage anyone who wishes to learn about Hawaii in the early 1900's to read it. The Pic is of the Book I own to this day, and the link is to the Story of the Water Baby, written by Jack London.
Please read this story, it is a treasure in literature.
https://americanliterature.com/author/jack-london/short-story/the-water-baby click on link
The Water Baby.
Author Jack London.
Edited by A. Grove Day
Title: Stories of Hawaii
Publisher: Appleton Century
Written in 1918
Key Facts:
This story, is a story within a story.
Jack London tells the tale of a 70 year old fisherman, who has taken Lakana, who was born on the Islands out fishing.
The old fisherman is a Hawaiian Singer and he chants as they fish for giant squid. He tells the story of Maui, as the Queen Liliuokalani's family told it.
He explains how the Sun wanted to only work 6 hours a day, but Maui, by restraining the sun with 16 legs, made the Sun slow down, so that a Market day was created of 12 hours.
He further explains, how Maui fished up dry land with hooks made fast to heaven, and how this allowed man the room to get off all fours, and walk on two legs. Lakana thinks in his own mind how similar this is to the idea of evolution.
The old man explains he is a child of the ocean, which he proves by diving forty feet, and allowing a very large octopus to ensnare him, and then killing it, and bringing it back to the surface. He notes the sharks are out now, and it will be awhile before they will get another bite.
He then tells the story of the water baby, which I will not spoil, but have attached a link to a site which has the full story done by Jack London. I will give you a short outline: The Water Baby is about an 11 year old boy who is ½ fish, and he must provide enough lobster, for the approaching King and his party, so the village will not be shamed. He must outsmart 40 sharks to do this.
They also discuss dreams, and how it is impossible to tell who the dreamer is, and the person being dreamed. That perhaps Maui, dreamed the Islands of Hawaii, which would make them a land of dreams.
Jack London lived in Hawaii, and his rule was each morning he had to write 500 words to a story, then he could do what he loved to do on the Islands.
NOTE: I came across this book just after I left Hawaii, and had traveled by Military Space A travel for free, to Greece. I was waiting in the Airport and saw a book shelf which advertised free books. I walked over and found this 1965 copy of this book. The Book is Fantastic, and I would encourage anyone who wishes to learn about Hawaii in the early 1900's to read it. The Pic is of the Book I own to this day, and the link is to the Story of the Water Baby, written by Jack London.
Please read this story, it is a treasure in literature.
https://americanliterature.com/author/jack-london/short-story/the-water-baby click on link