"Wonder Tales from Baltic Wizards": My Memory of a Good Place

 

When I was an undegraduate at Augustana College, an ongoing struggle was to find a quiet, secluded study carrell in the library stacks -- one facing a window, far away from other carrells, and where I would not be interrupted by someone looking for a book (sometimes I wanted to read embarrassing things like comic books and science fiction novels).  

Eventually I stumbled upon the carrell next to PH 600: Baltic literature (Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian).  Augustana didn't teach those languages, and few students wanted to read Tõde ja Õigus (Truth and Justice) or Dainavos šalies senų žmonių padavimai (Grandmothers' Tales from Dainava), untranslated, for fun.  

I spent many lazy afternoons at that study carroll, safely hidden away from the world.  Sometimes, out of boredom or curiosity, I leafed through some of the books.  One that stands out is Wonder Tales from Baltic Wizards, a huge blue-bound book illustrated by a magestic wizard like Gandalf, raising his arms to cast a spell.  I seemed oddly placed, like a children's fairytale book.  What was it doing in a serious academic library?  Maybe it was bequeathed by a benefactor in his will, or maybe it appeared by magic.

I don't recall actually opening the book, but it became emblematic of the "safe space" that the study carrell provided.  So when I discovoered that the book had been reprinted, I immediately ordered my copy.

The original was published in 1928 by Frances Jenkins Olcott,  a librarian at the Carnegie Library in Philadelphia and the author of many children's books, such as The Jolly Book for Boys and Girls, The Red Indian Fairy Book, and several "Wonder Tales from...." titles.  She also organized the first training program for children's libraries, as well as a "llibrary at home" program that brought books into the homes of poor immigrant children.  Sounds quite progressive, probably gay, but not an expert on Baltic literature.

There are about 40 stories, each only 1-2 pages long, beginning with "Boom! Boom! Boom!  Hear the drum of Nischergurje!", or later "Weird1 Weird!  Ever weird!"  They're mostly familiar fairytales like Cinderella, done up in Baltic garb.  Plus some Wizards sneering at each other and having magical competitions, some stories from the Kalevala.  A lot of boys and girls in love, with men existing only to sneer and compete.  No gay connection here.

Plus, I just discovered that you can get the whole thing free on sacredtexts.com.  

Another cherished childhood memory bites the dust.